Six BC Wines for White Wine Day

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.

5 Local wines for Viognier Day

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.

TIME Travel to the ‘90s for the Holidays

These 90-point wines from TIME Family of Wines are perfect for year-end festivities 

Wish you were transported back to the ‘90s for the holidays? Home Alone had just released, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” was played for the first time, and Amazon only sold books.

Although TIME Family of Wines can’t take you back to 1990, this Penticton winery can give you a taste of the ‘90s with their 90-point wines. 

The Chronos, McWatters Collection, and Evolve Cellars wine brands all received 90-point scores (or higher) just in time for the holidays. If you’re still looking for a bottle to gift, celebrate with, or drink on your holiday break, consider picking-up one (or all) of the below wines.

You can still order any of these wines by visiting timewines.ca.

Photo credit: Chris Stenberg

TIME Family of Wines in the ‘90s

Chronos 2020 Rosé ($24.99) 

Made from 100% Syrah grapes, the Chronos 2020 Rosé received 91 points from John Schreiner (Schreiner on Wine), and 90 points from Rick Vansickle (Wines in Niagara) and Eric Hanson (Richmond News). 

Order online at timewines.ca

Chronos 2020 Riesling ($27.99)  

Tasting of jasmine and lime with a light body and minerality, this wine received 91 points on NatalieMaclean.com and 90 points from Eric Hanson (Richmond News). 

Order online at timewines.ca

McWatters Collection 2020 White Meritage ($29.99) 

This blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon was awarded 92 points by Rick Vansickle (Wines in Niagara), John Schreiner (Schreiner on Wine), Eric Hanson (Richmond News), and Daenna Van Mulligen (Wine Scores). 

 Order online at timewines.ca

McWatters Collection 2018 Red Meritage ($39.99) 

This big red was awarded 92 points on NatalieMaclean.com. Enjoy it alongside your holiday roast or with rich pasta. 

Order online at timewines.ca

Evolve Cellars 2020 Spontaneity ($21.99) 

Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Ortega make up this light and fruity wine. John Schreiner (Schreiner on Wine) gave it 90 points. 

 Order online at timewines.ca

If you decide to deck the halls with these 90-point wines, make sure to share your experience on social by tagging @timewines. 

If you live in the Okanagan, you can purchase these wines in-person either at the District Wine Village in Oliver or by visiting the winery in Penticton. TIME Family of Wines is open on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day from noon until 4 PM, with regular hours until New Year’s Eve (open noon – 4 PM with NYE dinner reservations starting at 6 PM). The winery at the District Wine Village will be closed from December 24 – 29 and will be open on New Year’s Eve from noon until 4 PM. For the full list of holiday hours, call the winery at 236-422-2556. 

TIME Family of Wines Reveals New Look with Release of 2020 Vintage

A new look for Evolve Cellars, McWatters Collection, and introducing Chronos

The last year and a half has changed us all and this is especially true for the team at TIME Family of Wines. The downtown Penticton winery was purchased by new owners Ron and Shelley Mayert and has undertaken several projects as well as a new look to set the tone for exciting times ahead.

TIME’s characteristic premium quality and attention to detail continues, with many new additions to the portfolio, including a new brand. TIME Family Wines is excited to introduce Chronos to their premium BC VQA portfolio. Chronos, aptly named after the Greek primordial god of time.

A new look for Evolve Cellars, Chronos and McWatters Collection

This collection of wines was created for lovers of pure Okanagan Terroir. Wine enthusiasts who value wines crafted with depth, complexity, and character. The Chronos line will include Chronos Chardonnay, Riesling, Rosé, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and the red blend Ouroboros.

In addition to Chronos, Evolve Cellars has received a visual refresh that includes a light, casual aesthetic and two new wines, the white blend Spontaneity and the red blend Momento. All Evolve Cellars wines are supple with a zippy zing and offer the purest expressions of varietals to awaken the five senses into celebrations of every moment.

The McWatters Collection remains the legacy brand with a limited series of wines that reflect the philosophy of their namesake; Harry McWatters. These ultra-premium wines are as luxurious and refined as is their new packaging and appropriately include a tribute to Harry McWatters on each bottle. The new vintage will also include the addition of a White Meritage to the portfolio.

The brand refresh is revealed just as the 2020 wines are released in the tasting room and on shelves across the country. The 2020 vintage are the first wines fully crafted by winemaker Lynzee Schatz, who joined the TIME family in 2019. Schatz’s focus has been to elevate the character of each brand, enhancing their unique flavour profiles and authentic expression of the varietal.

In addition to new wines and a new look, TIME Family of Wines is expanding its physical space in the coming months with a new epicurean experience named Orolo, formerly TIME Kitchen. The expansion also includes two new private meeting and dining spaces; the PenMar and McWatters Legacy Suites. A rooftop patio like no other in the Okanagan will follow in 2022.

Finally, TIME Family of Wines is very excited to announce the opening of a satellite experience centre at The District Wine Village in Oliver, BC later this fall. The newly opened District Wine Village is the first true wine village in Canada. Located in the heart of the South Okanagan, the Village is surrounded by vineyards and home to 16 artisan producers including TIME Family of Wines.

This presents TIME Family of Wine enthusiasts with a four-season opportunity to meet, taste and enjoy local events and experiences.

“We felt that with everything our team has been through in the last two years, a brand refresh would be the final touch for the new phase at TIME Family of Wines,´ says Christa-Lee McWatters, general manager of TIME Family of Wines. “We hope the fans of TIME wines are excited about Chronos and that you all come to see our new space when Orolo and The District Village location open its doors. We are looking forward to what is to come!”