The winery is located on Ven'Amour Organic Farms, a certified organic tree fruit farm, vineyard and nature estate along the banks of the pristine Similkameen River in Cawston. The location of this farm is surrounded by natural desert habitat and old growth river bottom forest giving the feeling of a pristine garden.
Steve Venables ~ Kim Brind'Amour
Kim Brind'Amour and Steve Venables are the owner/managers. The winery is the latest development of Ven'Amour Organic Farms. The family farm has been Organic since 1977, receiving Certified Organic Status in 1984 the year Certification began in BC. The orchards and vineyards are planted on a gentle sloping hillside bordering the Similkameen River and are completely isolated from commercial farming areas
They started producing fruit wines 1977 and achieve great success before adding grape wines. Steve is of course hands on in the orchard vineyards and the farm Kim looks after the business details for the farm and winery. Kim (with Steve) has served as board director to several associations related to organic growing and the wine industry in the Similkameen Valley. The tasting boutique showcases more of Kim's passion as an artist with her vibrant paintings, unique mosaics, and beaded jewelry.
Dominic Rivard is the consulting winemaker. He is perhaps the leading consultant for producing fruit wines in Canada.
Nathan Venables is also part of the team having grown into the business. He is Co-owner and creator of the Dead End wine series, Nathan has studied under master winemaker Dominic Rivard for the last 7 years and graduated from the winemaking program at Okanagan College.
In 2015 Forbidden Fruit Winery in Cawston has become the first winery in the Pacific Northwest to win top medals in both the grape wine and the fruit wine categories in the same competition. This unique distinction came about when Forbidden Fruit won two double platinum awards at the prestigious Winepress Northwest Platinum Judging held recently in Kenniwick, Wash. The first double platinum medal was awarded to Forbidden Fruit’s 2013 Caught – Apricot Mistelle, a soft apricot liqueur, the judges described as “dangerously delicious.” The second award was won by the winery’s 2011 Earth Series Merlot, a classic French style Merlot, described as full of raspberry, chocolate and exotic spices.
Their 2018 Pomme Desiree Iced Apple was awarded best fruit wine at the All Canadian Championship in 2019. The 2018 Earth Series Sauvignon Blanc won a double gold. Earth Series Merlot won silver.
Also winning a double gold was their 2018 Speachless an off dry Pearl
The Similkameen is only 3 hours from Abbotsford BC and just 28 minutes from Osoyoos. Take a drive visit the Similkameen wineries . Be sure to visit the beautiful setting of Forbidden Fruit Winery Relax on the patio watch the river flow by and enjoy their award winning wines
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