Estate Wines
NAUTICAL: Celebrating sailors, 40 Knots was originally named for the gale force winds that often strike the coast. We embrace the vineyards unique microclimate, adorning our label with swallows that frequent the vineyard and depict home to a sailor. (Read about the significance of our Swallow below)
BC Wines
AERONAUTICAL: Celebrating pilots, Brenda and Layne Craig were wanting a second label representing what the 40 Knots’ name meant to them. 40 Knots was the Stall Speed of Layne’s Maule M7235B Bush Plane. Stall Speed Wines made from BC grown grapes are purchased from reputable and ethical growers. These wines bring the same thrill and sense of adventure as being in a stall where the wings of the plane give up the lift and all is at zero... all is quiet.. for that moment. Our StallSpeed Collection allowed for bolder reds and whites that we cannot achieve locally.
40 Knot’s Estate Wine Label – The Swallow
The Northern Rough-Winged Swallow adorns our Estate label. These swallows are endemic to our area and frequent our vineyard. Each year we celebrate their arrival. For us, they are not only our friends but part of our biodynamic crew. Swallows will only live in areas that have biodynamic balance and they are indeed an important part of our balance here at 40 Knots Vineyard. As part of our crew, they are an excellent bug predator, and unlike other birds, they never harm our grapes. 40 Knots Vineyard is surrounded by farming land and swallows always nest near other farm animals. When you are here, you will see the vineyard spotted with swallow birdhouses we have built to keep them safe and give them a home to return to every year.
Swallows are also songbirds, and in maintaining a balance it is believed that sound vibrations are important to vine health. Italy has been piping out opera to their vines for many years, and they have shown that the vines closer to the music are the healthiest in the vineyard. At 40 Knots, we do indeed have music in our vineyard terrace for not only our guests to enjoy but to also bring balance to our vineyard. Come see for yourself on a Wine Wednesday and tour our interpretive trail.
40 Knots is just a stone’s throw away from the Salish Sea. Our land was created by a glacier, our vines are reaching down through glacier till soil. The rich salt air flows through our vines keeping them healthy, aerated and strong, and the salt air imbeds our oak providing beautiful aging that cannot be accomplished in dry wine regions. While walking the interpretive trail or sipping on our vineyard terrace or balcony overlooking the vineyard, you can hear the swallows singing alongside the sea lion’s barking the arrival of the new day.
Swallows are an important friend of sailors and are believed to be a good omen. Sailors will often get a swallow tattoo to show off their sailing experience. According to one legend, one swallow symbolizes successful journeys adding up to 5,000 nautical miles, two swallows symbolize 10,000 nautical miles and so on. Another legend is that since swallows always return to the same land each year to mate and nest, the swallow will guarantee the sailor returns home safely. Sailors also believe that if they were to drown, the swallow will carry their soul to heaven.
40 Knots believes that all of us have the right to love and be loved. This is showcased with our gold medal wining Soleil Rose French Traditional style. The label, "Love is Love", supports the work fo the LGBTQ2 community. We believe that we are all equal and we share in the responsibility to support this belief. Even our swallows live with this same belief. The female and male swallow not only look almost identical, but they also share in all the responsibilities of the daily chores and protecting their family. Once they mate, they mate for life. This is another quality we give great importance to. We practice loyalty to our community, our family, our friends, and our environment.