WINE

GOLDEN PLATES Sunshine and geology add some zip to B.C. wines

by Charlie Smith

Several years ago, veteran winemaker Michael Bartier of Bartier Bros. Vineyard and Winery explained why the Okanagan region produced such exceptional vintages. He pointed to such factors as latitude and geology, among others. e Okanagan enjoys almost two more hours of sunlight per day during the growing season than is available in any other wine-growing region in the world. In addition, Bartier stated, the area around Oliver has relatively young soils as a result of the retreat of the glaciers and the melting of an ice dam about 10,000 years ago.

“We’re farming on quartz. We’re farming on gneiss. We’re farming on granite. We’re farming on limestone. We have this incredible suite of soils,” Bartier said. ese minerals enhance the complexity of wines in the so-called Golden Mile Bench subregion of the Okanagan Valley. e Okanagan wine industry is also bene ting from some top- ight scienti c research at UBC Okanagan. Its wine and grapes “cluster” of researchers, headed by biochemistry and molecular-biology assistant professor Wesley Zandberg, is proving biochemical and genetic analyses to support the wine industry’s e orts to adapt to climate change and respond to changing consumer preferences. ere was once a time when people in B.C. feared for the future of the province’s wine industry as free-trade talks were underway between the U.S. and Canada in the 1980s. at was back when many British Columbians were buying their plonk by the box.

Nowadays, the Okanagan Valley is a premier wine-growing region with 86 percent of the province’s vineyard acreage, according to the Wine Growers of British Columbia. e association points out that the industry contributes $2.8 billion to the B.C. economy and there are more than 370 licensed wineries in nine di erent growing regions.

Basically, it’s become a huge industry with some sprawling estates that rival those in California. Busloads of tourists are among the more than one million people who visit B.C. wineries every year. But there’s also something endearing about this sector. Even if you show up in grubby camping gear, you’re likely to receive just as warm a welcome as those who arrive with their Gucci bags. Just tell them what you like, whether it’s a Syrah or Pinot Noir, and obliging sta will do their best to accommodate your wishes.

Here’s a tip. If you’re planning a winetourism trip to the Okanagan, check out #BCWineChat on Twitter every Wednesday night from 8 to 9 p.m. Wine a cionados from across the province participate in a group conversation using that hashtag. ere, you’ll learn about everything from the newest high-end winery to limited-production wines worth sampling.

Here’s another tip. You might want to look at the wineries listed below in our annual Golden Plates survey of readers. e family-owned Poplar Grove, one of the original ve wineries on the Naramata Bench, received the most votes this year as the best B.C. winery for white wines. It was followed by Burrowing Owl and CheckMate Artisanal Winery in Oliver, which tied for second place. La Frenz in Penticton and Quails’ Gate in West Kelowna tied for third in this category.

As far as reds go, Burrowing Owl came out on top, followed by Sandhill Wines in Kelowna. Tied for third were Mission Hill in West Kelowna and Road 13 in Oliver. We’ll drink to that! g

Kalala Organic Winery is one stop along the Westside Wine Trail. Photo by Joanna Bell.

For Voting Us...

#1 BC Winery for White Wine

www.poplargrove.ca READERS’ f CHOICES

B.C. WINE/WINERY (WHITE)

1. Poplar Grove Winery 425 Middle Bench Road North,

Penticton 2. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery (tie) 500 Burrowing Owl Place, Oliver 2. CheckMate Artisanal Winery (tie) 4799 Wild Rose Street, Oliver 3. La Frenz Winery (tie) 740 Naramata Road, Penticton 3. Quails’ Gate (tie) 3303 Boucherie Road, West Kelowna

B.C. WINE/WINERY (RED)

1. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery 500 Burrowing Owl Place, Oliver 2. Sandhill Wines 1125 Richter Street, Kelowna 3. Mission Hill Family Estate (tie) 1730 Mission Hill Road, West Kelowna 3. Road 13 Vineyards (tie) 799 Ponderosa Road, Oliver

WINE STORE

1. Liberty Wine Merchants

Various locations 2. Everything Wine (tie)

Various locations 2. Legacy Liquor Store (tie) 1633 Manitoba Street 3. Marquis Wine Cellars 1034 Davie Street

HOTEL LOUNGE

1. The Lobby Lounge at the Fairmont

Pacific Rim 1038 Canada Place 2. UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar 900 Seymour Street 3. Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge 845 Hornby Street

RESTAURANT WINE SELECTION

1. Tap & Barrel

Various locations 2. The Vancouver Fish Company

Restaurant & Bar 1517 Anderson Street, Granville Island 3. Chambar Restaurant 568 Beatty Street

WINE BAR

1. UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar 900 Seymour Street 2. Bombay Kitchen + Bar

Various locations 3. Juice Bar 54 Alexander Street

INDEPENDENT BAR LOUNGE

1. The Keefer Bar 135 Keefer Street 2. Bombay Kitchen + Bar

Various locations 3. UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar 900 Seymour Street

RESTAURANT FOR A STIFF DRINK

1. Pourhouse 162 Water Street 2. Bombay Kitchen + Bar

Various locations 3. The Vancouver Fish Company

Restaurant & Bar 1517 Anderson Street, Granville Island

TO CURE A HANGOVER

1. Tap & Barrel

Various locations 2. McDonald’s, Various locations 3. Denny’s Restaurant

Various locations