"At the end of the day, it isn't where I came from. Maybe home is somewhere I'm going and never have been before."
― Warsan Shire
We're all searching for something. An opportunity, an adventure, love, or a place to call home. What if it was all of the above? Imagine falling in love, going on an adventure together, discovering your new home and seeing an opportunity too good to pass up. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it? Well, for some, such dreams come true.
"We're a small distillery crafting excellence in the stunning Okanagan Valley."
Annette and Jorg Engel are the founding owners of Maple Leaf Spirits.
"I look after the marketing, sales and landscaping, and Jorg is the master distiller."
Annette and Jorg began distilling in 2005 and opened their original tasting room in 2006. It was a great starting point before ending up where they are now.
"Having a tasting room in Penticton's industrial area was not our dream location, but it was a start. Eventually, in 2014, we moved to the Naramata Bench. Jorg and I are very happy here. Penticton is only five kilometres away, so people can walk here within an hour. We are on the east side of Naramata Road, just across the street from two major wineries, with an incredible view overlooking the Naramata Bench and Okanagan Lake. It's a special spot."
Maple Leaf Spirits stands out by using local fruit, a tradition that predates the wine industry in the region. With sixteen unique products, this walkable location is ideal, especially for those with a curious palate.
"We offer tastings either in the tasting room or outside on the patio. It's just a nice personal experience where we can connect with our guests and show them the different products we have. It's just like wine tasting, only with spirits. We make gin, liqueurs, spirits and brandy wines using fruit like cherries, pears, plums, apricots, peaches and apples."
Is anyone else's mouth watering? With such an array of flavours, choosing a favourite isn't easy.
"It totally depends on who they are and where people come from. Just yesterday, I was at Apex Ski Resort, and somebody said to me, "I bought your Maple Liqueur in the fall, and it was gone within days. It was so beautiful." So, I think that one is a crowdpleaser. It's nice and sweet and very Canadian. And the maple syrup is local, from Maple Roch in Summerland. However, around Christmas time Canadian Kirsch is a big hit. And recently we received the results from the Canadian Artisan Spirits Competition (CASC), and, along with a few other awards Annette has shared on our website, our Cherry Liqueur won Best in Class for the second year in a row. We're very proud to be producing products we can stand behind."
Annette and Jorg offer something not overly familiar here in BC. While Craft Spirits are catching on, the roots of Maple Leaf Spirits come from afar.
"We immigrated to Canada in 2001. The wine industry was thriving but we could see so much fruit going to waste and it was puzzling. Annette and I are originally from the South of Germany where there are 22,000 distilleries. Every apple that drops to the ground ends up in either a distillery or a juice factory. It was the opposite here, so after some research, I applied for a license. It took a few years and by 2004 we had a license in our hand. It was the second license the province ever issued because the craft distilling industry was brand new. Today, there are 85 craft distilleries plus commercial ones. So it is growing, but when we first arrived, we saw it as a unique opportunity and went for it. We love fruit and everything that grows in the Okanagan. Seeing the beautiful peaches, cherries, pears, and so on lying on the ground didn't feel right. Our customers often comment on how happy they are that we use local fruit that would otherwise be overlooked."
While commonplace throughout Europe, using local fruit destined for waste is a novel idea here in Canada. And while Annette and Jorg are passionate about good fruit and minimizing food waste, they also operate out of love for the Okanagan.
"Do you know a better place on the planet than here? I just simply couldn't find a better spot anywhere. We were very young when we met and we both had this image of Canada being a beautiful place with healthy, lush forests, stunning lakes, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, nature, space and opportunities. So, in 1987, we spent six weeks in a rusty old car travelling from Vancouver Island to Toronto. We knew we couldn't see everything, so we explored what we could without being in too much of a rush. That's when we fell in love with the Okanagan. It took our breath away. Now, it's our home and we absolutely love it here. It's safe and a good place to raise children. We immigrated with our three kids and were pleased with the school system, the opportunities and the welcoming atmosphere. People here are so lovely. It was definitely a great move."
The lovely people Annette is talking about are friends, customers, and, in some cases, customers who have become friends.
"Any day that friends turn up is a good day. We can sit on the patio and have a drink together while taking in the stunning view. People are just so nice. We even had someone recently who bought a bottle of Kirsch and made a Black Forest cake with it. She came back the next day and brought some for us to share. That's just what people are like here. It's this sense of community that makes living here so special."
The people, the fruit, the views. What's not to love about living here?
"How can you beat it? Isn't it awesome? You get up in the morning and look outside to a view you'll never take for granted. It's a peaceful, quiet area with a friendly atmosphere, wineries, distilleries, markets, restaurants, and it's all very close. It's really nice to have the KVR right outside to walk or go for a bike ride. There's a beach three kilometres from our house so in no time at all we can go swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, whatever we feel like. Also, there's a strong sense of community. Even tourists have mentioned they enjoy hearing businesses send customers to each other. There's a very positive vibe here on the Naramata Bench. You aren't just a number, you're part of something. It's wonderful."
British Columbia is littered with small, lively towns, all offering access to natural beauty and their own unique vibe. Of course, as different places become popular and word spreads, the growing population and the number of visitors can affect the essence of the community. Fortunately, that hasn't happened here in Naramata. The low population and smooth flow of visitors keep the local spirit alive. And locals aren't limited to humans.
"We've always loved wildlife, especially birds. Watching eagles soar above our property is gorgeous. There are even birds in our family. We have around fifteen colourful pheasants living beside the tasting patio. Visitors love getting to know them."
A love for animals comes from a passion for nature in general. It's popular nowadays for businesses to tout their environmental efforts as a marketing tactic. However, for Annette and Jorg, it's different. They operate and live with as minimal an impact as possible and are incredibly humble about it.
"We also have a one hectare vineyard that we operate almost completely organically. We're very careful how we manage it. Also, we use solar where we can, grow our own vegetables and are part of the Okanagan Stewardship Society (OSS). There are so many ways we tread lightly. We don't need to go on about them, it's just normal for us to be environmentally conscious. It's who we are and who we always have been."
Maple and Cherry Liqueurs, caring for the land, breathtaking views, friendly people, walk and cycle access, pheasants, what more can you ask for? If your interest isn't piqued and your mouth isn't watering, you may need to read this again. Or better yet, pay Annette, Jorg and their colourful feathered team a visit to taste some award-winning spirits that you're unlikely to find anywhere else.
"Ninety-five percent of what we make leaves through our tasting room door. We do some online orders but not a lot. There are also a handful of private liquor stores where you may find our spirits, but with limited quantities, your best bet is to come see us."
Maple Leaf Spirits is located at 948 Naramata Road, Naramata, BC, five minutes outside Penticton on the Naramata Bench. Pop in and give your taste buds the ride of their life. We'll see you there!
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