Born and raised on a vineyard, Ursa Major is the passion project of Rajen Toor, who has committed to organic viticulture, sustainable cellar practices, and a willingness to experiment with the varieties nurtured on the property for 26 years.
The winery is named after the Ursa Major constellation, a prominent feature in the sky above his family's property. The name also holds a down-to-earth story about a black bear and her cubs that used to visit the vineyard, munching on grapes before harvest. His parents explained that the bear, like us, was simply trying to feed her family. This community-oriented approach to wine is how he approaches winemaking.
Tasting Note
This 2022 Gamay comes from Stoneface Vineyard on the Naramata Bench, where the grapes were organically farmed by hand. With 20% whole cluster, the grapes was naturally fermented with the wild yeast from the vineyard using a pied de cuve. After a 14-day maceration, the juice was pressed directly into neutral barriques and puncheons to complete fermentation and was then aged for 8 months prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It's such a juicy, pure expression of Gamay, with sappy wild berries and a herbal edge from the use of whole bunches.
Food Pairing
Chicken Tagine with Olives and Apricots or Roast Butternut Squash