New BC wineries appear quite regularly. Some I hear about before hand, while others take me by surprise. Monte Creek Ranch is one of the wineries that falls in the latter category, plus they are in the Kamloops area, which has recently had a few wineries set up their homes; Harper’s Trail, Sagewood, and Privato.
Who is Monte Creek Ranch Winery?
Monte Creek Ranch Winery is a 10 minute drive east outside Kamloops City limits, and is owned by the Sidhu family. Since 2009 they have been growing their vineyards (100+ acres) and raising beef cattle. Just this year they opened their Tasting Room up to the public. I have found out that beside wine and beef, you can also try all natural honey, haskap berry jam and more. They try to keep to organic farming methods as much as possible, which we all appreciate. I can imagine enjoying a glass of one of their red wines and a grilled steak from their grass fed Black Angus cattle. Their website is very informative, and tells you about their ranch and vineyards, the climate and soil. Recommended reading.
My Review of Monte Creek Ranch Wines
Monte Creek Ranch Hands Up White 2014 ($13.49) – This wine is a bit of a mystery to me when I first looked at the mix of grapes: Frontenac Blanc, Viognier, and La Crescent. I have heard of Frontenac Blanc, and I drink Viognier, but La Crescent is completely new to me. The original Frontenac grape came from the University of Minnesota in 1996; A red grape, which had mutations, one of which made Frontenac Gris, and another Frontenac Blanc, which we have in this wine. The Frontenac grapes are hardy and can survive our cold North American winters and has good disease resistance. La Crescent is another grape developed through the University of Minnesota. It has been available since 2002. La Crescent combines the St. Pepin grape with a Swenson selection from V. riparia x Muscat Hamburg (http://grapes.umn.edu/LaCrescent/). What does Monte Creek Ranch Hands Up White taste like? I was very surprised with this wine. It had a nice pear skin colour. On the nose it smelled very youthful, a sweet nose, with lots of freshly cut pineapple, flowers and pears. It is off-dry with medium acidity, leaving a light prickle on your tongue, round with medium body. Flavours of ripe pineapple, pear and a hint of pine needles. Very fruity finish with mouth watering acidity. A very fun drink. Slightly off dry, it should please many palates. Rating: 
Monte Creek Ranch Chardonnay 2014 ($15.99) – Lots of toasty oak on the nose, together with some ripe pears and butter. Dry and very smooth on the palate. It feels round, heavy and creamy on the mouth, yet still has a light acidic prickle to it. Ripe apples, pears, and oak with hints of nutmeg, butterscotch and citrus. Medium length. Finishes with baked apples and some bitterness. A nice wine that would fit with roast chicken with gravy or other heavier dish, but you must be OK with some oak. Rating:
Monte Creek Ranch Riesling 2014 ($15.99) – Medium lemon in the glass. Youthful aromas of grapefruit rind, white flowers, lees, and hints of orange and peach. With decanting you can add some herbal notes. This wine is dry with medium acidity, and a little bigger, rounder mouthfeel than you may expect. Mainly grapefruit rind and peach flavours, some yeast, and then followed by ripe apples. This wine gets really smooth on the mid palate. Medium length, mouth watering finish with more grapefruit rind flavour. Very tasty. Rating:
Monte Creek Ranch Rose 2014 ($15.99) – Orangy salmon colour. Medium intensity aromas with yeast, strawberries, cranberries and red currants. Dry, medium body, round and soft on the palate. Feels a bit thick in your mouth. Red fruits, red currants and strawberries, followed by some bitter leaf toward the finish. The wine finishes a bit sweet with ripe strawberries followed by drying out and the flavour of sour cherries. With decanting the wine had a peppery finish. I would drink this wine now, and not age it. Without some time to breathe, it would be a 3.5 star wine. With decanting I give this wine a Rating: .
Monte Creek Ranch Hands Up Red 2013 ($14.49) – A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Frontenac and Marquette grapes. Again Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon you have heard of. Frontenac, I just introduced to you from the University of Minnesota, and now you are being introduced to Marquette, another winter hardy red grape from the University of Minnesota. They say it has flavours of blackberry, black currant, and plum. To me the wine has medium intensity nose with ripe cassis, purple fruit and vanilla, with a hint of spice. With decanting I also picked up some milk chocolate aromas. It is smooth and round in the mouth with a medium minus mouth feel. It’s very light tannins makes it feel quite light in the mouth. Flowers, purple fruit, raspberries and vanilla on the palate when you first open the bottle. If you give it some decanting time, red cherry flavour will pop, and as well you will get plum, and hints of nutmeg and smokiness. It has a light mouth feel on the finish; fruity, ripe purple fruit and some vanilla. A light, fruity, soft, straight forward wine. Decant for best effect. Rating: 
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Monte Creek Ranch does offer sales of their wines through their Buy Wine web page. If you live in the lower mainland or the Fraser Valley, the list below shows all the shops that carry Monte Creek Ranch’s wines:
- VQA Sumas Mountain Wines
- Whatcom Wine & Spirits
- Hot Springs Liquor Store
- Aldergrove Liquor Store
- Bainbridge Liquor Store
- Bottle Jockey – Burnaby
- Great Bear Beer & Wine
- Hop & Vine Liquor Store
- VQA Kensington Wines
- Garrison Wine & Liquor Store
- Boulevard Casino
- John B Beer and Wine Store
- Roo’s Private LIquor Store
- VQA Westwood Wines
- Woody’s Beer and WIne Store
- Ladner’s Landing B&W
- River House Pub
- Speed’s Liquor Store
- Sunshine Hills LRS
- VQA Mud Bay Wines
- Beatnicks Bistro
- Berezan Liquor & Beer Store Langley
- Jimy Mac’s Wine and Beer Store
- Langley Liquor Store
- Murrayville BW Store
- Sharks Beer and Wine Store-langley
- Town Centre Liquor Store
- VQA Wine Emporium
- Willoughby Liquor Store
- Black Sheep Liquor Store
- Firefly Fine Wines & Ales Ltd
- Fox’s Reach Liquor Store
- Haney Hotel Liquor Store
- Maple Ridge Liquor Store
- Office Liquor Store
- Outpost Liquor Store
- Witch of Endor Beer & Wine Store
- City Hall Liquor Store
- Mission Springs Beer & Wine
- Sisto River LRS
- Luckys Liquor Store
- 8th Street LRS
- Pacific Liquor Store – New Westminster
- Spirits of Mt. Seymour
- VQA Edgemont Village Wine
- Firehall Bistro
- Pitt Meadows Beer & Wine Store
- Arms Liquor Store
- Gillnetter Pub Liquor Store
- Select Liquor Store
- Port Moody Liquor Store
- Bridgeport Liquor Store
- Fogg N Sudds YVR
- Malones Liquor Store
- Pioneer Beer & Wine Store
- River Rock Casino Resort
- Tugboat Annie’s Pub
- VQA Sip Wines
- West Coast Liquor Co YVR
- Brewsters Liquor Store
- Central City Brewing Company
- Citrus Pub & Grill
- Clayton Liquor Store
- Cloverdale Station Liquor Store
- Guildford Station Beer and Wine
- Pacific Liquor Store – Fleetwood
- Robin Hood Liquor Store
- Samz Liquor Store
- Tudor LRS
- VQA Price Smart Foods Int
- VQA Save On Foods South Point
- VQA Swirl White Rock
- Waterstone Lounge LRS (Berezan)
- Liquor Quicker
- Caffe Barney
- Eldorado B & W
- Granville Island Hotel (Dockside Rest)
- Hastings Liquor Store
- Jimmys Cold Beer & Wine Store
- Kitsalano Liquor Store
- Legacy Liquor Store
- Lennox Liquor Store
- Liberty Wine Merchants
- Pacific Spirits Wine Cellar
- Sheraton Vancouver Fine Spirits
- Speakeasy on Broadway
- St Regis Fine Wine & Spirits
- Value On Liquor Store
- Viti Wine & Lagers
- VQA Swirl Yaletown
- VQA Village Wines – Kitsilano
- VQA Village Wines Dunbar
- West End Liquor Store
- Westin Grand Hotel
- Winking Judge Pub
- 16th Street Liquor Store
- Whiterock Liquor Store
You can also pick up their wines if you go to Kamloops and visit them at their Tasting Room. Enjoy a sip of the different wines, pick your favourite(s) and bring some home with you. Enjoy!
Thanks for introducing us to the grape varieties they use in these wines!