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STORIES, NEWS, AND BEST PRACTICES
The 2024 harvest has been one of the most challenging on record for British Columbia wineries. Winter cold snaps in 2022 and early 2024 caused extensive damage to vineyards across the region, reducing crop yields significantly and pushing many wineries to explore different solutions to maintain production and quality. As BC wineries work through a year like no other, let’s look at how some of them are navigating these challenges.
Swirl Around BC Wine Expo returns at the Pan Pacific hotel in Vancouver on September 24, 2024. The expo is a full-day event hosted by Wine Growers BC to celebrate the BC wine industry.
When in the tasting room, be sure to visit these BC wine booths to taste the wines and meet the people behind it:
· Blasted Church Vineyards
· Haywire Winery
· Garnet Valley Ranch Winery
· SpearHead Winery
Blasted Church Vineyards
Who to meet from Blasted Church:
· Lone Tree Cellars sale agents for Blasted Church Vineyards
Wine to taste:
· 2018 OMG, sparkling
· 2022 Viognier
· 2019 Syrah
· 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Regions: Okanagan Valley Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley
Social handle: @blastedchurch
Website: blastedchurch.com
About Blasted Church Vineyards
Located in the heart of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, Blasted Church Vineyards is known for its premium wines and playful branding. For more than 20 years, the winery has amassed a loyal following of wine lovers who appreciate its unique approach to winemaking, commitment to quality, and ability to combine the serious business of producing high-quality wine with a fun approach to life and love of wine. Blasted Church Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery located in Okanagan Falls, British Columbia.
Haywire Winery
Who to meet from Haywire:
· Christine Coletta, owner of Okanagan Crush Pad
· Andrew Raines, VP sales & marketing for Okanagan Crush Pad
· Kat D’Costa, winemaker and sustainability officer for Okanagan Crush Pad
Kat is a panelist at Seminar 3: Romancing the Clone: What We Talk About When We Talk About Wine
Wines to taste:
· 2018 The Bub, Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
· 2020 Switchback Pinot Gris
· 2022 Rosé Gamay
· 2022 Pinot Noir
Regions: Okanagan Valley, Summerland Lakefront
Social handle: @haywirewine
Website: haywirewinery.com
About Haywire Winery
In 2009, Haywire emerged as a virtual wine brand with the first harvest from Switchback Vineyard. Despite practical considerations, the compelling vision of crafting wine won out and the "haywire" plan gained momentum. Today, Haywire has become a recognized name not only across Canada but also in Europe.
With a bold label and modern year-round tasting lounge, visitors to Summerland are invited to unwind and relish in personalized service, with lovely views of the lake and vineyards as they savour their favourite Haywire wines.
Haywire boasts a diverse portfolio of wines that exquisitely capture the unique cool climate terroir of the central Okanagan, all while embracing a "less is more" approach.
Garnet Valley Ranch Winery
Who to meet from Garnet Valley Ranch:
· Andrew Raines, VP Sales & Marketing for Okanagan Crush Pad
· Christine Coletta, owner of Okanagan Crush Pad
Christine is a panelist at Seminar 2: How to Wine Friends and Influence People
Wines to taste:
· Traditional Method Sparkling 2016, Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
· 2022 Chardonnay
· 2022 Pinot Noir
· 2020 Free Form Vin Gris, Pinot Noir
Region: Summerland Valley
Social handle: @garnetvalleyranchwinery
Website: okanagancrushpad.com/garnet-valley-ranch-winery
About Garnet Valley Ranch
Located in the secluded backroads of Summerland BC, Garnet Valley Ranch spans over 320 acres of breathtaking land, carefully divided into thoughtfully planned plots, surrounded by untouched native habitat. The farm operates in sync with the natural rhythms dictated by the Earth, its solar system, and the influential cycles of the moon. Garnet Valley Ranch offers classic cool-climate wines made from the highest elevation vineyard in the Okanagan Valley.
SpearHead Winery
Who to meet from SpearHead Winery:
· Marina and Bill Knutson, proprietors of SpearHead Winery
· Grant Stanley, winemaker and GM of SpearHead Winery
Grant is a panelist at Seminar 1: The Possibilities of Pinot
Wines to taste:
· 2022 Saddle Block Pinot
· 2022 Okanagan Valley Pinot
· 2022 Pinot Gris
· 2023 Chardonnay
Regions: Okanagan Valley, East Kelowna Slopes
Social handle: @spearheadwinery
Website: spearheadwinery.com
About SpearHead Winery
SpearHead Winery, located on the benchlands of Southeast Kelowna in the East Kelowna Slopes Sub-GI, focuses on producing high-quality wines from estate-grown and select Okanagan Valley vineyards. Known for its vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, SpearHead showcases the unique terroir of its vineyards. The winery also produces aromatic whites, including Pinot Gris and Riesling.
The wine shop, nestled in the estate vineyard, features an inviting patio and lawn area for guests to enjoy during warmer months. Seated tastings are led by knowledgeable team members. Visit the SpearHead website for information on special events, promotions, and participation opportunities throughout the year.
Whether you’re starting off in the wine world or a seasoned sommelier, Cabernet based wines find their way onto any palate. BC wineries such as TIME Family of Wines, Blasted Church Vineyards, Blue Grouse Estate, and Okanagan Crush Pad, all boast impressive selections that represent the best of Canadian wines.
Happy National White Wine Day!
To celebrate, we’ve got a list of six exciting BC wines that will be perfect for your next occasion or dinner this summer.
White wines have been around for at least 4,000 years and through those years wineries have only gotten better at creating tastier vintages. With crisper tones, white wines have a more acidic, floral, and fruity taste, giving them a lighter flavour combined with subtle overtones.
Try these:
1. Blue Grouse 2021 Ortega - $25.99 online or in select wine stores in BC. The wine reflects the best of Cowichan Valley’s warm summers. Ortega is Vancouver Island’s signature grape, and Blue Grouse is Vancouver Island’s signature winery, so this wine is the perfect representation of the region. Whole cluster pressed, this fruit-forward wine is bright, savoury, and well-balanced.
2. Singletree 2020 Gruner Veltliner - $19.10 online or get it while you can at Vij’s Restaurant. Only 111 cases made. The wine was fermented in stainless steel to bring out delicious aromas of nectarine, pineapple, and melon. There are also flavours of Meyer lemon, apple, and citrus. Pair this refreshing white wine with some roasted asparagus and smoked fish.
3. Blasted Church 2021 Unorthodox Chardonnay - $22.00 online or at the winery in Okanagan Falls, BC. Its ‘unorthodox’ name is a nod to the wine being the only one made in Canada with Chardonnay Musque. This lesser grown in BC Chardonnay offers waves of bright floral and spice, and a splash of stone fruit, all supported by a vibrant undercurrent of fresh citrus.
4. Haywire Switchback 2018 Pinot Gris - $29.99 online, at Legacy Liquor Store or Marquis Wine Cellars. A special wine from a special place lovingly organically farmed and tended to. This wine shows the adaptability of Pinot Gris to represent the region and more importantly its site and micro-climate. Truly a wine that can only be known as “Switchback”. Harvested in two batches and whole bunch pressed, it was naturally fermented before resting on lees for 10 months. The wine itself has a creamy mouthfeel along with lively acidity that displays citrus and stone fruit characters. Critics love this wine, and you will too.
5. Chronos 2020 Riesling - $28.99 online or at Save-On-Foods. Crafted with precision by winemaker Lynzee Schatz at TIME Family of Wines, this unrushed wine brings out the Okanagan Valley terroir exquisitely. Fermented in two different tanks with different yeast strains, blending them together brought out their sweetness and acidity. To enjoy this vibrant, bright, and juicy wine, sip it during a meal with an orange-miso halibut and a beet carpaccio.
6. Coolshanagh 2018 Chardonnay - $30.00 online. Our premium pick, nothing brings out Okanagan terroir better than this wine. The new world Chardonnay was handled with care, it was fermented through 25% new French oak barrel, 25% concrete tank and 50% stainless steel. The Chardonnay has a classic Okanagan mineral streak and integrates flavours of popcorn, wet stone, and rich ripe fruit flavours.
Originating in Burgundy, France in the Middle Ages, this white grape variety is a mutation of pinot noir and has medium acidity with flavours of citrus, green apple, and white peach.
To help celebrate Pinot Gris Day, here are 6 locally made, delicious Pinot Gris!
1. Blue Grouse Quill 2021 Pinot Gris - $22.99 online or select wine stores in BC. The Cowichan Valley gives this wine its fresh acidity and the presence of some malolactic fermentation adds a medium body, with a nice touch of creaminess on the palate. Expect flavours of apple compote and lemon curd. This “sipper” is ideally paired with halibut, shellfish, an endive salad or a hard cheese like Manchego.
2. Evolve 2020 Pinot Gris - $22.99 online or at Save-On-Foods. Light as air, and soft as silk. Lovingly made for the heat of the day and the heat of the moment. Floral and fragrant, an Okanagan summer in a glass. Aged sur lie for an extra textural flair, to set it apart from the rest.
3. Blasted Church 2021 Skaha Bench Pinot Gris - $24.00 online or at the winery in Okanagan Falls, BC. Rich stone fruit on the attack through into the beautifully textured mid-palate. The pear, apple, and citrus pile on into the vibrant finish. Pairs well with roasted chicken, grilled fish, or salty cheese.
4. Haywire 2021 Pinot Gris - $27.99 online or at the winery’s store in Summerland, BC. Intensely textured and very fruit forward with juicy acidity, this wine was pressed and fermented in concrete, stainless steel and oak foudre using natural yeast. The wine stayed on its lees for six months before being filtered and bottled.
5. Singletree 2020 Pinot Gris - $19.10 online or the winery’s store in Abbotsford, BC. Cool-fermented in stainless steel to result in aromas of pineapple, peppers, and tangerine. Flavours of Asian pear and honeysuckle.
6. Singletree 2019 Pinot Gris - $17.40 online or the winery’s store in Abbotsford, BC. This year the winery team blended two valleys of fruit. 75% of the fruit came from the winery’s Mt.Lehman vineyards while the other 25% comes from the Naramata bench vineyard. It has tropical flavours of pineapple, mango and lime.
Happy International Viognier Day!
Here are 5 locally-made BC Viognier wines to help you celebrate.
Viognier is a full-bodied white wine that originated in Southern France, dating back to the Roman Empire. After almost becoming extinct in the 1960s, Viognier has made a comeback and is now widely enjoyed around the world.
With its softness and natural low acidity, Viognier pairs well with everything from seafood to spicy Asian food.
You will want to seek these out so you can compare and contrast:
1. Singletree 2020 Viognier, $20.75 online or at the winery in Abbotsford, BC. Aromas of ginger, mango, rose. Flavours of tangerine, peach and honey. Off-dry stainless steel fermented.
2. Narrative 2018 Viognier, $24 At Steamworks Liquor Store in Vancouver, BC. Oily and rich with deep tropical notes and a very lengthy finish.
3. Evolve 2018 Viognier, $19.99 online or at Save-On-Foods. Aromas of peach, apricot, honeysuckle, with floral accents. Flavours of delicate stone fruit and light spices; juicy.
4. Blasted Church 2020 Viognier, $20.75 online or at the winery in Okanagan Falls, BC. Tasting notes of stone fruits, tropical fruit, blossoms, and orange.
5. TIME 2018 Viognier, $19.99 online or at Save-On-Foods. Aromas of pineapple, orange, apricot, citrus, and floral notes. Lush tropical flavours with coconut from oak barrels. Finishes with a long, textured mouthfeel.
Friday, April 22, 2022 is Earth Day! If you’re gong to open a bottle of something bubbly and delicious, reach for one of the following BC wines, all made sustainably and locally.
credit: David Bain photography
Blue Grouse Estate Winery’s 2020 Amphora Collection Bacchus
Blue Grouse Estate Winery bottles with Eco Glass, which uses uses 25% less glass than a typical wine bottle. The 2020 Amphora Collection Bacchus is not only made with Eco Glass, but also uses grapes from the winery’s estate vineyard. Purchase this wine online at bluegrouse.ca.
Monte Creek Winery’s Haskap Fruit Wine
Monte Creek Winery’s Haskap Fruit Wine is made with Haskap berries that are grown at the winery. The Haskap berries were planted so that the winery’s Honeybees could feed on the Haskap flowers and pollinate the plants. The winery then produces Haskap fruit wine and all-natural honey so that nothing goes to waste. Purchase this wine online at montecreekwinery.com.
Okanagan Crush Pad’s 2018 Free Form Rosé
Okanagan Crush Pad’s Free Form wines are made with organic grapes, native yeasts, and are free from additives. The 2018 Free Form Rosé is made with certified organic Cabernet Franc grapes from Osoyoos, and the label uses eco-friendly stone paper. Purchase this wine online at okanagancrushpad.com.
Blasted Church’s 2020 Unorthodox Chardonnay
Blasted Church’s vineyard team has planted cover crops (which are plants that grow between the rows of the vines), to naturally balance the vineyard. Since the winery’s 2020 Unorthodox Chardonnay is made with estate grown Chardonnay Musque, all grapes in this wine came from the winery’s home vineyard, where the soil was enriched through the cover crop program. Purchase this wine online at blastedchurch.com.
