Celebrate Chinese New Year 2022 – Year of the Water Tiger

The Chinese New Year 2022 is celebrated on February 1, 2022, with this year being the Year of the Water Tiger, plus it is predicted to be a lucky year!  Goodbye COVID, I hope. The tiger is portrayed as the king of the animals and represents strength and courage.  A few past tiger years were 2010 (when we had the Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler), 1998, 1986, 1974, and 1962.  I have read that people born in a Tiger year are “…brave, competitive, unpredictable, and confident. They are very charming and well-liked by others.”

Famous Tiger Year People

1. Queen Elizabeth II: born on April 21, 1926, a Fire Tiger
2. Tom Cruise: born on July 3, 1962, a Water Tiger
3. Leonardo DiCaprio: born on November 11, 1974, a Wood Tiger
4. Lady Gaga: born on March 28, 1986, a Fire Tiger
5. Jim Carrey: born on January 17, 1962, a Water Tiger

Info courtesy Chinahighlights.com.

Wines with a Tiger Theme

With such an auspicious year and company, what wines are local and from around the world that have a tiger theme? 

Canadian Wine

I came across a new BC winery to me called Blind Tiger Vineyards, located in Lake Country.  They have a wide range of wines; Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and more!  Nice looking labels with either a drawing of a tiger or the tiger’s head with a blindfold which is the logo for the winery.  Bind Tiger refers to Speakeasies during Prohibition times. Stuffed tigers were displayed in windows to alert potential patrons to the availability of illicit alcohol.

Do you remember the rock group “Glass Tiger”?  There is a sparkling Riesling wine made in Ontario with their name on it.  The wine is made by Stoney Ridge Estate Winery. 

The Rest of the World

The 1851 Tiger Vines wine program, the University of the Pacific in California have partnered “with two Lodi Appellation wineries with the introduction of two wines. We are introducing a red blend from Barsetti Vineyards and Janis Barsetti Gray ’72 COP, and a 2019 Old Vine Zinfandel from St. Amant Winery and owner Carrie Rutledge-Spencer ’91 COP and winery manager Nathan Haberkern ’13 COP. We believe these wines are special, and think you will agree. Go Tigers!”  The two wines show “Tiger Vines” on the label.  One wine is nearly sold out.  You can order through this URL.

Tiger Mountain Vineyards produces red and white wines from 100% Georgia-grown grapes. They produce mainly red wines; Malbec, Tannat, Touriga Nacional, etc, and also a few white wines; Petit Manseng and Viognier.  

If you are in Oregon, there is Tiger Vines in the Willamette Valley, that produces Pinot Noir.  What makes this winery interesting is that “…local winery Ken Wright Cellars, Chemeketa Community College and Yamhill-Carlton American Viticulture Area partnered with the high school to help students learn about the cultivation and harvesting of grapes… Yamhill-Carlton High School’s vineyard covers about an acre, and agriculture students help with trimming vines, testing soil, and pruning and harvesting grapes. The grapes are sent to Ken Wright Cellars and made into wine, which is sold as a fundraiser for the Yamhill-Carlton FFA. All proceeds are used to sustain the school’s viticulture program…The custom-made Pinot Noir is called Tiger Vines Wine, in honor of the Yamhill-Carlton high school mascot.”

Sierra Vista Vineyards and Winery in California have a sub-brand entitled “Tiger Lily Wine”, a winery that existed in the late 1800s. A very nicely stylized tiger on the label, and several wines to choose from Cabernet Sauvignon, a red Bordeaux blend, a GSM blend, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay. 

If you are interested in mead, there is Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery in Nellysford, VA that has one called Tiger’s Eye which is made with hibiscus flowers.

I also received a comment from one of my readers that Kadu Chenin Blanc and Kadu Cabernet Shiraz from Sula Vineyards also have wines with a tiger theme. This winery is located in India.  I am not sure of the availability of the wines in North America and have asked the winery.  I will post their response once I receive it. 

“Gong hei fat choy.”