The Pioneers: The Turyk Family

Vintners, Unsworth Vineyards, Mill Bay, B.C.

One of the most momentous wine moments of the year arrived last summer when Barbara Banke and daughter Julia Jackson€”majority owners in the California luxury behemoth Jackson Family Estates€”announced that they were purchasing the well respected but comparatively miniscule production that is Unsworth near Duncan, B.C. There are few folks more savvy in predicting what and where the next big thing will be than the Jackson clan, so if they€™re putting up their own money to invest in the Island, trust us, the entire wine world is taking notice. It's a fitting feather in the cap for the Turyk family, who built up production at Unsworth without sacrificing quality, and never abandoning the oddball grape varieties that are the Cowichan Valley's calling card. Thankfully, they'll be staying on to continue the day- to-day operations.

Neal McLennan

Neal McLennan

Neal McLennan is the wine and spirits editor for Vancouver and Western Living magazines, where he susses out the wonderful (and occasionally weird) options for imbibing across Western Canada.