Taking root: Geoff Heinricks, of Keint-He Winery & Vineyards 
The Guru
An original supporter steps into the spotlight with Keint-He Winery & Vineyards
This might be Geoff Heinricks’ first ride on a bull, but it sure isn’t his first rodeo.
Winemaker at Keint-He, Heinricks is capitalizing on his experience as one of the original promoters of the County’s grape growing potential. He’s taken his background in winemaking and consulting and partnered with former Bank of Montreal vice chairman Ron Rogers and his son, Bryan Rogers. The three are combining their past experiences and are returning to the terroir that inspired it all.
There isn’t a more ardent supporter of the County’s Hillier clay soil than Heinricks.
“It gives County wine an elegance and strength that is rarely found in North America and the New World,” he supports. “It’s still early days… so it’s hard to be too bombastic about the brilliance of the soils, but they live up to potential every day.”
It’s his goal to stand out of the way and ensure his wines are original and terroir-inspired.
Keint-He currently makes 400 to 500 cases per vintage, but is geared up to produce 10 times that in three to four years.
“I’m more focused on the combination in the glass. The sum should be greater than the parts,” says Heinricks.
His wines aren’t cheap, cheerful and quaffable in style; they’re wines that evolve with every sip, which can prove puzzling to some. But, Heinricks knows his wines aren’t for everybody.
Consider his largest release for this fall, a noble rot-affected 2008 Pinot Noir. Heinricks let the entire vineyard be touched by botrytis (mould that causes dehydration in grapes, creating a wine high in sugar) and refined it down to six barrels of a golden, tangerine-coloured wine. With a sweet core and yet enough truffle-like umami to make it interesting, this bottle is full of individuality.
“It shows what this place can do if ... you’re prepared to trust what you’ve got,” he said about this gotta-look-twice wine.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to wine, and Keint-He thrives on the fact that its wine is as unique as the folks who drink it.
Click below to hear Geoff Heinricks’ philosophy about winemaking in the County.
Flash is required to listen to audio file
