With these challenging times, it is good to be able to take some time to be grateful for those people around us and the country we live in. I am grateful that all my family and friends are symptom-free and are staying safe in their homes. I am grateful that I am able to work at home to educate my students.
JAK’s and Okanagan Crush Pad created 3 new wines that they label as “gratitude” wines before there was the COVID-19 pandemic, but rather to show gratitude I think to the public and to their ability to create wines that they can share with you and you can share with family and friends. The wines are all full of fresh, ripe, BC fruit flavours and I think are meant to be enjoyed over the Spring and Summer. If we are still staying in place, you can still toast family and friends, while you are on your patio or balcony, bbq’ing a chop, striploin steak, sausage, or tempeh.
The wine labels are drawn by a local illustrator, Alex Maertz, who uses simple shapes, patterns and colours to create an organic feel that connects people with our supernatural outdoors. I really enjoy viewing them. They make you think about going outside and appreciating our beautiful BC.
My Tasting Notes
Gratitude by JAK’s Pinot Blanc 2019 ($21.99) – This wine has a medium intensity bright straw colour with a green tint. It has a pronounced youthful nose showing a mix of pine needles, oranges, peaches, limes and candied tropical fruit. It bursts with fruit flavour on the palate, again showing the same flavours as you get on the nose. The wine is fuller-bodied, round, thicker feeling, with medium-plus acidity leaving a light prickle on your tongue. Nice mouth texture. There is also a nice mineral streak going through this wine from the start of the sip to the finish. The wine has a medium-plus length finishing with pineapple, oranges, and pine needles. The mouthwatering acidity on the finish leaves your mouth watering for the next sip. There is no need to decant this wine as I tried and did not get any significant changes in aroma or taste. Bring on a salad and seafood.
Rating: 
This wine bursts with aromas and flavours of tropical fruits, pine needles, and orange, along with vibrant acidity.
Gratitude by JAK’s Rosé 2019 ($21.99) – This rosé wine is made primarily from Pinot Noir and Gamay grapes along with a small amount of Muscat. This wine has a pale clear peach colour. It has a quite intense fruity nose with a blend of tropical fruit, citrus pith, herbaceousness, and peach. With decanting I also picked up a hint of spearmint which added some interest on the nose. This wine is dry, with a medium-plus body and a thicker mouthfeel. It has medium acidity which leaves a light acidic prickle on your tongue. You get lively fruit flavours from the acidity; tropical fruit and pith mainly with a lesser amount of strawberries. With decanting you get a touch of violets as well on the palate. The wine has a medium-plus length finishing with mouthwatering acidity, tart juicy tropical fruit, pith and strawberries. A very tasty wine at a great price point. Try it with charcuterie and fresh strawberries.
Rating: 
– A bright, very flavourful rosé with or without decanting. Enjoy the lively tropical fruit, pith and aromas and flavours. Along with strawberries on the palate.
Gratitude by JAK’s Red 2019 ($21.99) – A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. This wine has a medium garnet colour, translucent with consistent colour from rim to core. It has a medium intensity nose showing aromas of smoky raspberries, red cherries and black cherries; ripe aromas. Not much change on the nose with decanting, just add some floral note. This wine is off-dry, with a medium-plus body, thicker mouthfeel; round and soft. The tannins are overall light from start to finish. It has quite a floral component to the flavour along with smokiness, dark chocolates, over-ripe raspberries, black fruits, and touches of minerality and oak. With decanting the only things are some additions to the palate; plum and treacle. It finishes with some pepperiness along with the floral and sweet black fruit flavours. A wine with juicy black fruit flavours. With the very soft tannins, I would drink this wine now and not wait for a later date. Carpe diem!
Rating: A straight forward wine with juicy aromas and flavours of red and black fruit along with some floral. Soft tannins overall. Enjoy with grilled sausages.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
These wines are available through JAK’s stores across BC as well as being able to purchase them online shortly.
