Rose Family
1983
Vern Rose
Vern Rose, the founder of House of Rose Winery, retired as a teacher from Edmonton, Alberta in 1983. He played at making wine over the years and had a dream of growing his own grapes, and making his own wine, when he moved to Kelowna, British Columbia that year.
Vern purchased the 6.7 acres that are now home to House of Rose Winery in 1983, shortly after the property was converted from an apple orchard to a vineyard.
Vern studied vineyard management and grape growing and over the next years sold his grapes to Calona Wines.
1993
Growing grapes was not enough to satisfy Vern’s drive and curiosity and in the early 1990’s Vern dedicated himself to in-depth learning about the magical process that changes grape juice into a cherished wine. His hobby turned into passion, a passion for wine and the whole winemaking process. Taking courses from University of California – Davis and working with a wine consultant, Vern set himself to getting educated about wine making.
He applied for a winery license and in 1993 became one of the first 17 wineries in the Okanagan valley. House of Rose Winery was born.
A growing winery
Vern’s passion was clear to the many customers coming to the small wine shop. He spent countless hours talking with customers about wine, the different varieties he was growing, including Marechal Foch, Verdelet, De Chaunac, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Okanagan Riesling.
To this day we have customers and old friends come to the winery, or approach us anywhere we go and ask “How is Vern? I enjoyed his company so much, we spent hours listening to him, what a character!”
With the help of son Russell and, with the mounds of paperwork, daughter Aura, Vern made wines that appealed to a wide variety of customers. He respected the differences of taste between people to the fullest, though he was not shy of helping people expand their tastes and palates by offering a variety from dry whites all the way to deeply sweet Icewines.
House of Rose wines have won many prizes over the years and at the turn of the millennium, Vern was known as the ‘King of Foch’ in the valley.
A turning point
Working 10-14 hours a day until he was 75 years old and then slowing down to 8-10 was slowly having an impact on Vern. He offered the winery for sale and daughter Toshena contemplated taking over the winery. Vern was still very involved in the whole operation and was not truly ready to turn over the wheels to others or to the next generation. But the wheels of change were set in motion as the years started to count for Vern.
2007
In the early summer of 2007, shortly before his 80th birthday, Vern suffered a significant stroke. His focus shifted to healing and with the full dedication of all his stubbornness and energy, he started working himself back to health.
The winery was in a kind of limbo, with staff keeping the operation going, but missing Vern’s leadership. Russell had moved on to other adventures, but made sure he was there for Vern and moved back into the house to care for Vern as his siblings came and went to help with the 24 hour care Vern needed at that point.
After a period, Aura assumed an interim management role, still living in Salmon Arm, as the winery again was offered for sale, Vern now clearly unable to maintain his role as founder and leader of the winery but was still involved in the decision making. Aura’s focus was to offer potential buyers the best insight possible into the gem with great potential that House of Rose Winery has.
Aura & Wouter
2009 New Ownership
Aura Rose and her husband Wouter van der Hall, offered Vern to take over running the winery from him completely in April 2009 to help him out, while still living in Salmon Arm. Within a month it was clear to them that they had to make a decision. The winery needed their full attention, not two days a week. Involving all siblings in the decision, they reached an agreement and in July 2009, after appraisals and agreements, bought the winery from Vern.
After all the shifts over the last few years, Vern had reached much of his dream. He had once hoped that all his children would live at the winery and that it would stay in the family for generations.
Shamylla
Aura and Wouter now live at the winery with their daughter Shamylla as well as Vern himself.
Son Russell lives at the end of the property, from where he runs his recycling business as well as drops over to the 10 acres of Pinot Noir he has leased to bring up to production, grapes that House of Rose intends to use in our wines as well. With his dedication to the environment, Russell is using only organic practices on these acres.
Shamylla is also involved in the winery at times as she does tours, works in the vineyard or winery on occasion.
Three generations involved at House of Rose Winery, Vern feels pretty good about how things have developed.
Organic and sustainable
In 2009 Aura and Wouter also decided to turn to organic practices in maintaining the vineyard and are increasingly shifting from traditional to more sustainable practices in the overall winery operations.
2010
Aura and Wouter are developing plans to build on top of the old house so Vern can stay living there and hope to have the building finished in the spring of 2011, with a small extension to the wine shop, maintaining its quaint character and intimate tasting experience.
In 2010 House of Rose Winery launches a few new favourites alongside heritage wines like the Marechal Foch, Okanagxan Riesling and De Chaunac.
Hot Flash and Sweet Mystery come on the shelves and are instant hits with customers.
Aura and Wouter also add some seasonal fun to the existing wines with fun labels like Vampire’s Vines, Witches’ Delight and the Christmas wines, Santa’s Kiss and Rudolph’s Red.
Aura (wine maker) and Wouter (vineyard manager) have spent countless hours studying the ins and outs of the whole process, just like Vern did many years ago and with support from wine consultant Gary Strachan – who has been involved with the winery since its conception- have found their new roots in proudly growing grapes and making wines at House of Rose Winery. And tasting the products of their work is not a bad perk either, they think!
2011
As from day one at the winery, everyone at House of Rose Winery is focused at giving every visitor a great experience, sharing stories and wine adventures with people from all over the world. And of course, focused on producing quality wines at affordable prices!
2012
This year will bring new enthusiasm and a few new wines as well, as we replant some areas in the vineyard and expand on the well received funky wines. The Picnic area will be even more family friendly.
In the mean time Vern is getting older, turning 85 this year and Shamylla is graduating from High School. Aura and Wouter both work -yes more than- full time at creating wonderful experiences for you all, both on the palate as in our sharing of life, wine and other stories with you.
Cooperation will continue and expand in the Kelowna FAB5, the magical winery tour on the hill, even closer by than you think, in the backyard of Kelowna, with a Provence feel about it, touring from Black Mountain to Benvoulin.
A great wine lovers year is upon us!
