This is the second chance that I have had to taste and write about the wines from Serendipity Winery, in the Naramata Bench. My previous review of Serendipity Winery’s wines is at this link. The winery is managed and owned by Judy Kingston and her daughter Katie O’Kell. They have 2 winery dogs, Toby and Whiskey, to greet you if you should visit the winery during Spring/Summer/Fall hours. I was also told that we can expect an all-new sparkling wine in production for release in 2016!
My Review of Serendipity’s Wines
Serendipity Winery Sauvignon Blanc ($20) – Light lemon green colour in the glass. A nice nose, with medium intensity aromas of honey, pine needles and ripe peaches. Dry with slight roundness. Above average intensity of flavour, with crisp apples, tropical fruit and a hint of peach. Pepper, citrus and some bitter leaf on the finish. With decanting the wines flavours soften up a bit. Enjoy either right after opening, or linger with the bottle open.
Rating: 
A nice Sauvignon Blanc from BC, with flavours of crisp apples, tropical fruit and peach on the palate, paired with honey, pine needles, and peaches on the nose.
Serendipity Winery Viognier 2013 ($20) – Pale lemon in colour. Medium intensity, interesting, developing aromas, with Bergamont, steeped tea leaves (some may say ganja), ripe apples, and hints of flint and mandarin orange. Dry with above average acidity, body, and flavour intensity on the palate. Starts with peach and apple, followed by mandarin orange and tea leaves on the mid palate. With decanting the mandarin orange becomes more prominent. Medium length leading to mouth watering acidity on the finish. With decanting, you get more peach and some bitterness on the finish. I really like this wine.
Rating: 
An interesting, complex wine, that you can sip and savour.
Serendipity Winery Rose 2014 ($20) – This rose is made of a blend of grapes, but I was unable to find out which grapes. They do produce red wine from Pinot Noir and Merlot, so I am guessing these are the two grapes used in this rose. It is a pale cherry colour with a closed nose, with very light aromas of red fruit and red cherries. I tried decanting this wine but the nose still stayed closed. It is dry, with medium body and acidity. Flavours of sour red cherries (more), and raspberries (less). From the mid to finish you get some black currant leaf and bitterness. Sour red cherries and mouth watering acidity on the finish.
Rating: 
A bit closed, with light red fruit aromas and flavours, and sour red cherries on the finish.
Serendipity Winery Pinot Noir 2012 ($25) – A mix of garnet and ruby colours in the glass. Pronounced nose, that is full of cedar, vanilla, red fruit and ripe cherries. With decanting you get violets on the nose as well. This wine is between dry and off dry, with medium mouth feel, round, with softer tannins. Lots of vanilla and bright cherry flavours, together with red fruits, in particular strawberries. With decanting you will also get some plum flavour. Medium plus length. From the mid palate to the finish, the wine gets pepper, and finishes with mouth watering acidity and flavours of oak, cedar and cherries. Drying finish.
Rating: This is a very big wine and might not tell that it is Pinot Noir. It has big bright fruit with lots of oak/cedar tones. Give this wine a few years in the cellar to let the oak/cedar tone down and integrate in with the fruit, and it should be interesting.
Serendipity Winery Estate Merlot 2011 ($40) – Fairly opaque ruby in the glass. Dark brooding nose, with aromas of ripe cassis and plum, dark chocolate, and a hint of cinnamon. Dry, round and quite mouth filling. Ripe plums and black and red cherries on the palate. Cedar/oak from the mid palate to the finish in addition to vanilla. With decanting the oaky cedar note becomes more pronounced. Quite drying on the tongue on the finish, with cedar and cherry flavours.
Rating: With the pronounced oak and firm tannins on the finish, enjoy this wine with a protein rich dish, such as a beef roast with gravy. You may want to buy a bottle(s) and wait 2-3 years for the oak/cedar to tone down and integrate more with the fruit.
Recently, wine maker Bradley Cooper, from Township 7 left, to join Serendipity Winery. The wines tasted above are made by Judy, but starting this 2015 harvest, we should see how Bradley’s style affects the wines.
Where Can You Buy These Wines?
The wines are available at private retail shops, various restaurants, and VQA wine stores. You can of course also order wines from the winery. Visit http://www.serendipitywinery.com/order_wine.php to order wines online direct from the winery.
