BC wines are known for their fresh fruit flavours and bright acidity. These two wines, Hester Creek Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2022 and Old Vine Pinot Blanc 2022, show these characters to a “T”. Lots of fresh fruit flavours for you to love this Spring and Summer. Let me tell you about them.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Hester Creek Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2022 (BC $18.99)
The grapes come from four different vineyards in the Okanagan. After picking the grapes, according to the winery, “The grapes were then hand sorted, destemmed, and left whole for a light pressing, which resulted in clean juice with reduced solids. After pressing, the juice was cold settled for three days and racked before heading into stainless steel tanks for a long, cool fermentation of 30 days at 12.5°C. The cool fermentation allowed the wine to retain its natural, vibrant aromatics and lively acidity. Following fermentation, the wine was blended and aged for four months before being bottled in early 2023.”
Appearance: A lighter, bright lemon colour that has tiny bubbles clinging to the sides of the glass.
Nose: Light, youthful aromas of apple, stone fruit and citrus, with a hint of white flowers. The wine became more aromatic with decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium body, and round with a light acidic prickle on the palate. Crisp apples, plus citrus and stone fruit. A touch of minerality and light pepperiness toward the finish. You can add a touch of orange and stoniness on the palate after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with apple, citrus, pith, stone fruit and light pepperiness. Add stoniness to the finish with decanting.
No need to decant. Open and enjoy.
Rating: 
Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vine Pinot Blanc 2022 (BC $19.99)
The grapes come exclusively from the Golden Mile Bench. According to the winery, “…the 2022 Old Vine Pinot Blanc was hand harvested from Blocks 4 and 9 of our historic Golden Mile Bench vineyard. Our roots run deep with these Block 4 vines that were planted in 1968, adding to the intensity and overall structure of this crisp white wine. Following harvest, the grapes were meticulously sorted, destemmed and whole berry pressed into stainless steel tanks. Following a long, cool fermentation for 28 days at 12°C, the wine was racked, blended with fine lees, and aged to further develop a pleasing mouth weight before being bottled in mid-January of 2023.”
Appearance: A clear bright, medium-intensity lemon colour. Slightly larger bubbles on the sides of the wine glass.
Nose: Medium-plus rich aromas of pineapple, tropical fruits, plus white flowers and some grape stem. No change to the aromas with decanting.
Palate: Dryish, medium body, with a thick, round mouthfeel. You get a light acidic prickle on the tongue and some pepperiness toward the finish. It has an oily or waxy texture, which I enjoy. Tropical fruits, pineapple and citrus with a touch of pears toward the finish. No change to the flavours on the palate with decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with a mix of tropical fruit, pears, and some pepperiness on the palate. No change to the finish with decanting.
A wine that knows what it wants to be. Open and enjoy.
Rating: 
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
BC Liquor stores and Everything Wine stores carry both wines. These wines are available for purchase through the winery’s website:
- Hester Creek Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2022 (the website says Out of Stock)
- Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vine Pinot Blanc 2022