The year is 1977, and Guarav Maan鈥檚 grandparents and their then 14-year-old son just immigrated to Canada from Punjab, India. With what Maan described as a classic 鈥�$20 in their pockets鈥� story, the farmers had no idea that soon they would have the most successful and renowned wineries not only in Canada, but the world.

In the beginning, what is now a full-fledged multi-acre estate farm and winery was a 10-by-10 roadside fruit and vegetable stand. The Maan鈥檚 notoriously juicy strawberries sparked their popularity, and eventually built up to the business they have today in Abbotsford, B.C.

Guarav Maan grew up on the farm, and at one time was selling crates of fruit at the stand. The experience, he said, taught him his most valuable customer service and people skills. Maan later transitioned into learning the art of winemaking, and for the past 10 years, he鈥檚 honed his craft as the director of fruit wine operations and distribution.

Though the farm is a humble family business at its core, they鈥檙e no strangers to receiving accolades for their wine. Having competed at several international and national wine competitions, the Maan鈥檚 won gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, as well as previously winning best fruit wine of the year in 2018 at the same competition they just defended their title at鈥攖he All Canadian Wine Championships. Those two examples are only a drop out of the nearly 40 medals the winery has been awarded.

What goes into an award-winning bottle of wine?

Maan says it starts in the field.

鈥淲e鈥檙e in the Fraser Valley with some of the most fertile land for growing fruit. When we start in the field, we make sure to pick the best fruit that鈥檚 going into our wines. It鈥檚 not seconds,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e know that the end of the process starts in the beginning, so it鈥檚 all about the growing practice and harvesting the fruit.鈥�

Once the fruit has been harvested鈥攁pproximately two pounds per bottle鈥攖he fermentation process begins.

After the fermentation process is completed, Maan says the most important step can begin: prepping the wine to be bottled.

Working alongside a wine consultant, Maan tries several glasses of the wine and works on adding certain elements to hone the flavour. Much like adding a pinch of salt to a dish, the winemaker will add either a different fruit wine or a bit of sugar.

One of his goals is to make a bottle of wine that tastes as authentic to the berry it鈥檚 made from as possible. Sometimes that means adding a dash of blueberry wine to a bottle of raspberry, or some sugar to balance out the acidity.

When asked if the raspberry wine that won gold at the recent competition was made differently with a medal in mind, Mann said the process is the same for all of their wines and that it鈥檚 all about the customers.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not necessarily the judges of a competition or our own preference. It depends on what customers are looking for. When we created this raspberry wine, we wanted someone who loves eating raspberries to come and love this wine,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t tastes more raspberry than a raspberry. That was our intent and goal. Honestly, a byproduct of that was winning this award, because we鈥檙e authentic to the process.鈥�

More than winemakers, they鈥檙e a family

Currently, five of Maan鈥檚 family members work full-time at the farm.

His father, Kris, and his brother, Amir, are the farmers and the most integral parts of their business, according to Maan. His sister, Gurleen, is the 鈥渃reative vision鈥� for the business, introducing new products and activities to boost community engagement. His mother, known as Mama Maan, is dubbed the heart of the business. A warm welcome to their customers, she also takes on management duties.

The family remains close, and Maan said that there鈥檚 still a sense of awe around their successes.

鈥淲e sit down at the dinner table and we鈥檙e in shock at where we鈥檝e come to, and where we started. It鈥檚 just incredible, and every day things are getting better,鈥� he said.

鈥淢y dad has a classic saying, and it鈥檚 that 鈥榚very day in every way things are getting better and better,鈥� and that鈥檚 honestly what鈥檚 happening at the farm.鈥�

Maan Farms can be found at 790 McKenzie Road in Abbotsford and their website is maanfarms.com.

kim.kimberlin@blackpress.ca
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