I have been fortunate to receive the latest Rosé and Pinot Gris wines from Harper’s Trail Estate Winery in Kamloops. Tasting them, I can say that they are made for summer drinking. If you need some place to visit in BC during COVID-19, why not drive up to Kamloops? You can visit Harper’s Trail, Privato, Monte Creek Ranch, and Sagewood Winery. It’s about a 4 hr drive with one pit stop along the way.
Let me tell you about these very enjoyable wines from Harper’s Trail.
My Tasting Notes
Harper’s Trail Estate Winery Rosé 2019 (BC $16.99) – this wine is a blend of Pinot Gris and Cabernet Franc. It has a pale bright salmon colour. A wonderfully juicy watermelon nose, along with a hint of red fruit. I have only once before mentioned a wine having watermelon aromas and that was Winemaker’s CUT Estate Rosé 2019. The commonality between both wines is that they are made with Cabernet Franc. So maybe that is where this unique aroma originates? This wine has a medium plus body, thicker mouthfeel, and light acidity that leaves a little prickle on your tongue. Juicy bright fruit flavours; tropical fruits, red fruits and strawberries. There is also some minerality I detected on the mid palate. A medium plus length finishing with mouthwatering acidity, tart flavours, red fruit and pepperiness. Faint tannins. It is acidity that provides structure to this wine. With decanting the watermelon aroma is not as strong and you get some tropical fruit and bramble. On the palate I think the wine may be a bit smoother, while the flavours stay unchanged. I prefer the wine just opened, poured, and enjoyed.
Rating: 
A solid rosé with a wonderful aroma of watermelon. That leads to a smooth wine with strawberries and tropical fruits on the palate and bright acidity.
Harper’s Trail Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2019 (BC $17.99) – A medium minus intensity bright straw colour in the glass. It has a pronounced nose showing lemon, lime and lees, with a touch of peach. With a little air you get some bramble leaf and honey. With decanting the aromas move towards medium intensity and I do not detect any lees. This wine is slightly off-dry and has a light acidic prickle. It’s round with a thicker mouthfeel. Mineral, with bright citrus and stone fruit flavours; peach and with air, pears. Some bramble leaf with air. A medium plus length finishing with tart citrus and stone fruit flavours and a touch of pepperiness. This wine has a lighter mouth feel with decanting while the flavours stay the same. Harper’s Trail says that this wine an age 2-3 years, and I agree. Buy some for now and for later.
Rating: 
– Citrus and peach on the nose and palate. Bright fruit flavours with some minerality.
Where Can You Buy These Wines?
You can order these wines through the Harper’s Trail website, and also purchase the wines from private liquor stores in BC. Swirl Wine Store in Yaletown has their Pinot Gris.
