GET YOUR GAME FACE ON
Strategies for the tasting room
OH CANADA
With such a huge contingent this year picking the best wines is difficult but, we take a stab at some of some of the don’t-miss local heroes in the tasting room. All are available for ticket holders to buy on site.
Benjamin Bridge Brut Methode Classique 2011, Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia ($43.49)
CedarCreek Estate Platinum Riesling Block 3 2015, Okanagan Valley ($25)
Church & State Coyote Bowl Syrah 2014, Okanagan Valley, ($31)
Foxtrot Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013, Okanagan Valley, ($50.35)
Haywire Switchback Organic Vineyard Pinot Gris 2015, Okanagan Valley, ($25)
La Frenz Reserve Pinot Noir 2014, Naramata Valley, Okanagan Valley ($30.43)
Bartier Bros. Merlot 2013, Oliver, Okanagan Valley ($23.39)
Laughing Stock Vineyards Portfolio 2014, Naramata Valley, Okanagan Valley ($39.99) Maverick Estate Syrah 2014, Oliver, Okanagan Valley ($31)
McLean Creek Chardonnay 2015, Okanagan Valley ($26.09)
Osoyoos Larose 2013, Okanagan Valley ($46)
Road 13 Vineyard Jackpot Viognier/Roussanne/Marsanne 2013, Okanagan Valley ($25.29)
WINES OF THE FUTURE
If there is tonic to the sweet red and white blends that continue to dominate wine’s middle market it may well be the excitement in cool-climate, fresh, exciting whites and reds.
Here are some head-turning bottles to look for across the tasting room: Bartier Bros. Semillon 2013, Oliver, Okanagan Valley ($17.29)
Gérard Bertrand Grand Terroir Tautavel 2010, South of France ($21.14)
Codorníu Raventós Anna de Codorníu Blanc de Blanc Brut Reserva NV, Penedès, Spain ($16)
Harper’s Trail Estate Winery Pioneer Block Dry Riesling 2015, Kamloops ($17.29)
(Jackson Family Wines) Yangarra Estates Vineyards Old Vine Grenache 2014, McLaren Vale, South Africa ($33)
Bodega Garzón Albarino 2016, Uruguay ($30)
Nick Weis St. UrbansHof Old Vines Riesling 2015, Mosel, Germany ($24.49)
CATCH A CABERNET
The king of red never really disappoints when it’s ripe and the wine is in balance. Here some labels to look for while you wander the room or your local wine shop:
Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Washington ($52)
Fuse Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, California, U.S. ($73)
Painted Rock Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Okanagan Valley ($40)
Jackson Estate Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, California, U.S. ($69)
J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, California, U.S. ($46)
Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Paso Robles, Central Coast, California, U.S. ($42)
Kenwood Jack London Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, California, U.S. ($40)
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Colchagua, Chile ($24)
Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, California, U.S. ($33)
William Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, California, U.S. ($47)
Just about every wine poured at the festival is available for sale at the on-site B.C. Liquor Store, including many limited-release specialties not likely to be sold anywhere in the province. Be prepared to strike early.
BEST BOOTHS
We always welcome those wineries that make the effort to bring their best wines to Vancouver for you to taste. This year’s list was based on four top wines but we highlight the stars of those. See you in the lineup.
Elk Cove Vineyards, Willamette Valley, Oregon, U.S.: Mount Richmond Pinot Noir 2014 ($66)
Etude Napa Valley, California, U.S.: Fiddlestix Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2013 ($80)
Familia Zuccardi, Mendoza, Argentina: Zuccardi Aluvional 2012 ($82)
Ferraton Père & Fils, Tain L’Hermitage, Rhone Valley, France: Cornas Rouge, Lieu-Dit Patou 2014 ($60) Kendall-Jackson, Sonoma County, California, U.S.: Camelot Highlands Chardonnay 2014 ($60)
Hidden Bench, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario: Estate Chardonnay 2013 ($35)
Inland Trading: Multi regional, South Australia: Rolf Binder Hanisch Shiraz 2009 ($120)
Nik Weis St. Urbans-Hof, Mosel, Germany: Ockfen Bockstein Kabinett Riesling 2015 ($28)
NEW AND DIFFERENT
There’s nothing like discovering new wines, new flavours and new experiences. Get off the well-worn path and seek out something different this year, something new and exciting that will add to your wine IQ.
Bartier Bros. Cabernet Franc 2013, Okanagan Valley, ($26)
Gerard Bertrand Domaine de L’Aigle Chardonnay 2015, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($32.99)
(Les Bonhomme) Losada Vinos de Finca Losada 2012, Bierzo, Spain ($24)
Familia Castaño Casa Cisca 2012, Yecla, Spain ($56)
Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (CVNE) Monopole Blanco 2015, Rioja, Spain ($18.49)
Viña Errázuriz Aconcagua Costa Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Aconcagua Valley, Chile ($21.49)
Bodega Garzón Tannat 2015, Uruguay ($30)
Suvla Kirte 2011, Thrace, Turkey ($32)
BEST VALUE:
Price isn’t everything, but getting value for every dollar you spend is — especially when more than half of the price of every bottle of import wine in B.C. is tax. Whether you are browsing the booths at the festival or headed into your local liquor store, the following labels represent outstanding value in their class.
Bench 1775 Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Okanagan Valley, ($18.79)
Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2016, Columbia Valley, Washington, U.S. ($21.49)
Graffigna Centenario Reserve Malbec 2014, San Juan, Argentina ($12.79) Familia Castaño Hecula 2014, Yecla, Spain ($14.29)
Juan Gil Laya Garnacha-Monastrell 2015, Almansa, Spain ($13.99)
Unsworth Vineyards Sauvignette 2015, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, ($21)
READY FOR RIESLING
The world is always surprised by the quality of our dry Riesling, and it should be. Here are some bottles, New and Old World, you must track down inside the tasting room.
50th Parallel Estate Riesling 2015, Okanagan Valley ($19)
CedarCreek Estate Platinum Riesling Block 3 2015, Okanagan Valley ($25)
Culmina Family Decora Riesling 2015, Okanagan Valley ($21)
Domaine de Grand Pré Riesling 2015, Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia ($25)
Elk Cove Vineyards Estate Riesling 2014, Gaston, Oregon, U.S. ($28)
Hardys Heritage Reserve Bin (HRB) Riesling 2014, South Australia, Australia, ($26)
Hidden Bench Estate Riesling 2014, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario ($29)
Intersection Estate Riesling 2014, Okanagan Valley ($16.29)
Moraine Estate Riesling 2016, Okanagan Valley ($24)
Wild Goose Vineyards Stoney Slope Riesling 2015, Okanagan Valley ($18)
St. UrbansHof Wiltinger Alte Reben Riesling 2015, Mosel, Germany ($40)
Summerhill Pyramid Winery Organic Riesling 2015, Okanagan Valley ($20)
Tantalus Vineyards Riesling 2015, Okanagan Valley ($20)
Two Sisters Vineyards Riesling 2014, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario ($35)
BEAUTIFUL BLENDS
When it comes to grapes, many claim blended wines can reach the ultimate level of sophistication because the whole is better than sum of the parts. Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing blends in the room.
Alpha Box & Dice Kit & Kaboodle 2014, McLaren Vale, Australia ($26.57)
Alpha Estate Florina Red Blend SMX 2013, Greece ($32.19)
Culmina Family Estate Hypothesis 2013, Okanagan Valley ($38)
Gerard Bertrand Chateau L’Hospitalet La Reserve La Clape 2013, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($23.49)
Justin Vineyards Isosceles 2013, Paso Robles, Central Coast, California, U.S. ($118)
Luckett Vineyards Tidal Bay 2015, Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia ($19)
One Faith Vineyards Grand Vin 2013, Okanagan Valley ($430)
Painted Rock Red Icon 2014, Okanagan Valley ($55)
Road 13 Vineyards Jackpot Viognier/Roussanne/Marsanne 2013, Okanagan Valley ($26)
Rodney Strong Symmetry 2013, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, U.S. ($89)
Familia Zuccardi Tito Red 2013, La Consulta, Mendoza, Argentina ($41)
A PERFECT CASE FOR COLLECTORS
Just about every wine poured at the festival is available for sale at the on-site B.C. Liquor Store, including many limitedrelease specialties not likely to be sold anywhere in the province. Be prepared to strike early on Thursday night as soon as the store opens.
Rocca delle Macìe Riserva di Fizzano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2013, Tuscany, Italy ($41)
Louis Bernard Vacqueyras 2014, Rhone Valley, France ($27.65)
M. Chapoutier Les Meysonniers Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Bio 2015, Rhone Valley, France ($37.29)
Closson Chase South Clos Chardonnay 2014, Prince Edward County, Ontario ($40)
(Dourthe) Chateau Belgrave 2010, Graves, Bordeaux, France ($60)
Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir 2014, Willamette Valley, Oregon, U.S. ($44)
Jackson Estate Camelot Highlands Chardonnay 2014, Santa Barbara County, California, U.S. ($60)
Justin Savant 2013, Paso Robles, Central Coast, California, U.S. ($70)
(Jackson Family Wines) Yangarra Vineyards Old Vine Grenache 2014, McLaren Vale, Australia ($33)
J. Lohr Arroyo Vista Vineyards Chardonnay 2014, Monterey, California, U.S. ($33)
Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir Grande Reserve 2013, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario ($64)
Sieur d’Arques Crémant de Limoux White NV, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($22.99)