Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery is a family-owned boutique winery in the Fraser Valley. If you have not heard of this winery, you should make yourself familiar as they produce top quality wines; both red and white wines. Plus wine production is small volume so you need to buy quickly when you find a wine you like.
I have two white wines from Seaside Pearl today to tell you about. Their Charlotte Estate Petite Milo 2021 and their Sam & Isaac Pinot Gris 2021. The names on the labels, plus the picture, tell us a story about BC’s history which is very cool.
You may not have heard of the grape Petite Milo. It is an early ripening, disease-resistant, white wine grape that has pink skin. It is a Blattner hybrid cross between Cabernet Sauvignon, Riparia and Amurensis. It can achieve high sugar levels while retaining good levels of acidity. That makes it perfect for the cooler Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island climates. You can get stonefruit, citrus, and tropical fruit flavours from this grape variety.
The winemaker and owner of this winery is David Zimmerman, who is guided in the winemaking process by winemaker and consultant Mark Simpson. David produces small-lot wines so he can concentrate on all aspects of the winemaking process, and make wines that are true to their varietal character.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery Charlotte Estate Petite Milo 2021 (BC $22)
“Charlotte” is the wife of English horticulturist Fenwick Fatkin who invited local growers around Mount Lehman in 1928 to showcase their daffodils in an effort to make this area a “second Holland”. There is now an annual flower show in the Fraser Valley.
Appearance: Deep, bright clear golden colour.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas with lemon, green bean and jalapeno to start with a touch of honey and marmalade, then with swirling you get apricots and peaches. Lighter aromas with decanting.
Palate: Dry, lighter acidity, with a smooth, round, light mouthfeel. Peach, dried stone fruits and honey, with touches of green bean and floral with swirling. The only change I noticed with decanting is the green bean flavour has disappeared and I now pick up some lime and lime pith.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with mouthwatering acidity and flavours of peach skin, apricots and floral. No change with decanting.
No need to decant this wine.
Rating: 
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A unique wine that you must try. There is such a variety of aromas and flavours with lemon, green bean and stone fruits on the nose, to stone fruits, floral and honey on the palate. A nice smooth round mouthfeel. Medium-plus length. Try with seafood.
Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery Sam & Isaac Pinot Gris 2021 (BC $22)
From the winery, “The Lehman name originates from pioneer settlers Sam and Isaac Lehman. With a combination of instinct and pluck, the two cousins arrived on the banks of the Fraser River by riverboat in 1875, just after Royal Engineer, Albin Hawkins. They encountered a beautiful landscape with fertile soils and abundant water and forests and were smitten by the beauty and grandeur of this part of the world. Sam and Isaac set out to start a new life make their fortunes amongst Mount Lehman’s emerald fields and gorgeous surroundings. They helped build a wharf for riverboats and log the area for farming which brought many more settlers to Mount Lehman. The Lehman name proudly lives on in honour of Sam and Isaac.”
Appearance: A bright medium-intensity lemon colour.
Nose: Intriguing nose with a mix of lemon and toast plus touches of pineapple and white flowers. No change with decanting.
Palate: Very slightly off-dry, medium body with a thicker, round mouthfeel. Light acidic prickle in your mouth. A strong stony component. Light stone fruit, citrus and grapefruit pith, peach and some grape stem. Medium-plus flavour intensity. A lighter mouthfeel and less stony after decanting.
Finish: Medium plus length with a mix of lemon, citrus pith, stoniness and grape stem adding some drying tannins. Peppery at the very end. Some toastiness with air. No change with decanting.
No need to decant this Pinot Gris. Open and enjoy.
Rating: This wine entices you with aromas of lemon, toast, pineapple and a hint of flora. Medium body, round with stony minerality. Light acidity and stone fruit flavours. Plus some grape stem tannins. Medium-plus length.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can purchase their wines online via their website. These wines may be at private wine shops, but you need to ask.
