The latest releases from BC’s VQA wineries is out, and I’m sure you are wondering which wines would be great on the patio this summer. Here are 10, mostly white, wines for you to enjoy:
- Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery Recolte Blanche 2015 – A blend of Pinot Pris, Schoenburger, Kerner and Gewürztraminer. Very aromatic with sweet spices, lychee and stone fruit aromas. Off-dry, medium body and acidity, with stone fruit and sweet spice flavours. Apricot and Mandarin orange show up mid palate. A lovely sipper. Rating:
- Black Hills Estate Winery Viognier 2014 – Very nice light orange nose. More orange on the palate. Dry with higher acidity. Peppery with a hint of herbal. Very good quality. Rating:
- CedarCreek Estate Winery Riesling 2014 – Nice, light stone fruit aromas. Semi-sweet, with light petrol, stone fruit and honey flavours. Light mouth feel. Although it starts with sweetness that fades quite quickly (likely due to a higher level of acidity, but it is not really that evident). Rating:
- Giant Head Estate Winery Blanc de Noir 2014 – A sparkling wine made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. I enjoyed the light stone fruit and apple aromas on this wine. Dry, high acid, with flavours of ripe apples and light toast. Medium bodied with light bubbles. Rating:
Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery Recolte Blanche, Black Hills Estate Winery Viognier, and CedarCreek Estate Winery Riesling - Moraine Estate Winery Riesling 2015 – Very nice, light intensity, Mandarin orange nose. Semi-sweet, with medium minus body, and medium plus acidity. Flavours of apricots and Mandarin orange. This wine dries up nicely on the finish, with some honey flavour. Excellent! Rating:
- Mt. Boucherie Family Estate Winery Family Reserve Chardonnay 2013 – Light pear, tropical fruit and sweet spices on the nose. Full body, dry, round and peppery. Flavours of pears, tropical fruit and nutmeg. An elegant wine. Rating:
- Privato Vineyard and Winery Privato Collection Pinot Noir 2013 – Light toasty nose. Dry, medium minus body, soft and elegant. Light toast and tropical fruit on the palate. Medium acidity. Good quality. Rating:
- Sage Hills Estate Winery Pinot Gris Small Lot 2014 – Light stone fruit nose. Medium minus body, soft and round mouth feel. Light stone fruit flavours. Medium plus acidity. Elegant. Rating:
- Sperling Vineyards Sparkling Brut 2010 – Made from 100% Pinot Blanc (which I think is a first in BC?). Nice aromas in the glass of lees, dried apricots and bruised apples. Dry, high acidity, medium body, with crab apples and a salty minerality. Finishes off with bruised apples. With the high acidity, it is better to enjoy this wine with food. Rating:
- Therapy Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2015 – Light stone fruit and honey aromas in the glass. Dry, medium body with a higher level of acidity. Light herbal and stone fruit flavours, with honey added on the finish. Rating:
Enjoy these wines, and other BC wines you may stumble across over the summer.