Have you heard about District Wine Village, which opened this summer in Oliver, BC? It is unique in that a group of wineries, have their production facilities in the same location at the Village. Many of them are smaller, new wineries, while there is one large, and one medium well-established winery that have production facilities offsite at their winery. There are 10 wineries at the moment. I visited 5 of the wineries and will provide you with my tasting notes for 3 wineries. I will post a second article with my tasting notes of the other 2 wineries. Besides the wineries, there is a brewery and one restaurant.
You can spend 3-5 hours at the District Wine Village, with a break in the middle of wine tasting to enjoy a tasty pizza at Trading Post. I had the chicken with mushroom pizza. It has a tasty bright tomato sauce, and the crust was brushed with honey. Very delicious.
The first three wineries I would like to cover in this article are:
- One Faith Vineyards
- JoiRyde Winery
- Vintners Cove Winery
My Wine Tasting Notes
One Faith Vineyards
According to District Wine Village, “Since their inception in 2010, Proprietor Bill Lui has had one mission for One Faith Vineyards – to produce an exceptional wine of unparalled quality in the Okanagan Valley…After 10 years of garagiste farming and winemaking, we wanted to have a space of our own, while remaining true to our roots…” And the One Faith Vineyards website, “Bill Lui is a WSET graduate, has attended winemaking courses at UC Davis, and has spent time in Bordeaux learning about the art of producing fine wine… Richard Cleave, their viticulturalist has been growing grapes in the Okanagan for 38 years and is one of the pioneers of viticulture in British Columbia.”
One Faith Vineyards Fizz 2020 ($21.99) – A sparkling with a medium-minus bright lemon colour. A medium intensity nose, quite nice aromas of tropical fruit, plus ripe stonefruit and baby powder. Off-dry with small crisp bubbles. Crisp tart apple flavour then add sweet stone fruits. A dry tart finish. Medium-minus body. 
One Faith Vineyards Certitude Blanc 2018 ($24.99) – A white Bordeaux-style blend made with 79% Semillon and 21% Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It has a medium intensity bright lemon colour in the glass. A pronounced tropical fruit nose, together with vanilla, white flowers, and butterscotch. Medium body, smooth, round and soft, with low acidity. Ripe pineapple and butterscotch flavours. Medium-plus length with lingering flavours. Elegant.
One Faith Vineyards Certitude 2018 ($34.99) – A blend of 63% Cabernet Franc and 37% Merlot. Medium-minus translucent garnet. A medium intensity nose; vegetal along with light red fruits and touches of toast and sweet spices. Dry, medium-plus body with lighter tannins and acidity. Red fruits and light oak flavours to start, then add vanilla and red cherries mid-palate followed by some pepperiness. Overall smooth with a light mouthfeel. Medium-minus length. – 
One Faith Vineyards Grand Vin 2018 ($80) – Their premium wine. A red Bordeaux-style blend consisting of 61% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 14% Merlot. Aged and fermented in the best French oak barrels for 26 months. A translucent medium garnet colour. Light aromas showing sweet red cherries, red fruits, and a touch of vegetal. This wine is dry and round with a light mouthfeel, light fine-grained tannins and medium acidity. Capsicum and red fruit flavours, plus touches of pepperiness and cocoa on the mid-palate followed by sweet spices and raspberries. Medium length with light drying tannins.
JoiRyde Winery
JoiRyde Winery came together as they met while they were spin instructors of a local gym in Penticton, BC. When the pandemic of 2020 hit they found themselves unemployed and looking for a new opportunity. As their website outline:
Daphne Scromeda, Co-Owner, Sales and Marketing. Daphne has been involved in the Okanagan wine industry for over 10 years managing the sales and marketing for great brands such as Poplar Grove, Monster Vineyards, and Therapy Vineyards. Working as a graphic and web designer by trade, building her own brand has always been a dream.
Stacy Allen, Co-Owner, Accounting and Operations. Stacy’s career has always revolved around hospitality, running many of her Vacation properties. Stacy is just getting her feet sticky in the wine world. She is now turning her curiosity into a pure passion and developing her wine brand, showcasing what this beautiful valley has to offer the wine world.
JoiRyde Winery Tread Lightly 2020 ($25.90) – Made from a blend of 41% Muscat, 28% Viognier, 17% Chardonnay, and 14% Semillion. Only 155 cases produced. This wine has a deeper bright lemon colour. Pronounced lemon, lime and orange aromas. It’s off-dry, soft with medium-minus acidity. Oranges and other citrus, a touch of honey and stonefruit flavours. 
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JoiRyde Winery Chardonnay 2020 ($ unknown) – 95% of the grapes are fermented in stainless steel and 5% in oak barrels. A medium intensity bright lemon colour and a light toasty nose. Dryish, medium-minus body with light, round and soft mouthfeel. Pears, apples and toast lightly flavoured, with apricots at the end. An elegant wine.
JoiRyde Winery Rosé 2020 ($25.90) – A blend of 73% Malbec, 15% Syrah, and 12% Merlot. This wine has a light intensity wild rose colour. A light nose with aromas of wild strawberries and watermelon. Dry, soft and round, with medium-plus body and a thicker mouthfeel. Watermelon, strawberries and other red fruits, plus a touch of rhubarb. Refreshing flavours and acidity. –
JoiRyde Winery Hello Sunday 2019 ($27.90) – This frizzante wine is a blend of 65% Merlot, 22% Malbec, and 13% Syrah grapes. It has a bright orangy colour. A light intensity nose showing strawberries and a touch of orange. Dry, medium body with a mix of biting and creamy small bubbles. Very light tannins that support the wine, not impose itself. Red fruit flavours plus a touch of orange and capsicum. Nice. –
JoiRyde Winery The Climb 2017 ($34.90) – A red Bordeaux-style blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, and 14% Malbec. Only 168 cases produced. A medium-plus translucent garnet colour in the glass. A pronounced nose with aromas of cassis, sweet spices and vanilla. Dry and smooth with a medium-plus body. Light intensity fine-grained tannins and medium acidity. Red cherries, red and ripe black fruits, plus a touch of sweet spices. A light mouthfeel. Medium length with lighter drying tannins. –
Vintners Cove Winery
From the winery, “Owned by Eric Mide, his father Leo Mide, and renowned local viticulturist and Osoyoos Indian Band member Sam Baptiste, Vintners Cove takes its name from the small bay at the north end of Osoyoos Lake where they are building a one-of-a-kind RV Resort.”
Vintners Cove Winery Levitate 2020 ($23) – An aromatic blend of 50% Ehrenfelser, 25% Riesling, and 25% Pinot Gris. This wine has a medium-minus lemon colour and aromas. Aromas similar to Gewurztraminer, plus apricots. Dry with medium acidity that leaves a prickle on your tongue. Sweet stone fruits, apricot and apricot skin flavours to start, then line and finally honey and peppery at the end. Medium length with a lighter lightly round mouthfeel.
Vintners Cove Winery Chardonnay 2019 ($28) – Fermented in French oak barrels then aged for 11 months. Only 7 barrels made with 6 barrels neutral oak and 1 barrel new oak. A deeper lemon colour. Medium-plus deeper toasty nose with stonefruit aromas behind. Medium-plus body, round with a silky, buttery texture. Nutmeg and toast, baked apples, pineapple and butterscotch flavours. Medium minus acidity and a thicker mouthfeel. Slightly off-dry. –
Vintners Cove Winery Ignition 2018 ($30) – A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec. French oak barrel-aged for 23 months. A medium, very translucent and clear mix of garnet and ruby colours. A medium intensity nose with raspberries and bramble berries fresh fruit flavours. Dry and round, with a medium body. Bright red fruit flavours, then spice, plums, and cassis, and a touch of cocoa. Medium acidity and medium fine-grained tannins. Medium drying tannins on the finish, with a shorter length.
Vintners Cove Winery Meritage 2018 ($65) – Their top wine made with 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, and 5% Malbec. Aged for 27 months in French oak barrels. A deeper garnet colour. A medium intensity nose, with deeper aromas; cinnamon, ripe blackberries, vanilla, and a touch of cedar. Medium-plus body, dry, round, and silky soft. Medium acidity and lighter fine-grained tannins. Ripe red fruits, sweet spices, vanilla and cedar flavours to the finish. Medium length. Gets peppery toward the finish. Tasty.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can check out the winery websites to purchase their wines.:
- One Faith Vineyards
- JoiRyde Winery
- Vintners Cove Winery
Everything Wine in South Vancouver carries the One Faith Vineyards Certitude. The wines from these wineries should spread out to private stores as they become more established and increase their production.
