Making The Case

For BC’s Local Wines

By TOM FIRTH

As the value of supporting local businesses continues to be apparent, it’s a good month to focus on our “local” wine from British Columbia.

From tip to tail, the Okanagan wine region encompasses a number of micro-climates and terroirs, meaning from the cooler north to the downright hotter south, great wines from a wide variety of grapes are made year after year with an eye to quality.

It may not be a good year for interprovincial travel, but we can still travel via our taste buds, and hunger for when we can get out and about like we used to.

Find these wines by searching the CSPC code at Liquorconnect.com; your local liquor store can also use this code to order it for you. Prices are approximate.

CedarCreek 2018 Pinot Noir Okanagan Valley

Pinot noir is a grape that CedarCreek has been hitting out of the park since their early days. Some of the best examples I’ve had from the Okanagan have had CedarCreek on the label. Fans of new world pinot will like this one with a fruit blend of raspberry and plum, leafy herbal characters, and a long, sleek finish with mid-weight tannins. Match with duck confit if you can, or top quality sausage on the grill. CSPC +567412 $27-30

Tom is a freelance wine writer, wine consultant, and wine judge. He is the Managing Editor for Culinaire Magazine, and the Competition Director for the Alberta Beverage Awards. Follow him on twitter @cowtownwine, email tom@culinairemagazine.ca

Culmina 2019 Chardonnay Okanagan Valley

An Okanagan chardonnay that is kicking a** and taking names. Tightly wound, clean fruit, well supported by excellent oak characters - but never overwhelming the fruit. Love-love-love how it feels on the palate with great tension between the acids and fruit that rolls into a fantastic finish. The sort of wine that puts schnitzel or lobster in mind. CSPC +842286 $48-55

CedarCreek 2019 Pinot Gris Okanagan Valley

CedarCreek have been making great wine since just about the very beginning of premium winemaking in the Okanagan. Just as important, they’ve also been providing great value at every tier they’ve made. The Estate Grown pinot gris is a juicy, fruity quaffer with plenty of fresh summer fruit, a little bit of silkiness on the palate and a bright, clean finish. Bring on summer! CSPC +561175 $20-22

Lunessence 2018 Crescendo Okanagan Valley

Another four-grape blend from Lunessence this time with merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon, and petit verdot. Rather lightly coloured in the glass with fine balance between fruit and earthier characters. Full bodied without being a fruit bomb or a tannic monster, it’s really about that balance which it has in abundance. Delicious. Try with better cuts of meat on the grill or some good cheese. CSPC +839415 $24-27

Dirty Laundry 2018 Say Yes Pinot Gris Okanagan Valley

Although the labels aren’t as “racy” as they used to be, the Okanagan’s Dirty Laundry winery is still making fun, accessible, and well-crafted wines. Take the pinot gris for instance, bright tropical-type fruit, zesty acids, and a deep, tart apple finish. It’s seriously good pinot gris, and will be a fine match indeed with creamier dishes or cured meats. CSPC +225995 $24-28

Lunessence 2018 Quartet Okanagan Valley

I love interesting white blends. As one might suspect, there are four grapes in Lunessence’s Quartet, primarily riesling, with about a third gewürztraminer, and a touch of muscat and pinot blanc. It all comes together very well, with crisp mineral tones, plenty of citrus, and apple flavours. With no oak to soften things up, this is a zesty friend to have on the deck or patio with lighter fare. CSPC +832081 $28-31

Culmina 2019 Saignée Golden Mile Bench

A rosé made by pressing red grapes but not allowing the juice much contact from the grape skins where the colour typically lies. In this case, the blend comprises the red Bordeaux varieties that make up Culmina’s “Hypothesis”. Fresh summer berry fruit with a rich plumminess and mild jammy character, but clean, easy going, complex, and high-quality rosé to be sure. CSPC +829358 $35-38

O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars 2019 Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley

A well-balanced, completely crushable pinot gris from the Okanagan checking off all the boxes and delivering a solid tasting experience. Apple-driven fruit, a mild nuttiness and hints of peach and tangerine, with a rich palate and a bit of weight behind it too. Would work very well with roasted fowl, or even grilled seafood. CSPC +818025 $24-27

Mt. Boucherie 2019 Rosé Okanagan Valley

A breath of fresh air, a good rosé can evoke the nuance and aromas of summer in a heartbeat. Brightly showcasing berry fruit of strawberry and raspberry cheesecake (ask how my diet is going) with subtle floral characters. This quite dry, but not bone dry rosé is definitely a summer friendly wine to have on hand. Would be a nice match indeed with cured meats or a charcuterie board. CSPC +805185 $25-28

O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars 2019 Gewürztraminer, Okanagan Valley

Coming from the Okanagan’s Lake Country to the north of Kelowna, this is a fairly new winery for Albertans, from a region that often really shines with it’s cooler climate whites. A rather dry expression of gewürztraminer with spice, rose petal, and lychee aromas and a sleek and spicy palate. Would be a fine complement to seafood based dishes or fusion cuisine. CSPC +834299 $24-27

Dirty Laundry 2018 Kay’s Syrah Okanagan Valley

With every bottle in each vintage, I love watching the progression of syrah in the Okanagan. Kay’s treads the fine balance between riper, fruit driven styles and floral, spicy ones. Clean, expressive fruit with a touch of smoke, and lots of earthy, almost chocolatey characters. The acids are finely honed and will work nicely with barbecued pizza or flatbreads, smoked or cured meats, and yes, a good burger. CSPC +231506 $32-35

Noble Ridge 2018 “Noble” Meritage Okanagan Falls

A blend focusing on merlot with about 17 percent of cabernet sauvignon brings all that deep plumminess merlot can offer with supporting roles from cedar, cherry, and an abundant cocoa and roasted coffee bean flavour that really makes the palate sing. It’s a little youthful at the moment, but under the screwcap you probably won’t see a lot of development near term, so drink it now with a nice cut of beef from the grill or smoker. CSPC +803854 about $26-30

Hillside 2018 Merlot Malbec Naramata Bench

One of my favourite wineries to visit on the Naramata Bench, Hillside has a large portfolio of finely crafted and interesting to drink wines. The 2018 Merlot Malbec seeks to bring out the best of both these varieties – and manages it. Deep plum fruits show on the nose with a touch of cola and spice, but on the palate it really comes together with plenty of fruit and an earthy, tannic-laden finish. I’d match this up with beef from the grill or smoker. CSPC +166207 $28-30