We visited this winery located in the Golden Mile Bench in August during a week long trip to Osoyoos, deep in BC’s wine country.

They’ve been growing vinifera varietals at Gehringer Brothers for 25 years and that’s one of the reasons their products are priced so reasonably; their business plan reflects their long-lived presence on the VQA scene.  Plus, their products taste pretty good too – one of the older Gehringers actually attended the famed Geisenheim Institute in Germany for his wine studies.

There really are far too many varietals being grown in BC – over 90 at last count.  Pinot Blanc doesn’t have a ‘region’ of the world that has claimed it as its own and it is well-suited to the Okanagan’s climate, terroir and growing season.   If the Okanagan were to claim Pinot Blanc as its white varietal of choice, it would go a long way to helping the region gain international recognition for something other than icewine.  As my wine instructor Iain Philip was often heard to lament during class, ‘Poor Pinot Blanc’.

But ‘poor’ this is not.  Clear with a light golden core moving to a white water rim with solid legs this wine has youthful aromas of stone fruit and apples with a citrus minerality.

The palate is dry and there’s a refreshing acidity, balanced alcohol and fresh flavours of pear, ripe Macintosh apples, lemon and grapefruit zest and a little bit of honey. There’s a slight oily quality that is often associated with Pinot Blanc as well.

A lovely WSET Good plump and juicy white wine with a solid finish.  Drink now – don’t age. Nicely balanced fruit, acidity without a hint of bitterness and at a superb price.