Category Archives: British Columbia
Sauvignon Blanc, Waters & Banks, Haywire, Okanagan Valley BC VQA, Canada, 13% abv, 2014
Love. Haywire wines are consistently gorgeous. It doesn’t get much better than this on the BC wine stage. When you’re committed to using organically grown grapes, and providing little intervention in the cellar – no additives or oak, indigenous yeasts … Continue reading
Hypothesis, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 13.5% abv, 2011
Culmina Winery owner, Don Triggs is no stranger to the really big wine industry business. No, really. I’m serious; as one half of the former Jackson-Triggs group (yes, that Jackson-Triggs), with his business partner, Don Triggs built and sold Vincor. … Continue reading
Merlot, Upper Bench Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 2012, 14.3% abv, C$26
I visited this winery in mid-August 2015 on the day they were actually harvesting Chardonnay for sparkling wine out back. Yes, in August! While I had real trouble getting the attention of those behind the bar for tastings, eventually I … Continue reading
Muscat Ottonel, Hillside Winery, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC,13.2% abv, 2014
I’ve never been there, but it’s not for lack of trying. It has just never worked out – yet. But others I know have been and have enjoyed the award-winning restaurant, in addition to the wines made there on the … Continue reading
Pinot Gris, Switchback Vineyard, Haywire, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, Canada, 2013, 13% abv, C$25
As the bottle mentions, this delicious tipple was created by Michael Bartier, Matt Dumayne and consultant winemaker Alberto Antonini at the Okanagan Crush Pad and has been “..fermented using wild yeast and raised in concrete.” Okay, so let’s talk about … Continue reading
Sauvignon Blanc, Free Form, Haywire, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 2014, 13% abv, C$35
This is a Sauvignon Blanc I can actually get behind. Now, I know many wine enthusiasts enjoy your favourite Sauvignon Blancs and that characteristic herbaceousness touched by citrus and gooseberry. So often though, they’re industrially made and sweetened, showing little … Continue reading
Pinot Noir, Free Form, Haywire, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 2014, 12.8% abv, C$41
If I could drink this all day, every day, I would. Hands down. No question. Unfined, unfiltered, fermented with indigenous yeast, and aged for 8 months on the skins in amphorae. Pressed and then rested for two more months and … Continue reading
Cabernet Franc, Poplar Grove, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, 2012, 14.3% abv.
Here’s a tasty drink from one of several wineries located on the Okanagan’s Naramata Bench in beautiful British Columbia. On the eyes, it sports a dense and deep ruby with aromas of crunchy raspberries, blackberry, pine, garrigue and minerals. The … Continue reading
Rosé, Clos du Soleil, Similkameen Valley VQA, Okanagan, BC, 2013, 13.1% abv.
Many people think you can’t or shouldn’t drink rosé during winter. Says who? Does it make you smile? Does it make you happy? A perennial favourite of mine, the Similkameen Valley’s Clos du Soleil winery makes many of my go to BC … Continue reading
Pinot Noir, Foxtrot, Erickson Vineyard, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2010, 13.6% abv.
We visited Foxtrot in 2013 and purchased this bottle plus another Pinot Noir made with grapes from the Foxtrot Vineyard. It wasn’t easy keeping this one until Christmas 2015, but we managed. A perfect accompaniment to turkey dinner with sausage stuffing … Continue reading
