byJoieFarm General Manager/June 19, 2026/inNews
About Us
Trade & Media
Contact
2825 Naramata Rd
Naramata, BC
Tel: 250-496-0093
hospitality@joiefarm.com
There’s something profoundly moving about standing on a completely bare field on the Naramata Bench. In late 2024, we took a bold and necessary step at our beautiful 10.86-acre Smethurst Vineyard: we removed every single vine, post, and irrigation line.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but great wine requires a flawless foundation. After clearing the site, we dedicated 2025 to letting the land breathe, planting nourishing cover crops, and diving deep into the ancient geological autobiography written beneath our feet. Now, in 2026, we are officially putting our new vision into the ground.
Here is how science, sustainability, and a long-term portfolio plan shaped the rebirth of Smethurst Vineyard.
Unearthing the Secrets: The Foundation of Terroir
Before ordering a single vine, we had to look backward into geological history. Thousands of years ago, retreating glaciers scraped across the Okanagan Valley, leaving behind a complex, internationally unique patchwork of soils.
To read this “biography of our land,” we partnered with precision agriculture company Vintality. Using electrical conductivity mapping down to 1.5 meters, alongside digging extensive soil pits, we mapped out every variance in water availability and soil texture across our rolling 12 acres. This deep dive into our soils completely redefined how we segmented our vineyard blocks, allowing us to align our varietals and clones perfectly with the micro-terroir beneath them.
The Varietal Vision: Strategic Choices for 2030 and Beyond
We aren’t just planting for next year; we are cultivating a legacy. It takes five full years of meticulous farming before a newly planted vine can produce fruit for wine, meaning our 2026 planting will reach your glasses around 2030.
With that long-term vision in mind, we designed a master plan tightly focused on premium Naramata Bench red wine production and crisp, expressive whites. Across our 300 rows, we have introduced three key varietals:
1. Pinot Noir (5.92 Acres)
As the backbone of our premium portfolio, Pinot Noir takes center stage at Smethurst, claiming over half the vineyard across five distinct blocks. To create a wine of incredible nuance and complexity, we’ve leaned into genetic diversity by choosing a beautiful mix of five clones:
- Pommard: Derived from classic Pommard material, known for giving deep color, structured tannins, and dark fruit profiles.
- Dijon 115, 777, 828, and 943: These premium French clones are celebrated for their exceptional balance, elegance, vibrant acidity, and intense aromatic complexity.
2. Sauvignon Blanc (2.55 Acres)
Planted across two blocks, our Sauvignon Blanc relies on a strong multi-clone mix, chosen to highlight the crisp, aromatic, and minerally brilliance that the Naramata Bench soils can tease out of white varietals.
3. Cabernet Franc (2.39 Acres)
Rounding out our red wine blocks, Cabernet Franc thrives beautifully in our climate. We’ve introduced elite French clones that will provide the elegant herbal nuance, structural spine, and bright red fruit that make Okanagan Cabernet Franc so spectacular.
A Greener Future: Precision and Adaptability
True sustainability isn’t a marketing buzzword; it’s a daily practice of resource stewardship. Our complete redesign of Smethurst gave us a rare opportunity to implement modern, smart farming tech from day one.
Following the successful blueprint of our other sites, our modern infrastructure works hand-in-hand with nature. By connecting advanced soil moisture probes to real-time weather stations, we ensure that irrigation is custom-tailored to the explicit needs of each vineyard block. A delicate, shallow-rooted Pinot Noir vine won’t receive the same watering regime as a hardier block of Sauvignon Blanc. Every drop of water is accounted for, drastically minimizing runoff, preventing erosion, and nurturing the precious microbiology of our soils.
The Horizon
While we continue to share our releases of the final vintages from the original vines, we are keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the horizon.
Smethurst is officially reborn. By blending time-honoured farming wisdom with cutting-edge soil science and precision viticulture, we are protecting this land for generations to come. We can’t wait to invite you along for the next five years of growth!
