Featured Winemaker
Mathieu Mercier is the head winemaker at Osoyoos Larose. Born in Cognac, France, he grew up in the vineyard at his family’s estate. He holds both a Masters in Viticulture and Enology from Bordeaux Sciences Agro and a National Diploma of Enology from the Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin in Bordeaux.
In 1998, Groupe Taillan of Bordeaux, France and Constellation Brands Canada formed an inspired partnership with a vision to create a world-class Canadian wine from classic Bordeaux varietals.
The union of centuries-old winemaking traditions and new-world, state-of-the-art equipment and technology was consummated on an arid, west-facing, 80-acre bench overlooking Lake Osoyoos in the South Okanagan, British Columbia. Their inaugural wine, Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin 2001 exceeded all expectations at home and abroad. Le Grand Vin 2001 raised the profile of all red wine produced in the South Okanagan and placed Osoyoos Larose on par with the world’s finest wine producers.
From 2010 to 2013, Mathieu spent time expanding his skills in viticulture and winemaking at Concha Y Toro’s Don Melchor in Chile; at Swanson Vineyards and at Cain Vineyard and Winery in the Napa Valley; and in Bordeaux, working at several estates owned by Groupe Taillan. It was at the latter that he began to take an interest in Osoyoos Larose, and in winemaking in the Okanagan Valley. In March of 2013, he moved to Canada for the opportunity to manage all the steps from vineyard to the cellar at Osoyoos Larose.
Osoyoos Larose relies on the craftsmanship of French oak barrels to age their wine for a period of 18 to 20 months.
The vineyard is on the side of a mountain, with spectacular views over Osoyoos Lake and the south Okanagan Valley
The pride of Osoyoos Larose, Le Grand Vin is a Bordeaux-inspired blend that is barrel aged for 18 to 20 months and laid down for an additional six months after bottling. Made to be cellared for eight to ten years, this big, bold, red is characterized by ample tannins, good complexity and an elegant, long finish.