Canadian Winemaker Series – Robert Fiume

Roberto Fiume of Ciao Bella Winery

Tucked away in the hills above West Kelowna is an inviting, old world winery, whose owners are as charming as the winery itself. Ciao Bella is owned and run by the Fiume family, who originally came to Canada from Sicily. The Fiumes grow their own grapes and produce lovely, Italian-style wines that pair magnificently with Italian cuisine. Big fans of the winery, we spoke to founder and winemaker Roberto Fiume.

O & V: How did you get started in the wine industry? Roberto Fiume: In 1986 our family moved from Yellowknife NWT to our present location and we purchased the property that the wineshop and Cantina are located at. It was a vineyard and as was the case with many vineyards it was pulled out in 1989 when the first free trade agreement went through. The property sat empty until 1998 when I started to build the new/current vineyard. O & V: How did you learn the craft of making wine? Roberto Fiume: I learnt winemaking from my father Luigi and have been working with other winemakers to hone my skills to contemporary methods. Our son Antonio is now involved in the winemaking and has had several vintages under his belt! O & V: What was your greatest challenge in opening your own winery? Roberto Fiume: When I planted the original vineyard we were told you can’t grow vinifera on that site! Well, twenty-some years later not only have we been successfully growing vinifera but one of the most dificult, Pinot Nero (Noir). Our grapes have been in many award winning bottles including our first vintage that won Best Pinot Noir in BC and several national gold medals! O&V: What’s the best thing about your job/ Roberto Fiume: There are so many great things about being a viticulturist, winemaker and making great connections with our customers in the wineshop! Hard to pick one but definitely this is all an expression of my entrepreneurial spirit. Antonio and I spent the day filtering wines just yesterday and while it was a long day, seeing our wine develop from beautiful grapes into an amazing vino that looks, smells and tastes great and working together to do; this is what is my favourite thing about Ciao Bella Winery! O & V: Is there a particular wine or vintage you’ve made that you are most proud of? Roberto Fiume: Hmm, that’s a hard one, they all are so unique and each one brings it’s own challenges and rewards, it’s like picking a favourite child, I can’t do it!  ciaobellawinery.com

Father and son winemakers Antonio and Robert Fiume work together in the cellar at Ciao Bella in West Kelowna.

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