British Columbians have adhered to the daily presence of Provincial Health Commissioner Dr. Bonnie Henry used to capturing the history of the province during the COVID-19 pandemic. But for the owner group of a winery in Similkameen, her calm demeanor is an old consolation.
That’s because the popular Henry himself is a co-owner of Clos du Soleil, a Keremeos winery that she started with a group of friends in 2006.
Michael Clark, who is the winemaker and general manager of Clos du Soleil, also belongs to the current group of owners. Like him and the rest of the owners, Clark says Henry has a penchant for quality wine, food, and travel.
“She’s told me a million times – and she could speak for any of us – that it’s a lot more than just a business, it’s a passion,” said Clark. “We are all involved because of the passion for wine and the passion for the valley.”
While she hasn’t been directly associated with the winery since taking over as the province’s top doctor, Clark says Henry is a huge fan of all of the wines Clos du Soleil has to offer.
Her personal favorites are Signature – the winery’s flagship reds – and Fumé Blanc, a wine that is predominantly Sauvignon Blanc, Clark said.
READ MORE: The province is optimizing patio applications for restaurants, wineries and pubs in British Columbia
The pandemic has put Henry in the spotlight, but after knowing her long before the crisis began, Clark says he’s not surprised by how many British Columbians have welcomed her in her critical role.
“I think the reason people have connected with her so much when she’s on TV or on the news is because she’s the real you in front of the cameras,” said Clark. “That’s how it is personally. She speaks softly, is very friendly, warm-hearted and sincere. “
Before the rest of BC knew her as the soft spoken voice of calm in times of upheaval, Clark knew Henry as a voice of reason no matter the circumstances.
“I knew she was very important to our province, so I already knew that in the event of a health crisis in BC, she would have a key leadership position to deal with,” added Clark.
“But I certainly didn’t expect what’s going on now.”
A long list of industries are facing significant financial burdens due to the pandemic, and with the wine industry reliant on tourism and restaurants, this is no exception.
“Gastronomy is going through a terrible time and that is closely related to the province’s wine industry. So the bottom line is that it’s a challenging time, ”said Clark.
Fortunately, many British Columbians are staunch both in their love for wine and in their willingness to support those who produce it in their region.
“The British Columbian public is extremely supportive of the British Columbia wine industry, so we are very happy to have this intense support from the people of British Columbia and from people across Canada,” said Clark.
The schedule for a return to normal is uncertain, a reality Henry confirmed with every step. Today, May 30th, Henry stood on the podium to remind residents to remain cautious and “proceed cautiously” as the province enters the third week of its reopening plan.
These times there is uncertainty, but Clark says he’s glad to have a friend like Henry to lead the prosecution.
“We are really proud of the great work she has done for our province. These are definitely unique times we are in right now and we are all very grateful for everything she does. “
The Clos du Soleil, which translates as “closed vineyard in the sun”, is located at 2568 Upper Bench Road in Keremeos.
READ MORE: Penticton May Soon Allow Drinking Alcohol In Some Public Places
Brendan Shykora
BC wine
Get local stories you won’t find anywhere else straight to your inbox.
Login here
