Silver medals
Celebrate at lunch. Celebrate weeknights. Celebrate with pizza or a simple salad. Celebrate weekends. And, definitely, celebrate milestones. “Exactly,” said Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards president Gordon Fitzpatrick.
“The tag line for all our sparkling wines is ‘why wait to celebrate’. Sparkling wine is not just for special occasions, but everyday. And it’s not just an aperitif, but a great food wine.”
Fitzpatrick, located just off Highway 97 halfway between Peachland and Summerland, was purpose-built as a sparkling house, although it does make still wines as well.
“About 40 per cent of our production is sparkling and that will grow as we establish our reputation on it,” he said.
“That’s why were so proud of our Fitz Brut and the release of our first two reserve sparkling wines.”
Of course, in the rest of the world, we have to call bubbles sparkling wine because only such wines made in the Champagne region of France can call themselves Champagne.
However, Fitz’s sparklers are made in the same traditional method of Champagne with secondary fermentation in the bottle to create the bubbles and ample aging on the lees (residual yeast) to develop character and complexity.
“That’s why these new releases are 2014 and 2015 vintage,” said Fitzpatrick. “And they are half the price of Champagne.” The 2015 Fitz Brut ($33) is the winery’s flagship bubbles from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown at Fitzpatrick’s home block vineyards.
At first sniff and taste there’s fruit – apple and lime predominantly.
But then the fine bubbles offer honey, intensely buttery French bread and creamy aromas and flavours thanks to partial early fermentation in neutral barrels that added complexity without any oak tang.
Expect apple and rhubarb on the nose and palate of the of the Fitz 2014 Reserve Sparkling rose ($42.50) made from 100 per cent Pinot Noir.
The long finish will also delight you with minerality and brioche.
The Fitz Reserve Blanc de Blancs 2014 ($42.50) is so named because its a white sparkler made with 100 per cent white Chardonnay grapes.
The perfectly ripened grape variety, along with very little dosage (sweet liquid) added during extended fermentation means this is the driest (extra-brut) sparkling Fitz makes.
The style means slightly tart apple flavours at the opening followed by lemon with a tongue-pleasing tickle of frothy mousse.
For instance, the just-released 2016 Roussanne ($30) is one of the few stand-alones of the French Rhone variety made in the Valley.
It may be oaked, but it is still freshly complex offering up everything from toasted coconut and honeysuckle to lemon and even watermelon.
Lemon, along with lime, grapefruit, apple and the distinctive gooseberry are all there in the 2017 Alibi ($25).
The wine is 70 per cent Sauvignon Blanc and 30 per cent Semillion, just as they traditionally do the blend in France’s Bordeaux region.
Pierce will also forever be associated with helping make Black Hills’ Nota Bene red Bordeaux blend a cult wine and guaranteed sell out every year that’s well worth the $60-a-bottle price tag.
Continuity will also remain at Black Hills with long-time vineyard manager Steve Carberry staying on.
Black Hills has started its search for a new full-time winemaker.
Pop-up
Long-table, outdoor, pop-up dinners at wineries, farms and ranches are on the agenda this spring, summer and fall with Kelowna-based The Paisley Notebook.
Chef and experience planner Aman Dosanj puts together the series to get people together in spectacular settings to enjoy farm-to-table cuisine paired with Okanagan wines, craft beers and cocktails poured by Aman’s bartender brother, Harry.
On June 17 the pop-up is at Crooked Sky Farm in Enderby; Canada Day at Roche Wines in Penticton; July 28 at Caldwell Heritage Farm in Kelowna; Aug. 4, which is Food Day Canada, at Green Croft Gardens in Grindrod; Aug. 18 at Claremont Ranch Organics in Lake Country; Sept. 2 at Stewberry Farm in Summerland; and Sept. 30 at Sterling Springs Chicken in Falkland. Tickets range from $85 to $180 at PaisleyNotebook.com. The Paisley Notebook was a top three finalist in the remarkable experiences category at this year’s B.C. Tourism Industry Awards.
The Decanter World Wine Awards rained a trio of silver medals on each of two Okanagan wineries.
Clos de Soleil in Keremeos picked up the accolades for its 2016 Capella ($28) flagship white Bordeaux-style blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion and the 2014 Signature ($45) and 2013 Estate Reserve Red ($60) blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
Liquidity in Okanagan Falls won silver for two Pinot Noirs – the 2016 Estate ($26) and 2015 Equity ($56) – and the 2016 Estate Chardonnay ($26).
More than 17,200 wines from all over the globe were entered in Decanter.
Reno done
The expansion and renovations are complete at Township 7 Winery in Naramata and you’re invited to drop by Friday and check out the improvements.
From 3 to 5 p.m. wine and canapes will be served in the bigger tasting room and on the new patio overlooking the vineyard.
The cellar has been doubled in size, the crush pad has been expanded and there’s new tanks, barrels and equipment everywhere.
Steve MacNaull is The Okanagan Weekend’s business and wine reporter and columnist. Reach him at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.