Corlan Vineyard owners Pat and Selwyn Jones began clearing their ten-acre property on Denman Island in 2006, planted 5,000 vines propagated from their own cuttings. After several years of nurturing and using sustainable practices to produce certified 100% organic fruit without irrigation, they held the grand opening of Corlan Vineyard with their first batch of wine on Canada Day in 2015.
Since then their wines have won international acclaim with two Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal.
Selwyn, born in Wales, has a background in silviculture and owned Sylvan Vale Nursery in Black Creek for more than two decades propagating seedlings for forest companies. He took up viticulture in the early 1990s when he began propagating up to 20,000 vines a year for Cowichan Valley wineries.
Pat has spent most of her life on the Gulf Islands, growing up with small scale market gardening and poultry raising. She is also a talented Tartan weaver.
The couple previously built and operated a Bed and Breakfast together. They love to talk to visitors about their process from propagation to bottling. Future plans include a restaurant, accommodations for Farm Stays, and Corlan Vineyard as a wedding venue.
A flock of Clun Forest Sheep play an integral part in maintenance in the off season by roaming the vineyard eating weeds and grass between rows. During the growing season the sheep are relocated to another field.
CORLAN 