Small lots

Small lots and single vineyards are becoming more of a focus at Township 7 Winery on the Naramata Bench.

Winemaker Mary McDermott is crafting more vintages in smaller quantities and from specific vineyards.

The recent releases of only 328 cases of the 2016 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ($27) and 469 cases of 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon ($27) are evidence of the evolution.

The grapes for the white are only from Blue Terrace vineyard on the North Bench in Oliver.

The wine was also aged for seven months in 15 per cent new and 85 per cent neutral (used) French oak barrels for some added complexity to the classic Sauv Blanc aromas and flavours of citrus, gooseberry and grass.

As such, it was a nice match with richer, fall-inspired slowcooker tarragon chicken my wife made earlier this week.

The Cab Sauv includes fruit from two Oliver vineyards, Blue Terrace and Sundial, and is true to the varietal with aromas and tastes of black currant, cherry, tobacco and graphite.

It went well with the organicbeef meat sauce my wife whipped up to go with pasta, also earlier this week.

In fact, a half-cup of the wine was tossed in the sauce while it simmered. through Bordeaux where the red blends are generally Merlot dominated, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

Bordeaux’s left bank wines, referring to the left, or south, bank of the Gironde and Garonne river and the celebrated Medoc and Pauillac appellations, are Cabernet Sauvignon heavy.

Vanessa’s Right Bank is also labelled Meritage, a term for wines not from Bordeaux, but made by blending two or more of Bordeaux’s traditional grape varieties.

The Vanessa offering is mostly Merlot with some Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon rounding it out.

It’s taste is classic right bank, more fruit-forward and less tannic, with raspberry, blackberry, blueberry and smoky aromas and a palate of black cherry and a dusting of cocoa.

Food pairing suggestions include roast beef or lamb, grilled steak, charcuterie, pate and brie and camembert cheeses. attend the German-style Oktoberfest at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre tonight from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Lederhosen costume isn’t mandatory to get in to the celebration of beer, Hofbrauhaus food and oom-pah-pah music, but it is encouraged.

For those who want to branch out from beer, wine and cider will also be served.

There may be some last-minute $35 tickets left to the event at ValleyFirstTix.com or at the Valley First box office at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Tree Brewing in Kelowna had its own tribute to Oktoberfest and B.C. Craft Beer Month on Thursday with its third annual Brewphoria at the Tree Beer Institute.

The sold-out event saw the institute host 11 other Okanagan microbrewers so 12 kegs in total could be tapped to provide samples.

Some of the other participating breweries included Penticton’s Highway 97, Vernon’s Marten and Oliver’s Firehall.

Steve MacNaull is The Okanagan Weekend’s business and wine reporter and columnist. Reach him at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.