I enjoyed my time visiting District Wine Village. In Part 1 of my article, I provided some background and tasting notes for three wineries. In this article, the remaining two wineries I visited at the District Wine Village that I will now cover are:
I did intend to visit a third winery, Winemaker’s CUT, but the owner, and winemaker, Michal Mosny contacted me to say that he was very busy that day harvesting a batch of grapes at their winery. I’ve tasted Michal’s wines several times, met him virtually online, and was looking forward to seeing him in person. But the harvest comes first. If you have not tried Winemaker’s CUT wines yet, please do, they are very good quality.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Valley Commons
From districtwinevillage.com, ‘Kyla Richey and Rudy Verhoeff may sound familiar to you – that’s because for the past decade they have competed internationally as part of Canada’s Men’s and Women’s National Volleyball teams. The couple have always dreamed of owning a business together – something that involved bringing people together, coming as you are, enjoying delicious food and drink. Perhaps it would be a café or a restaurant or a winery. On their return to Canada in 2020, an opportunity arose to purchase land in the Fraser Valley and they decided to plant a vineyard and create a winery. When they were in the Okanagan researching the wine business, they heard about the soon-to-open District Wine Village and decided it would be the perfect home for their new winery…In Valley Commons, Rudy and Kyla are creating a welcoming space to showcase their delicious wines and they are looking forward to sharing them with visitors and Okanagan residents…’
Valley Commons Pinot Gris 2020 ($28) – Light lemon coloured with a light stonefruit nose. Off-dry, medium body, round, higher acidity, with a light mouthfeel. Bright stonefruit flavours. Peppery on the mid-palate followed with sweet spices. Also touches of honey and citrus. 
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Valley Commons Harvest Table White 2020 ($25) – A blend of 56% Muscat, 22% Viognier, and 22% Chardonnay. All fermented in stainless steel tanks. A light lemon colour. Pronounced nose with lime, floral, sweet spice, honey and lychee aromas. Dryish, medium body, round and soft with medium acidity. Lime, floral, and other Gewurztraminer-like flavours. Medium-plus lingering lemon and lime flavours.
Valley Commons Rosé 2020 ($30) – 100% Pinot Noir grapes to make this wine. A pale orangy pink colour. A light intensity nose with primarily strawberry aromas, along with some grape stem. Dry, medium body with some roundness and a light mouthfeel. Light strawberry flavours, plus a touch of red cherries and grape stem. Slight tannins. –
Valley Commons Cabernet Franc 2018 ($35) – A bright, clear, translucent garnet colour. Dry, lighter body, lean mouthfeel. Medium intensity juicy red fruits, candied red cherries, and light sweet spices. Cedar, pepperiness, and cocoa on the finish. Medium-plus length. Tasty. –
Valley Commons Garden Society 2018 ($40) – A Bordeaux-style blend of 66% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 12% Petit Verdot. Medium-plus deeper translucent garnet colour. A lighter intensity nose with red cherries, blackberries and a touch of sweet spices aromas. Medium-plus body, dry, and lean. Medium acidity and medium-minus tannins. Red fruits, red currants, floral and sweet spice flavours. Firmer, grippy tannins. –
Gneiss Wines
Mike, Josie & Christine, Managing Partners – From their website, “Michael Daley and Josie (Tyabji) were both raised in Kelowna and from farm work growing up, their personal foray working in the Wine Industry began in 1986 working in sales and marketing as part of their South Okanagan Oliver family winery. In 1987 Mike and Josie moved permanently back from Vancouver to the South Okanagan to partner in running this Oliver winery for the family… They planted the Dark Horse vineyard resulting in some of the first Cabernet Sauvignon in the Okanagan. In 1996 the property was acquired by Inniskillin as their premium Okanagan site and Mike moved over to the Jackson Triggs winery, while Josie took on a number of different projects over the years throughout the company and within industry. Mike retired from Jackson Triggs in 2014 to pursue new opportunities working with local wineries and fruit producers. Josie continued on working in different roles throughout the company. The family tradition continues with the 3rd generation of wine, with daughter Christine Daley joining in the Gneiss wine business.“
Craig Welsman, Partner – From their website, “Born and Raised in Penticton, Craig’s Grandfather, Evans Lougheed was the owner of one of the original wineries in Penticton back in the 1970’s and 80’s, Casabello. In younger years Craig would go to the winery to unofficially take part in crush and watch the grapes come into the cellars. Craig has been actively pursuing options for reentering the wine industry and continue on the family tradition. The District Wine Village presented this opportunity and having friends who were involved looked like a great way to participate.”
Gneiss Wines Pendulum White 2020 ($26.99) – A blend of Viognier, Riesling, and Schoenberger. It has a bright light intensity lemon colour. A medium intensity nose with a mix of stone fruits and lemon aromas. Lightly sweet, round and soft with a medium body. Medium acidity. Honey and ripe stone fruit flavours on the palate, with pronounced apricots on the finish.
Gneiss Wines Chardonnay 2019 ($29.99) – Barrel fermented with half in neutral barrels. A brighter medium intensity lemon colour. Light toasty lemon nose, with touches of pineapple and butterscotch. Dry, round and buttery smooth. Mouthfilling. Ripe pineapple with a touch of butterscotch and oak. –
Gneiss Wines Rosé 2020 ($27.99) – A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. It has a light salmon colour in the glass. A light intensity strawberry and lemon nose. Off-dry, very smooth and round. Interesting flavours with strawberry and rhubarb. Soft acidity. A fun sip.
Gneiss Wines Pendulum Red 2019 ($32.99) – A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Shiraz. Medium intensity, translucent garnet colour. Medium intensity nose; toast, capsicum and red fruit aromas. A medium-plus body, round with medium acidity and fine light tannins. Red fruits, red cherries, capsicum and toast on the palate. Peppery toward the finish.
Gneiss Wines Shiraz 2018 ($39.99) – these grapes spent 15 months in French and American oak. The wine has a medium-minus intensity translucent garnet colour. A light intensity nose with nutmeg and candied cherry aromas. Dry, medium-bodied, with a lean mouthfeel. More acidity than tannins on the palate. Lifted flavours of red fruits. Sweet spices and some red apple as well. Medium length. –
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can purchase these wines online at the winery websites:
As these are new wineries, I was not able to find them yet listed in private wine shops. I assume that these wines will slowly make their way into these shops. Check with your local store.
