Giant Head Winery, located in Summerland along the Bottleneck Drive, purchased their land in 2004 and have been producing wine since 2008. Owners John Glavina and Jinny Lee run the operation, making small batches of wine. They produce Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Merlot, a Rosé made from Merlot, and a Blanc de Noir sparkling made from Pinot Noir. Their grapes are all self-rooted, which can be a risk for phylloxera, but maybe is kept at bay by their sandy soil. All their grapes are grown on their estate. I have been fortunate to be given a bottle of their Rosé, Pinot Noir, and Blanc de Noir to review for you.
My Wine Review
Giant Head Estate Winery Blanc de Noir – This sparkling wine has a light peach skin colour. It has a medium intensity nose, with aromas of lees, apples and stone fruits. It’s dry, medium bodied with above average acidity. Medium plus body and flavour intensity; with flavours of apples, strawberries and citrus. With a bit of air, I also picked up some peach flavour. There is also slight bitterness and minerality to add to the complexity of the wine. The medium-sized bubbles really explode in your mouth and become quite creamy. Quite enjoyable. The wine has a longer length, to let you linger over the fruit flavours. A quality bubble from BC.
Rating: 
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Quite a full-bodied sparkling wine with lots of expressive creamy bubbles, and a mix of apple, citrus, peach and strawberry flavours.
Giant Head Estate Winery Rosé 2016 – Bright, clear medium wild rose petal colour. Quite a nice colour. On the nose, you get lees, red fruit, in particular, strawberry, along with some bramble leaves. The bramble aroma decreases a bit with decanting. On the palate, it is off-dry, with medium plus acidity, body and flavour intensity. It is quite round and has a thick mouth feel and a light acidic prickle. I also picked up some minerality in this wine. Flavours of red fruit, in particular raspberry, along with strawberry and a hint of perfume. With decanting, you get more floral perfume and less raspberry flavour. A medium plus length, finishing with tart red fruit and bramble leaves on the finish. No need to decant this wine. A quite enjoyable rosé, and with its fuller body, I think will pair nicely with many dishes.
Rating: – A rose with nice red fruit aromas and flavours, and a bit heavier mouth feel than other lighter rosés. Tasty.
Giant Head Estate Winery Pinot Noir 2015 – this wine spent 10 months in French oak. It is clear medium garnet in colour. A medium intensity nose with a mix of nutmeg, vanilla, sweet ripe plums and red & black fruits. Off-dry from start to finish. The wine has a silky smooth mouth feel, medium plus body. A mix of red and black fruit, ripe raspberries, black cherries, plums, black fruit, vanilla, and a touch of nutmeg and oak. The tannins firm up on the finish. You get a long finish with oak, vanilla, plums and black fruit flavours. Decanting does not change the nose or flavours for this wine, but on the finish, it gets quite peppery and a bit more bitter. I think that this wine is a nicer sip without decanting.
Rating: – A silky smooth Pinot Noir with sweet ripe plums, red & black fruit flavours and a touch of nutmeg and oak.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Their wines can be purchased directly from their online wine shop, Save On Foods and select liquor stores.
