Celebrate with fine homemade wines and cheeses
Raise a glass to our nation’s top wines and cheeses in celebration of a milestone year
Bartier Bros. Rosé 2016, Okanagan Valley, $17.49
A perfect Provençal-style pink with an electrically charged B.C. version of red fruits and acidity. Picked early to maintain its acidity this is a winner.
Bench 1775 Malbec 2014, Similkameen Valley, $25.90
Blueberry, fragrant violets and fennel preview a concentrated red with plummy flavoured, spicy soft fruit. A star.
Blue Mountain Reserve Pinot Gris 2014, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, $27.90
A benchmark for decades now, the 2014 remains true to type. Orchard fruits and wild herbs are the hallmark of this fabulous food wine. A perfect summer wine when you need to make a statement.
CheckMate Artisanal Winery Attack Chardonnay Barn Vineyard 2014, Okanagan Valley, $115
The most electric Checkmate label in 2014, from its stony, seashore aromas to its bright citrus flavours flecked with ginger and sea salt. If you are hosting a swish garden party this summer, here is your white wine.
Culmina Family Estate Hypothesis 2013, Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, $46
The fruit is black and savoury but with an elegant, stony mineral undercurrent. If you need a rich red for summer this is it. Perfect for beef and fine value given its quality.
Fitzpatrick Family The Unwinder Ehrenfelser 2015, West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, $24.50
Pears, peach blossoms and a touch of anise fill the palate of this intense Ehrenfelser from West Kelowna and Greata Ranch. A hedonistic summer sipper to be served well-chilled.
Harper’s Trail Gewürztraminer Thad Springs Vineyard 2016, Kamloops, $18.90
A different kind of Gewürztraminer, the Harper’s Trail lets a stony mineral thread seep into the wine. A lighter, fresher, stronger white with a delicate sheen. A delicious wine from the South Thompson Valley.
Haywire Gamay Noir Rosé Secrest Mountain Vineyard 2016, Summerland, Okanagan Valley, $22.90
A minimalist Gamay. The nose is a mix of lifted cherries and wild strawberries with a citrus, creamy lees finish. Fresh and vibrant and a perfect match with a summer charcuterie dish.
Hester Creek Pinot Blanc 2015, Okanagan Valley, $17
Pinot Blanc can be a versatile summer sipper — in this case with bit brighter acidity, bringing a sense of balance to this Chardonnay look-alike. Best with creamy pastas, chicken salads and fresh cheeses.
JoieFarm A Noble Blend 2016, Okanagan Valley, $23.90
Fragrant and perfumed, aromatic and full of juicy rosewater, lychee, orange blossom, pear and pink grapefruit with a dash of spice. Pick your salad.
LaStella Moscato D’Osoyoos 2016, Okanagan Valley, $19.99
Expect an explosion of perfumed fruit with a hint of effervescence. Orange blossoms, nectarine skin, rose petals and more jump from what is essentially summer in your glass. Great solo.
Little Engine Silver Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Similkameen Valley, $30
Crisp and bright, with tropical and zesty lemon, lime pith, hedgerow and green apple wrapped around a tight frame and finishing with a crunchy snap. Made for shellfish.
Little Farm Winery Pied de Cuve Chardonnay 2015, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, $35
Pied de Cuve is fermented wild and the result is citrus, salty, wild anise, meadow herbs and hay scented /flavoured Chardonnay that is B.C. on the edge. A hipster white for fresh fish.
Lock and Worth Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2016, Oliver, $21
A delight for the geeks and very food friendly. From green fig and herbal citrus aromas to hay and lemon thistle, this wine makes a statement like few B.C. whites do.
Noble Ridge The One Sparkling 2012, Okanagan Valley, $39.90
This is a delicious toasted, smoked stone scented sparkler. Ripe apple, cherries, wild strawberries and croissant all converge on its crisp palate.
Orofino Vineyards Gamay 2016, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, $22.90
Bright herbal cherry, raspberry, blackcurrant fruit over a salty, mineral bed. This is the perfect flavourful, mid-weight, summer red for salmon or pork. Delicious. Painted Rock Syrah 2014, Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, $34.69
Floral, sagebrush, black pepper, curry and licorice supported by dense, fine-grained tannins all with refinement. A summer barbecue with lamb is all you need.
Quails’ Gate Chasselas-Pinot Blanc-Pinot Gris 2016, Okanagan Valley, $17.49
A B.C. classic, this aromatic blend of Chasselas, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris has returned to its bright, light and fresh form in the 2016, and it’s delish. Brunch ready, pour all summer.
Road 13 Chip Off The Old Block Chenin Blanc 2016, Okanagan Valley, $19
Mouth filling, soft creamy textures filled with quince, yellow apple, white peaches, pear blossoms and spice. The perfect halibut wine, it can do double duty with sushi rolls.
Robin Ridge Gamay 2014, Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, $23.90
Black cherry savoury fruit says Similkameen Gamay, and it comes with a perfectly soft texture. Summer fire grilled pork or chicken are great matches. Ready to drink, chill ever so lightly.
Seven Directions Fruitvale Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Franc Rosé 2016, Westbank, $14.69
A stony mineral undercurrent mixes with super bright orchard fruit. We love the dryness and the spikes of tangerine, oranges and wild berries. Super value.
Spierhead Pinot Gris Golden Retreat Vineyard 2016, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, $19
Crunchy pink grapefruit, passion fruit and orange fill this bright, tropical, fresh style Pinot Gris. A weighty, dense style with a touch of sugar.
Sperling Vineyards Chardonnay 2015, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, $26
From the family’s historic Kelowna vineyard this modern Chardonnay opens with savoury, golden apple, pear and white peach fruit with a fine creamy texture.
Stag’s Hollow Albariño Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard 2016, Okanagan Valley, $20.25
Pear, melon, white peach, with touch of licorice are the calling cards of this amazing Albariño grown in Okanagan Falls. Crisp, clean and bright.
Synchromesh Riesling Storm Haven Vineyard 2016, Okanagan Falls, $35
The Storm Haven black label is the flagship Riesling at Synchromesh, the oldest vines on the best terroir. The ultimate patio performer.