Situated on the north end of Osoyoos is Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery. Mohan Gill and his family opened Bordertown Winery in May 2015. But before then they were grape growers for over 20 years selling to select wineries. Their wines are produced from 100% estate fruit. They employ consulting winemaker Daniel Bontorin, who is helping them develop the Bordertown style, which places an emphasis on fresh fruit flavours. An indeed in the wines that I tasted in their winery, there is definitely fresh fruit character. Let me tell you about their wines.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Gruner Veltliner 2018 ($22) – Very aromatic; citrus, stone fruits and honey aromas. Dry, smooth and silky, with lower acidity. Stone fruit flavour plus a touch of time. A light, dry finish. Tasty. 
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Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Viognier 2019 ($22) – Pale lemon colour. A touch of toastiness (from the stems?) plus stone fruits on the nose. Medium-plus body, round and thick with lower acidity. Subdued but dense stonefruit flavour. Some stem on the finish.
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2018 ($19) – this is their largest production, with 1600 cases being made. A bright pear skin colour and a light tropical fruit nose. Off-dry, soft with lower acidity. Ripe tropical fruit flavours. Just open and enjoy. 
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Unoaked Chardonnay 2018 ($22) – A bright lemon colour. Ripe pineapple, vanilla and a touch of oak aromas. Fuller body, dry but nicely fruited. Tropical fruit, pears, and touches of sweet spices and oak. Round mouthfeel. Quality.
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2018 ($25) – Medium minus translucent garnet in the glass. A light intensity nose with tobacco, iodine, capsicum and plum aromas. Medium-plus body, dry, round and smooth with a light mouthfeel. Red cherries and some bandaid on the palate. Medium length. Dry, firmer tannic finish.
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Merlot 2017 ($25) – Medium intensity translucent garnet. Ripe raspberry nose with a touch of capsicum. Medium body, dry and round, with a lighter mouthfeel. Medium intensity flavours of brambleberries and capsicum. Some dustiness on the finish. –
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Living Desert Red 2017 ($27) – This Signature Blend is comprised of the finest blocks of Cabernet Franc and Merlot on the estate. A deeper translucent garnet colour. Ripe cassis along with some capsicum aromas. Dry and round with a thicker mouthfeel. Medium tannins and acidity. Cassis and other blackberries on the palate, along with a touch of chocolate then red cherries on the finish, along with some lingering light pepperiness.
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 ($33) – Medium translucent garnet. Smoky, cassis and capsicum aromas. Fuller body, dry and round with a tannic backbone. Meaty then capsicum, cassis and black fruit then some light pepperiness. Also get sweet fruit, plums and cherries on the finish. Firm but not overly drying tannins on the finish. An excellent wine.
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Malbec 2017 ($35) – Medium translucent mix of ruby and garnet colours. Medium-minus intensity nose with lifted aromas of fresh red raspberries. Medium-plus body, dry and round, but not mouthfilling. Light fine tannins. Red fruits with maybe some minerality. Some tart red fruits on the finish. An elegant wine.
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Syrah 2017 ($35) – Medium intensity translucent garnet. Nice black cherries and black fruit aromas. Fuller body, round, smooth and mouthfilling. Black pepper and dark fruit flavours. Medium acidity. The wine gets drying tannins toward the finish and some tart fruits at the very end.
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery Petit Verdot 2018 ($35) – Deeper, translucent garnet and ruby colour. A lighter intensity nose with mixed layers of plums, black fruits, and a hint of floral. Dry, soft, round and supple mouthfeel. Ripe black and red berry flavours. Light fine-grained tannins. Medium length with blackberries and some tart berries. Drying tannins on the finish. A seductive wine.
Pairing These Wines With Food
Before COVID I was invited to a winemaker dinner at Copper Chimney Indian Grill & Bar. You can read the article below and get some ideas of food pairings.
Have You Tried Bordertown Winery’s Wines with Indian Cuisine?
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
The wines are all good quality. We all have favourites, and mine are the Gruner Veltliner, Chardonnay, Living Desert Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. You can purchase all their wines through the Bordertown website. Everything Wine and Swirl Wine Store carries several of their wines. BC Liquor Stores only carry the Cabernet Franc.
