It is the Easter weekend for many people around the world, and besides the religious celebrations, enjoying meals with family and friends is also a big part. The BC VQA Spring wine release kicked off this week, but the wines may not yet be at your local bottle shop or BC Liquor Store. Here are 5 BC VQA wines that I reviewed from Fall 2018 that I think will nicely complement fish, poultry, and/or pork dishes. If you happen to be close to a BC winery, I also will list a few Spring releases that I think would be nice with an Easter meal.
5 BC VQA Wine Suggestions
50th Parallel Estate Pinot Gris 2017 – Light stone fruit plus honey nose. Smooth with light acidity and some minerality. Delicious stone fruit flavours. Pair with seafood. 
Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2016 – Light citrus, apple and butterscotch aromas. Round with medium acidity. Very flavourful with ripe apples, butterscotch, sweet spices and a hint of peach on the palate. Pair with roast chicken or pork.
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards Fitz Brut 2015 – This sparkling wine has a light apple aroma. Dry, with high acidity and a creamy biting small bubble. Bruised apple and toast on the palate. Sparkling wine tends to pair with everything. Try all of the above. 
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Rust Wine Co. Gamay 2017 – Gamay may not jump out at a grape you know much about, but it is very similar to Pinot Noir at a lower price point. Have you heard of Beaujolais wine? That is made from Gamay. It has a juicy nose with aromas of bramble and raspberries. Medium plus body and acidity. Bramble and spice flavours, along with a mineral streak. The light tannins help it pair with seafood as well as pork and poultry. – 
The View Winery Pinot Noir 2017 – Red cherry aroma in the glass. Medium body with waves of flavour alternating between red cherries, bramble and raspberries. Sweet spices and pepperiness as well. –
Bonus Wines from the Spring BC VQA Release
Indigenous World Winery Pinot Gris 2018 – Very aromatic grapefruit on the nose with flavour also on the palate. Dry, full-bodied. Definitely good to pair with seafood.
LaStella Winery Vivace Pinot Grigio 2017 – Ripe bruised or baked apple nose. Fuller body. Smooth with medium acidity. Baked apple flavour. Try with roast chicken or pork.
Upper Bench Estate Winery Chardonnay 2017 – Toasty and tropical nose. Full body. Dry. Tropical fruit and some butterscotch on the palate. Another good choice for roast chicken or pork. –
Kalala Organic Estate Winery Zweigelt 2017 – Red cherries, nutmeg and oak on the nose. Soft tannins, medium acidity and some pepperiness on the palate. Red cherry, nutmeg and vanilla flavours. This soft, dry, wine should be a red choice for pork or chicken.
