The Victoria Day long weekend is underway, and the weather reports are sun for Vancouver. Hurray! That means you can get out on your patio, fire up the bbq, and enjoy a glass or two of wine. But which wine would give a nod to our past Queen Victoria? You could purchase some expensive sparkling wine from Great Britain, such as Gusbourne Brut Reserve, or you could buy some wine that comes from around Victoria, BC. The latter may be easier to do. There are a few wineries near Victoria, BC.
Church & State, Symphony Vineyard, Dragonfly Hill Vineyard, Starling Lane Vineyard, and De Vine Vineyards are all possibilities. I have only tried wines from Church & State in the past and quite enjoyed them. Church & State Wines has been around for many years. Kim Pullen founded Church & State Wines in 2004. Purchasing a 25-acre estate on the Saanich Peninsula, which had been home to the defunct Victoria Estate Winery.
In 2015, Church & State launched their new sub-brand, Lost Inhibitions. Featuring the now iconic patchwork letters, and a multitude of sassy phrases, Lost Inhibitions quickly became an international hit, being covered by traditional mainstream media like Doctor Oz and the Globe and Mail, as well as going viral on social media in the fall of 2016.
Here are a few wines that I reviewed in the past:
Church & State Wines Quintessential 2013 – A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Medium minus intensity nose. Hints of Old World oak, cedar and red cherries. Medium plus body, soft and round. Dry with medium plus acidity. Juicy, ripe black fruit, nutmeg, vanilla and cedar on the palate. Medium plus tannins and pepper on the finish. Very good quality. 
Church & States Wines Chardonnay 2007. The Chardonnay 2007 is medium lemon colour. Nice apricot nose. Vanilla, sweet spice, pineapple and apricot flavours, with a bit of spice. Lots of flavours coming out the glass the more you swirled it around in your mouth.
Where Can I Buy Church & State Wines?
Assuming you are not travelling to Victoria, BC this weekend, Everything Wine does carry a wide range of their wines. BC Liquor Stores widely carry the Lost Inhibitions Red and Lost Inhibitions White, so lose your inhibitions and have some fun this long weekend, leading into summer! Enjoy.
