What is fool’s gold? It is the nickname for a mineral called pyrite that looks like gold, but is harder and does not have much value. I wondered about the naming of the Fool’s Gold Vineyard in the north Oliver area of the Okanagan as there is no fool’s gold. The soil is sandy clay loam soil containing many rocks and gravels, providing excellent drainage. No mention of fool’s gold or mica, which can also shine like gold. Could it be that the original owners of this plot of land looked at the many rocks and thought they were fools to make it rich? Or were they originally thinking that there could be gold to be mined? There are at least five combined existing and past gold mines in the Okanagan. Whatever the reason, the land has shown that it is valuable for producing wine grapes.
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery, has Riesling and Syrah grapes planted in this vineyard and I received two bottles of wine made from the Riesling grape to review for you. I opened their Township 7 Benchmark Series Fool’s Gold Vineyard Riesling 2021 and seven stars Fool’s Gold Vineyard Rigel Sparkling Wine 2022. A sparkling wine from Riesling grapes is unusual for many places worldwide. The only place I know that commonly uses Riesling for sparkling wines is in Alsace where they produce Crémant d’Alsace AOC, but it could be blended with other aromatic white grape varieties.
I did not provide any decanting notes for either wine. Sparkling wines never get decanting notes, and the still Riesling I opened with friends, so the whole bottle disappeared in one sitting. Now, let me tell you about these two wines.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Township 7 seven stars Fool’s Gold Vineyard Rigel Sparkling Wine 2022 (BC $36.97)
According to the winery, “The seven stars Rigel is named for the 7th brightest and one of the youngest stars in the night sky. Crafted in the méthode Champenoise style, the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation, or prise de mousse, “capturing the sparkle” in the bottle…
…For this vintage, only the finest free-run juice was used, following a gentle pressing and careful separation. After cold settling, the juice underwent a cool fermentation in stainless steel to preserve its delicate fruit aromatics. The wine was aged en tirage for 12 months before being disgorged then adding a proprietary dosage, for a delicious and dynamic sparkling wine.”
Appearance: A bright, clear, medium-intensity lemon colour. Small bubbles were quite evident in the glass.
Nose: Medium-intensity aromas of stone fruits, citrus, with a touch of orange.
Palate: This wine is dry with medium body and a light, lean mouthfeel. Medium-sized mix of creamy and biting bubbles. Citrus and stone fruit flavours with a touch of petrol, and apple from the mid-palate to the finish. Some fruity sweetness. Medium acidity.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with citrus and stone fruit flavours and a touch of bitterness.
Rating: 
– 
This is a delightful sparkling wine, offering citrus and stone fruit flavours and a nice texture from the bubbles.
Township 7 Benchmark Series Fool’s Gold Vineyard Riesling 2021 (BC $29.97)
Winemaker’s notes, “The fruit was gently pressed and cold settled before the majority was fermented in concrete, with a small portion fermented in older barriques. The fermentation took 4 weeks, which resulted in the retention of the most delicate fruit aromatics. The concrete fermentation added a nice creamy texture to the palate which balances the vibrant acidity.”
Appearance: This wine has a clear, bright, medium-plus intensity mix of lemon and gold colours in the glass.
Nose: It has medium-intensity aromas of petrol and apples.
Palate: Dry with medium-plus body and a smooth mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Stronger petrol with lesser amounts of apple, toast, and a touch of pepperiness on the palate.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing dry with some petrol and bitterness.
Rating: 
– A straightforward Riesling. The petrol is a bit prominent, but overall good quality.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available to purchase online via the Township 7 website:
