Adega on 45th Estate Winery started off early in 1966, as the Farinha and Nunes families perfected their craft of producing exceptional tree fruits in the South Okanagan. Maria Nunes and her brother, Fred Farinha, founded Adega on 45th in 2011 on their family farm, alongside their spouses, Alex and Pamala, cultivating 19 acres of estate fruit and have a commitment to quality and sustainability. Adega on 45th was sold to Gate 22 Winery, an investment group that also operates the Surrey-based Gate 22 Winery, to carry on their winemaking tradition.
I was pleased to see that Adega was able to use their grapes for the 2024 season, as many wineries either produced no wine, or sourced their grapes outside of BC. I have two white wines to review for you; Adega on 45th Estate Winery Riesling 2024 and their Felicidade 2024. Let me tell you about them.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Riesling 2024 (BC $26.99)
Winemaker’s notes, “All hand picked estate fruit sitting on the East side of Osoyoos Lake with sunny South West exposures and amazing terroir... PRESSING: Whole-cluster pressed…FERMENTATION: Stainless steel…”
Appearance: A medium-minus intensity clear and bright straw colour in the glass.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of apple, peach, grape stem, honeysuckle, and some stoniness. Same aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dryish, or fruity, smooth, with medium body and pronounced flavour intensity. A mix of peach, grapefruit pith and stony minerality. Bright acidity. Light pepperiness. High acidity gives this wine a backbone. The acidity drops down to medium-plus after decanting making the wine less tart. There is also less peach flavour, but you can now add apple and a hint of tropical fruit flavours.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishes with tart fruit flavours, peach and grapefruit pith and a touch of pepperiness. Off-dry or fruity till the end. The wine has a lighter, dried finish after decanting. Less peach flavour, but now add apples and tropical fruits.
A wine with a light touch overall on the aromas and flavours on the palate. Refreshing and elegant in the glass. The wine may be slightly nicer after decanting as the acidity softens a bit.
Rating: 
– 
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Riesling 2024 shows a clear straw colour with aromas of apple, peach, grape stem, honeysuckle, and stoniness. The palate is dryish, medium bodied, with pronounced peach, grapefruit pith, and minerality supported by bright acidity and light pepperiness. It has a medium-plus length with tart peach and grapefruit pith flavours, becoming less peachy and more apple and tropical fruits with softer acidity after decanting.
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Felicidade 2024 (BC $23.99)
The Felicidade is a blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Pinot Gris. No winemaker’s notes, but it is probably 100% stainless steel fermentation separately then blended together.
Appearance: A clear, bright medium-plus lemon plus pear skin colour.
Nose: Medium-plus intensity. Lots of pine needle aroma to start but it lightens with air, and you get light stone fruit aromas behind. The aromas are a little lighter after decanting along with the pine needle aroma. I also picked up a touch of grape stem and white flower aromas with decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium body, with a smooth, soft, thicker mouthfeel. Light pine needles, grape stem, and peach flavours. Medium-plus flavour intensity, but I feel that the texture and mouthfeel are stronger components in this wine. No change on the palate after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus length finishing with tart flavours, peach, some grape stem bitterness and light pepperiness. Thick and smooth mouthfeel to the end. A less tart finish after decanting, and maybe a little more grape stem bitterness.
No need to decant this wine. The wine has a heavier, smooth, soft texture, which stands out more than the fruit flavours.
Rating: Adega on 45th Estate Winery Felicidade 2024 shows a bright lemon and pear skin colour with pine needle aromas that soften to reveal light stone fruit, grape stem, and white flowers after decanting. The palate is dry, medium bodied, with a smooth, thicker mouthfeel with notes of pine needles, grape stem, and peach, where texture plays a key role. It finishes with a medium-plus length with tart peach, grape stem bitterness, and pepperiness, easing to a less tart but slightly more bitter finish after decanting.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available for purchase online via the Adega on 45th website:
One last thing, did you know that “adega” means “cellar” in Portuguese?
