We all love to get good value from our purchases, especially in wine when the quality of the wine exceeds bottle price.
In this VanWineFest 2025 seminar, “Value & Variety, West Coast Style“, we were introduced to 10 different wineries along the USA west coast. This trio of states offer every climate, terroir, grape, and wine style to tempt wine lovers. We were able to taste the best in the west from Washington, Oregon, and California, from Pinot Noir to single vineyard Cabernets.
Our moderator was D.J. Kearney. Panellists were winery principles: Leah Adint, Taylor Butterfield, Angela Cox, Alexandra Lafontaine, Joseph Lange, Christina Jensen, David Prodonavic, Howard Rossbach, Melanie Schafer, and Margo Van Staaveren.
D.J. noted we BC’ers share many things in common with the west coast of the USA in what we drink, eat, and our lifestyles. We also value, value and variety when choosing wines. The wines we tasted were all viewed as being “good value”.
How Can We Define Value?
It can be monetarily. In BC, our average purchase price is now $20/bottle, was $15.99/bottle. Half of the wines we buy are local and half from other countries. We can view the Quality to Price Ratio. It is always a treat to find a bottle with quality that outperforms its price. We can also look at the Return on Investment (ROI). Best in Category is another option. We look at awards for wines and comments from other wine drinkers online (crowdsourced opinions).
There can also be the environmental aspect. Are the wines produced organically, biodynamically, using regenerative agriculture? This aspect is important for us in BC and along the USA west coast. The narrative value of a wine is also a factor to consider. Stories do resonate and connect with us. People like to hear the stories about wines, but D.J. also noted that wineries should also listen to stories about their consumers and then see how their wines can fit into their consumers’ lifestyles.
Cultural value of a wine can also be of importance. It can be something historical, or how it connects with your lifestyle. She mentioned how the La Crema Winery has partnered with Gay Pride supporting it, which opened them up to a new group of wine drinkers that was not initially on their radar. Some wineries have a historical pedigree or have spawned several other wineries and set the careers of many winemakers.
New wine drinkers are also important to keep the wine industry healthy so offering value-priced wines were discussed. Choosing wine for an occasion, and how it connects with their friends, how it makes them feel better about their life, is important for new wine drinkers. Then, once they have connected to a wine(s), they can learn about the other aspects mentioned above.
The Featured Wines
Gloria Ferrer Blanc De Blancs NV, CA (Melanie Schafer)
A to Z Wineworks Chardonnay 2022, OR (Angela Cox)
Baileyana True Myth Chardonnay 2022, CA (Christina Jensen)
Erath Reserve Collection Pinot Noir 2021, OR (Leah Adint)
Citation Wine Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015, OR (Howard Rossbach)
LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards Ivory & Burt Old Vine Zinfandel 2021, CA (Joseph Lange)
Aquilini Wines Dixie & Bass Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, WA (David Prodonavic)
Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, WA (Taylor Butterfield)
Nine Hats Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, WA (Alexandra Lafontaine)
Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, CA (Margo Van Staaveren)
Winery Principals and My Wine Tasting Notes
Gloria Ferrer Blanc De Blancs NV – This was the first sparkling winery in Carneros with plantings started in 1984. Every block in their vineyard is harvested and fermented separately before blending. The winery is certified sustainable since 2016. This wine is made from Chardonnay and 97% up to 100% estate fruit. They are replanting Chardonnay so depending on the planting regime, it will take up to 2027 to be certified fully organic estate fruit. The winery uses carbon-offsets for ship hull coatings to counteract the shipping of bottles to the winery from Europe. They are also involved in bio-char. When you pull out a vineyard, you burn the pull pile of vines at a very high rate so that you don’t create any byproducts that go into the ozone. The resulting charcoal is then put back into the vineyard soil. It lasts 20+ years in the soil and sequesters a lot of CO2.
One of the values for this wine is that it is about 1/3 the cost of French Champagne, while it uses the same grapes and methods to produce the sparkle. A quality wine.
This sparkling wine has a bright, clear medium lemon colour. Medium intensity apples and toast aromas. Medium body, slightly off-dry. Small biting bubbles. Toast, citrus fruit and crisp apple on the palate. A long lingering length. 
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A to Z Wineworks Chardonnay 2022 – This winery was formed by a collective of winery pioneers (historical value): Deb Hatcher (Eyrie), Bill Hatcher (Domaine Drouhin Oregon), Sam Tannahill (Archery Summit) and Cheryl Francis (Chehalem). They formed this winery in order to produce more affordable wines using grapes sourced from throughout Oregon. The winery also joined the International Wineries for Climate Action with the goal to decarbonize the winery. In September 2022, ownership of A to Z Wineworks transitioned to Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.
This wine is a Chardonnay for non-Chardonnay lovers. There is no oak and no malolactic fermentation for this wine. It is meant to please many new consumers.
The grapes for this wine come from 10 different vineyards. It has a lighter, bright lemon colour. Light but fruit nose. Pineapple and stone fruit aromas. It is smooth and soft with a light mouthfeel. Medium to lower acidity. Lemon and lime zesty flavours plus some light pepperiness on the finish. An easy sipper. Dry finish. Not what you would expect from a Chardonnay. 
Baileyana True Myth Chardonnay 2022 – The winery is located in a lesser-known area of California; the Edna Valley. The area is 8km away from the Pacific Ocean, giving them the coastal influence. Volcanos in the past plus crustal plates has produced a hilly valleys with a variety of soils with cool climate. They winery uses light oak to keep the wine’s fruit most important. The owners, the Niven family, are pioneers in the valley, first planting grapes and getting the region to be recognized as an AVA.
A deeper bright lemon colour. Fuller aromas of toast, nutmeg and crisp apple. Medium-minus body, very soft and silky smooth on the palate. Nutmeg, pineapple and apple flavours. Medium-plus length with lots of nutmeg and some pepperiness lasting till the very end. –
Erath Reserve Collection Pinot Noir 2021 – Dick Erath was one of the pioneers of the Willamette Valley and grape growing in Oregon. We were told that from a past winemaker at the winery who was asked about the type and importance of clones, that the winemaker said, yes, clones matter, but the site matters more. You will taste the site, soil, and elevation, before you taste the clone.
To make this wine, the best of their single vineyards are brought together to produce a blend showing the taste of Oregon. Oregon wines lead with acidity and shows bright, fresh red fruit. The wines should be soft, generous, fresh, and food-friendly.
This wine has a clear, medium garnet colour. Medium-plus sweet spices, red fruits, and floral on the nose. Pretty aromas. Medium-plus body, round, with higher acidity. Candied cherries, red fruit, floral (prominent) and light sweet spices on the palate. Medium-plus length, finishing sweet cherries, nutmeg and tart red fruit. –
Citation Wine Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015 – Howard Rossbach is a legend in Oregon’s wine industry. He has been in the wine industry for 50 years! Citation Wine is a certified sustainable winery with the wines made from his 202 acre Erratic Oaks vineyard. Dick Erath helped Howard make the original Firesteed Winery wines, which he (Howard) later sold nine years ago so he could start Citation Wine.
Howard noted that wine is a beverage of conviviality, that we share with family, friends, and associates. Howard asserts that Washington and Oregon from his experience has the potential to produce wines that can stand up with the best wines in Europe. He would make wines that would stand that test of time. His winery is at 45 degree north latitude, the same as Bordeaux.
Howard also mentioned that many wines are released too young. He releases wines when when he thinks they are ready to go. One of the wines in the Festival Tasting Room was a 2006 Pinot Noir, which I later tasted. It was fantastic!
This wine has a medium-minus dull garnet colour. Light intensity dusty nose with dried red fruits and a touch of sweet spices. Dry, medium-plus body with a smooth round mouthfeel. Earthy, dusty, juicy red fruit flavours and light pepperiness Some tar and red fruit flavours as well. Medium intensity acidity and drying tannins. Medium-plus length finishing with tart red fruit and pepperiness.
LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards Ivory & Burt Old Vine Zinfandel 2021 – their region, Lodi has been a core region for growing grapes in California. Lodi produces more grapes than Napa and Sonoma combined. Joe’s family go back five generations back, immigrated from Germany, and were some of the historical community builders of grape growing in Lodi. Their family also helped to start the LODI RULES Sustainable Winegrowing Program.
The wine we tasted is labelled as Ivory & Burt. Charles Ivory and J.M. Burt were the owners of the first mercantile store in Lodi where the great-great-great-grandparents used to shop. The wine tips its hat to the past, but the wine is made in a modern style for the current consumers. They produce wines that you can enjoy without needing to eat food. Most of the vines for this wine are more than 30 years old, but some are 40 years and a few (6%) are 60 years old.
This wine has a dull, medium garnet colour. Light aromas of red fruit, touches of floral, raisins and nutmeg, which continue to the palate. Medium-minus body with a soft, fruity/dryish mouthfeel. Fruity and floral flavours with light tannins and medium acidity. Medium-minus length.
Aquilini Wines Dixie & Bass Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – This is the youngest winery of all that were presenting in this seminar. The Aquilini family, in case you don’t know, own the Vancouver Canucks hockey team. The family purchased vineyard land in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington state in 2013 and have around 600 acres on Red Mountain and 100 acres in Columbia Valley. Their Dixie & Bass tier of wines are meant to be at a lower price point, but to still show some of the quality of Red Mountain AVA grapes. Their Columbia Valley vineyard is actually on the opposite side of the road from their Red Mountain vineyard. Dixie & Bass are drawn characters, a dog and a bird respectively, they are opposites, but bring out the best in each other. You can read the fictional story how Dixie & Bass met at this link.
This wine contains 50% of its grapes from the Red Mountain AVA and the rest from Columbia Valley vineyard. It has a deep, dull garnet colour. Medium intensity ripe berry fruits, nutmeg and cedar aromas. Dry, medium-plus body with a soft, round, lush mouthfeel. Ripe berry fruit, black fruit and pepperiness. Either fruity or off-dry. Some butteriness on the palate. Medium tannins and acidity. Medium-plus length, finishing with drying tannins and lingering juicy berries ad sweet spice flavours. –
Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – Chateau Ste. Michelle wines have been entrenched in our BC market for so many years. Probably most of us have enjoyed a bottle of wine from this winery and may have visited the winery in WA state.
Taylor Butterfield is their white wine maker, but her husband works in the red wine making crew, so has knowledge about their red wine making processes as well. Taylor is a Z-Millennial, a 25-45 year old person, who we were earlier talking about being important to introduce to wine. So is interesting that Taylor is in that age group and is making wine for her age group. Taylor mentioned that she enjoys also pouring wine in the tasting room when she has the chance, listening to peoples’ comments about the wines. She noted that maybe we need to make wine that is not too sophisticated that it needs to age for 10 years before opening it. Make the wine that can be enjoyed by Z-Millennials when they purchase it. Drink wine any day of the week.
The Indian Wells tier of wines is one step up from their Columbia Valley tier. They source grapes from their Indian Wells vineyard and pick grapes from warmer sites to produce a more New World style of wines. They pick grapes from their Cold Creek Vineyard, which is actually a warm site (and there is no creek currently). These wines get more oak treatment.
A blend with 15% Syrah. It has a deep, dull mix of garnet and ruby colours. A strong stemmy aroma along with cedar, and black fruits. Dry, medium-plus body with a round, smooth mouthfeel. Strong capsicum along with black fruit and nutmeg flavours. Plump, juicy, fresh fruit flavours. Light pepperiness. Medium acidity. Medium to strong tannins on the finish. –
Nine Hats Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 – Alan Shoup started Long Shadows; he was the CEO of Chateau Ste. Michelle till 2001. He started collaborations with European winemakers like Antinori. His vision was to bring European winemakers to the USA, where they fell in love with Washington’s New World fruit and what you can do with them. Powerful fruit plus European elegance.
The creation of the iconic Long Shadows winery lead to the off-shoot of Nine Hats Wines. The nine hats on the label represents the nine winemaking partnerships. They wanted to make wines that are approachable and at a value price point. Most of the grapes for these wines come from the Horse Heaven Hills (H3).
This wine also has 8% Syrah in the blend. The wine has a deep, dull body and garnet colour in the glass. Medium-minus intensity aromas of ripe, black fruits, and touches of capsicum and meatiness. Medium body, dry with a soft, light mouthfeel. Capsicum, black fruits and juicy berry flavours. Bright acidity and medium tannins. Medium length with tart and ripe berries and firm tannins on the finish.
Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – A historic winery, founded by Georges de Latour, in late 1880s. He was working in Napa Valley and was importing grape vines are disease resistant root stalks, which helped sustain California’s wine industry to combat phylloxera. He purchased the land for the winery and vineyard around 1900. This is the 125th anniversary for the winery in Napa Valley.
Georges invited Russian, André Tchelistcheff, to come to Napa Valley in the early 1930s. André was hired to be their enologist. André tasted through all the wines in barrels and developed the first ever Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon flagship wine for the winery. André only used American oak as French oak was not available at that time, but many years later revisited the winery and convinced them to now use French oak barrels. I read from Wikipedia that “Tchelistcheff provided significant contributions to the techniques of cold fermentation, vineyard frost protection, malolactic fermentation, and the development of winemaking regions in Carneros, California, Oregon and Washington.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/André_Tchelistcheff)
The wine is a blend of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, with lesser amounts of Petite Sirah, Charbono, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Touriga Nacional from a selection of grapes from their Rutherford and Calistoga vineyards and then expanding to select Napa Valley vineyards. All grapes from each vineyard have to be certified sustainable to go into their wines. They blend for style, for something approachable that represents Napa Valley.
This wine has an opaque ruby colour. Medium intensity, deep, sweet black fruit aromas plus touches of meatiness, nutmeg and floral. Fuller body with a thicker, smooth mouthfeel. Medium acidity and tannins. Deep ripe berry fruit flavours and some nutmeg on the palate. Medium length finishing with fresh berry fruit flavours. Quality.
Thank you to the Vancouver International Wine Festival for providing me a seat to attend this seminar.
