Where is the Okanagan Falls Region?
The Okanagan Falls region reaches from the shores of Skaha Lake to the tip of Vaseux Lake, north to south. It is sandwiched between Penticton, Summerland and Oliver, the Okanagan Falls area is famed for some of Canada’s top wine production with the highest quality wines in the valley. It is the narrowest part of the valley and it gets a lot of heat units. This region is known for their Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. You can find wines from the Okanagan Falls area in many stores in Vancouver, but even better, be a tourist and go visit the area!
Below you will find my 4.5 star selected wines from a recent tasting I attended by the Okanagan Falls Winery Association. There were many in the 4 star range from the same wineries that are listed below, but have not shown as the list would be too long.
White and Sparkling Wine Recommendations
Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Gold Label Brut Sparkling Wine, NV – Light toasty apple nose. Medium plus acidity, with biting small bubbles. Right red apples with a hint of toast and a tart finish. Rating: 
Liquidity Wines Pinot Gris 2015 – Light stone fruit aromas in the glass. Dry with a mix of stone fruit and apple flavours. Quite fruity. Medium acidity with a mineral streak as well. Nice mouth watering acidity on the finish. I liked all the red and white wines that Liquidity poured at this tasting. Give them all a try. Rating:
Meyer Family Vineyards Tribute Series Chardonnay, Old Main Road Vineyard, 2014 – Meyer Family Vineyards has been producing top quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines since their initial release. I have no hesitation recommending these wines. This wine has a nice light nose, with aromas of ripe pears and vanilla. Dry, medium body with medium plus acidity. Apples and spice on the palate leading to some pepperiness on the finish. Elegant. Rating:
Meyer Family Vineyards McLean Creek Chardonnay, McLean Creek Vineyard, 2014 – Medium intensity citrus, apples, oak and spice on the nose. Dry, medium body with sweet spice and ripe apples to start, followed by tropical fruit and toast. These latter flavours get stronger if you continue to swirl the wine in your mouth. Good acidity. A quality wine. Rating:
Synchromesh Wines Thorny Vines Riesling 2015 – A single vineyard wine, this one has light aromas of ripe pears and honey. It is off dry with medium acidity. Quite mouth filling with flavours of peaches, ripe apples and honey. Very good quality. Rating: [usrlist “From:4.5” “To:5”]
Red Wine Recommendations
Nighthawk Vineyards Syrah 2012 – Deeper translucent garnet colour. Lifted vanilla bean, cassis and spice on the nose. Dry, medium plus body with ripe cassis flavour, followed by plums and cherries, and supported by nice acidity and vanilla/oak. This worked really well with a slice of smoked cheddar. Rating:
Nighthawk Vineyards Merlot 2012 – Medium translucent garnet. Light red cherries and flowers on the nose. Round, dry with medium plus body. It is very fruity with plums and black cherry flavours, together with a nice level of pepperiness. Medium acidity. A balanced wine. Rating:
Liquidity Wines Pinot Noir Select 2013 – Light cherry colour. Very flowery along with ripe apples and red cherry aromas. Light body with medium acidity. Peppery along with red cherry flavours. Wonderfully tasty, but needs to be accompanied with food. Try a young cheddar or maybe seared scallops. Rating:
Meyer Family Vineyards McLean Creek Pinot Noir, McLean Creek Vineyard 2014 – Light toasty, dark cherry nose. Dry, medium plus body, with some minerality. Ripe raspberries, red cherries and some vanilla. Pepperiness sneaks in mid palate to finish. Rating:
Meyer Family Vineyards Reimer Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 – Light intensity aromas of smoke, baby powder and red cherries. Quite a pretty nose. Medium minus body, dry with a light mouth feel. Red cherries and tea leaves on the palate with hints of flowers and toast. A complex wine. Rating:
Painted Rock Estate Winery Rose Blend 2014 – A blend of 39% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc, 23% Malbec, and 9% Petit Verdot. Quite a blend, but it goes together to make quite a geeky rose wine. The nose is a mix of meatiness, nuttiness and light red fruit. Dry, high acidity with more nuttiness, red fruit and pepperiness. This pepperiness really builds toward the end. Rating:
