Growing up in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Jean-Martin (J-M) Bouchard was passionate about skiing and waterskiing, not wine. While he didn’t know it then, J-M was destined to become an amazing winemaker, working in cellars in three continents, and eventually becoming Road 13’s winemaker!
Interested in working with people, traveling and living in beautiful places, after moving to Montreal, J-M studied for a business and hotel management degree. It was through his work with restaurants and hotels in Montreal that he discovered a love for wine. This discovery led him to new horizons to work in wine and hospitality, moving to the other side of the world to Australia in 1998. After working in Australia, he began studying wine science at Australia’s Charles Sturt University. Attracted by his love for wine, and the combination of science, agriculture, creativity and world travelling, J-M knew he was making the right and most delicious decision; far more fun than his other plan, engineering!
After finishing his studies, J-M worked at a number of prestigious Australian wineries, including Torbreck Vintners and Penfolds Wines. Moved by his love for Riesling, J-M also travelled to Alsace and Germany to further his winemaking skills. Led by the strong belief that great wines are made in the vineyard, J-M experimented with traditional non-interventionist winemaking techniques, like using native yeasts and minimizing the use of fining and filtration.
After travelling around the world, J-M returned to his home and native land and took a role at Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in Summerland, BC, where he worked in the cellar for every step of winemaking – from grape to bottle. From this first taste of the Okanagan, J-M knew he had to come back.
Spurred by this experience, J-M enjoyed great success as winemaker in Canada’s other great winemaking region – Niagara, working at Hidden Bench winery, focusing on making terroir driven wines. Despite enjoying Niagara, J-M always wanted to return to the Okanagan Valley, and moved his family back to the area. After working on the development of a new winery, J-M decided to take this position at Road 13 Vineyards. Excited by the new challenges, J-M looks forward to making terroir driven, natural, complex and unique wines with great texture and character.
In his spare time, J-M still loves skiing, spending time with his wife and two children, and hopes to build an outside pizza oven in his Kaleden property to entertain friends in the summer. He also hopes to maybe get a few sheep in the future for his Australian wife.
What is your favourite Road 13 wine and food pairing?
The Sparkling Chenin Blanc with a Piedmont cheese named “La Tur”. The acidity of the sparkling wine is heavenly with the dense, creamy blend of pasteurized cow, goat and sheep milk cheese.
What does “It’s All About the Dirt” mean to you?
Soil is the most important aspect of terroir and what gives wine personality. At Road 13, we are very serious about our wines, but we also like to take ourselves less seriously. “It's All About the Dirt” is a recognition of the importance of terroir and soil without being too wine-geeky about it!
What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
The sense of achievement one achieves looking back few years later at the changes in the vineyards and the proof in the bottles.
What’s the least rewarding aspect of your work?
That unfortunately, we never have a second chance to get it right!
What is the one area of the wine business that you would like to learn more about?
I want to focus on learning how to optimise our soil management practises to obtain wines of character and uniqueness from our vineyards in the South Okanagan.
What do you like to do on your time off?
Spend quality time with the family, downhill ski, garden, and try to become a great barista with my lever espresso machine!
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Still here at the same spot, but with more knowledge about the terroir, still keen to learn more and improve my skills.
Where would you like to take your next vacation?
I would love to bring my wife to Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. It is a great romantic gateway with great local architecture, paved streets, galleries, fantastic dining experiences and the ability to cycle to explore the different beaches of the island.
What’s the best thing about living in South Okanagan?
The landscapes, skies, clean air, lakes and mountains, few traffic lights and the friendliness of the locals!