Abbotsford farm famous for berries is now creating fruit wine

Maan Farms has a long and proud history of providing a true “country experience” in the Fraser Valley with their quality produce. Starting in 1977 by Jawahar and Gurbachan Maan with the help of their three children, Maan Farms began by producing cole crops, but soon shifted to growing the strawberries, raspberries and blueberries for which they later became famous. Now they have expanded their offerings to include berry wines.

In 1982, the Maans opened their first roadside stand, which quickly grew in popularity. In 2006, 24 years after they opened that first stand, they bought the property on which the farm is now located. Jawahar and Gurbachan Maan are enjoying retired life and have since passed the business on to their son and his wife to continue tradition, and that’s when the wine happened.

Maan Farm Estate Winery, established in 2011, aims to bring a taste of true distinction to the area with their fruit flavoured wines. Loyal to the Fraser Valley, these fruity wines capture the delicate accents of the hand-picked berries grown on the family estate.

When asked what the inspiration was to start up an estate winery, the one word that came up was ‘passion’. The Maan’s farm has been in the community for more than 40 years and they want to continue giving back in any way they can.

“You can buy a pound of berries for four dollars, but if we create a wine out of them, we can make twenty dollars from just that one bottle,” says Gaurav, one of the four children helping to run the farm.

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A Guide to Maan Farms Fruit Wines (driest to sweetest)

Blackberry – Vintage 2013

An easy drinking wine that is smooth with little acidity and a medium-body, comparable to a merlot. It is dry and has low tannins with a lasting and pleasant aftertaste. It presents a rich nose with earthy characteristics and pairs great with steak, salmon and beef.

Raspberry – Vintage 2012

Semi dry and boasts a smoky impression on the pallet. It is relatively high in acidity with low tannins that give off a distinct raspberry aftertaste. It generates fresh aromas, which flatter the nose. It pairs great with salads and pork.

Strawberry Raspberry Blend – Vintage 2012

This blended fruit wine is soft, yet carries distinguishing flavors. It is slightly sweet, smooth on the pallet and boasts more body than most fruit wines. It pairs great with salads, chicken and turkey.

Blueberry – 2014 *Best Seller

Medium-bodied with sweet notes that awaken the pallet. Due to its high tannins, it is aged in the bottle longer before selling to avoid hindering its sweet notes. It gives off clean fresh aromas and pairs well with barbecued meats and salmon.

*Each bottle is priced at $23.00

Dessert Wines

Raspberry -Vintage 2012

Sweet yet savory, this dessert wine has a full body and fresh fruity aromas that engulf the nose. It finishes with a distinct and profound aftertaste and pairs well after dinner with various cheesecakes and dark chocolate.

Blueberry – Vintage 2012 *Best Seller

A dominating note of fruitiness that compliments its syrupy, smooth texture. This vintage wine is best paired with aged cheesed, vanilla ice cream and white chocolate.

Blackberry – Vintage 2013

This full-bodied wine presents unique and interesting flavors on the pallet, almost as if you are eating skittles. It pairs well with cheesecake, fruit cobbler, and on dark chocolate.

*Each bottle is priced at $26.45

Looking to expand their wine selection, three new red wines are being cooked up for the coming summer and winter months. These will include a cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and a merlot.

If you’re interested in trying one of Maans wines for yourself, you can stop by their local farm or find them in liquor stores across Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, and Langley.

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Maan Farms

Address: 790 McKenzie Road, Abbotsford
Phone: 604-864 5723
Website: www.maanfarms.com

Written by Samantha Lenz. Connect with her on Twitter at @SamanthaLenz.