The 2022 Soren ‘Boundary Spring’ captures the rugged intensity of the southern Similkameen, earning its place as VineRoutes’ Wine of the Year for 2025
Every year, VineRoutes editors blind-taste numerous wines in search of those that rise above category, region, and expectation. In 2025, one red wine stood out not just for its polish and balance, but for how clearly it expressed a place that remains largely underexplored in Canadian fine wine.
That wine was the 2022 Soren ‘Boundary Spring’, a cabernet sauvignon–led red blend from British Columbia’s Similkameen Valley and ultimately named VineRoutes’ Outstanding Red Wine of the Year for 2025.
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The southern reaches of the Similkameen Valley are just kilometres from the U.S. border, where geography and geology combine to create one of Canada’s most compelling red wine environments. According to co-founder and Master of Wine Geoffrey Moss, the vineyard sits on a warm, west-facing slope, soaking up afternoon sun while benefiting from a defining regional feature: granite.
“The granite cliffs that line the vineyard retain heat and radiate it through the evening,” explains Moss. “So, these combinations of influences result in a warm site that’s really well suited to Bordeaux reds and syrah.”
British Columbia’s Similkameen Valley.
Unlike the sand-dominated soils of the South Okanagan, the Similkameen tells a different geological story. Thin topsoil, exposed bedrock, and fractured granitic soils define the landscape. Challenging to farm, but deeply expressive in the glass.
“For me, the wines from the Similkameen have arguably more of a pronounced minerality,” Moss says, “almost like a dusty kind of character that complements the lush, ripe fruit that we also get from it.”
Why the Similkameen?
Soren’s brand philosophy is rooted in exploration. Rather than anchoring the brand to a single region, Moss and co-founder Ryan McKibbon seek out vineyards that spark curiosity—places that offer both technical potential and a sense of identity.
“As you leave the Okanagan and drive into the Similkameen, it really feels like you’re somewhere entirely different,” says Moss. “The mountains are steeper, more dramatic. It feels more isolated. It’s just a beautiful place to go.”
That sense of distinction is central to Boundary Spring’s appeal. While the climate may share similarities with the Okanagan, the soils, topography, and overall energy of the valley set it apart, yielding wines that feel both familiar and singular.
Geoffrey Moss MW.
The 2022 growing season demanded confidence. A slow start, delayed budbreak, and cooler-than-average temperatures raised early questions about ripeness, especially with slightly higher yields across the region.
“It was a vintage marked by uncertainty,” Moss recalls. “It wasn’t clear we had the temperatures to get fruit fully to the finish line.”
Then autumn arrived, and with it, a dramatic shift. September and October delivered record-breaking heat, effectively extending summer into late October. For well-managed vineyards, the payoff was exceptional.
“For me, it’s probably one of my favourite vintages in the last ten years,” says Moss, placing 2022 alongside 2016 and 2020. “You get beautiful fruit ripeness balanced by freshness. These wines have real aging potential.”
Balance, restraint, and place
Moss views cabernet sauvignon as “the grape of the future” for the southern Similkameen, particularly on warm, structured sites like this one. And so, as a cabernet sauvignon–dominant wine (supported by classic Bordeaux varieties and a measured splash of syrah) this is sure to be a blueprint that carries this prediction through the coming years.
“We’re making wines that suit our palate, wines we love and want to drink over years to come,” he says. Simply put, “Our goal is deliciousness.”
That philosophy is evident in the glass. Ripe, wild berry fruit; a desert sagebrush-like herbaceous note; and a distinctly dusty, mineral edge drawn from its granitic soils. Syrah contributes lift and peppery spice, adding complexity without overshadowing the wine’s cabernet core.
Tannins are plush and polished—no small feat in a region known for intense sunlight and thick-skinned berries. The result is a wine that feels immediately engaging yet clearly structured for the cellar.
“A wine balanced today will remain balanced ten years from now,” Moss notes.
Wine of the year
Produced in just 400 cases, Boundary Spring impressed VineRoutes editors for its clarity of expression and composure. It is confident without excess, powerful without heaviness, and deeply rooted in its place. In blind tasting, it consistently distinguished itself for mid-palate weight, freshness, and textural finesse—qualities that ultimately set it apart.
For Moss and the Soren team, the recognition is both gratifying and affirming.
“We try to put as much value into the bottle as possible,” he says. “To be recognized shows that people are aligned with our vision, for the brand and for the style of wines we want to make.”
It’s a wine that represents both where Soren is today and where it’s headed: small-scale, terroir-driven, and exploratory by design. Each release is intended to be a little different, guided by curiosity rather than convention.
“Our goal is for every release to explore something new,” Moss says, pointing to recent work in Oregon’s Eola–Amity Hills as part of that ongoing journey.
For now, Boundary Spring remains a benchmark expression of the Similkameen Valley, and a compelling argument for why this rugged, granite-lined region deserves greater attention.
The 2022 Soren ‘Boundary Spring’ was awarded Most Outstanding Red Wine of the Year for 2025, as published in our VineRoutes Newsletter. To discover more exclusive newsletter-only wine features, sign up here.
– Carmelo Giardina is the principal editor of VineRoutes
