This week we had a trade event featuring the latest BC white wines, many from 2024, as well as some red wines. In 2024 we had a terrible winter freeze that killed most of the grape vines in the interior of BC, so BC wineries were given permission from the BC government to source grapes from outside BC. Many winemakers brought in grapes from Washington and Oregon. So below, many of the 2024 white wines I discuss below were made in BC, but used WA or OR grapes. I am glad that our vineyard friends south of the border helped out our BC wineries as it will take a few years for our vineyards to be back to full production, after replanting vines this spring.
For this trade tasting, I tried to visit all the winery tables and try one white or sparkling wine. After visiting all the winery tables once, I started again, but this time only tasting red wines. I only had about 10 minutes to try red wines, so there are only a few listed at the bottom of my wine picks list. Give these wines a try.
My Wine Picks
White and Sparkling Wines
Vasanti Estate Winery Paradise Bubbles 2023 – Made in the frizzante style from Pinot Gris grapes. It has a sweet, ripe stone fruit nose, plus the scent of beeswax. Medium body, cry with a lean mouthfeel. High acidity. Smaller bubbles, both creamy and biting. Bright, fresh stone fruit flavour along with a touch of honey. 
Terralux Estate Winery Viognier 2020 – Rich, ripe nose of roasted stone fruits, pears and vanilla. Dry, light body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Roasted pears and a touch of sweet spices on the palate. Medium acidity. Some tartness and bitterness on the finish. An elegant wine. – 
Unsworth Vineyard Charme de L’ile, NV – this sparkling wine has a light crab apple nose. Dry with high acidity and a mix of tiny creamy and biting bubbles. Lots of crab apple flavour. Medium body. A fun wine.
SpearHead Winery DualCitizen Pinot Gris 2024 – grapes from this wine come from WA state. This wine has a nice fresh stone fruit nose. Light body with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Fresh stone fruit flavour and a touch of pepperiness. A tasty, elegant wine.
Stag’s Hollow Winery Chardonnay 2022 – the grapes come from their Herrera Vineyard. This wine has a medium intensity nose with aromas of toast, apple, tropical fruit and honey. Medium body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Tropical fruit and touches of oak and pepperiness on the palate.
Red Rooster Winery Pinot Gris 2024 – the grapes for this wine come from the Yakima Valley in WA. This wine has aromas of flowers and apples. Medium body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Floral, apple and pears on the palate. Medium acidity and length.
Mythology Vineyard Viognier 2023 – Light stone fruit plus grape stem aromas. This wine is dry, with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Light stone fruit flavour with a touch of pepperiness, some bitterness and orange. Medium acidity and medium length. A balanced wine.
Laughing Stock Vineyards Chardonnay 2022 – Rich butterscotch and tropical fruit aromas. Medium-plus body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Rich, ripe tropical fruits and butterscotch on the palate plus a touch of cinnamon. Medium-plus length.
Joie Farm Sauvignon Blanc 2024 – Light aromas of herbaceousness, honey ad apricot. These aromas continue as flavours on the palate. Off-dry, or fruity, medium-plus body, with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Lower acidity. An easy sipper.
Gold Hill Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – Nice aromas with a touch of matchstick and stone fruits behind. Medium body with a smooth texture. Medium-plus acidity. Matchstick and ripe stone fruit plus a touch of pepperiness on the palate. –
Gneiss Wines Pinot Gris 2023 – A fresh stone fruit nose and stone fruits on the palate. Dry with a smooth mouthfeel. Medium acidity. An easy sipper. –
Black Hills Estate Winery Viognier 2023 – A nice mandarin orange scented nose that continues to the palate. This wine has a medium-plus body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Along with oranges, you also get pears, pepperiness, honey and some stoniness on the palate.
Black Market Wine Co. Chardonnay 2023 – this wine is certified organic and sustainable. Medium intensity butterscotch aroma with more on the palate. Apples also on the palate. This wine has a medium body with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Lower acidity. A touch of oak on the finish.
CedarCreek Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2024 – grapes come from the Willamette Valley. This wine has a light intensity stone fruit nose. Off-dry, medium-plus body with a round mouthfeel. Tasty stone fruit flavours with apricots and honey on the finish. You also get some acidic prickle on your tongue. –
Backyard Vineyards Blanc de Noirs, NV – Fresh aromas of ripe apples. Mouth filling, very creamy bubble; some biting. Apples on palate plus a touch of stone fruits. A dry sparkling wine.
Red Wines
Lightning Rock Winery Counoise 2024 – Counoise is a unique grape, not normally found on it’s own. It is one of the varieties that can be used to make Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. The grapes for this wine come from Washington state. This wine has a light, bright cherry colour. Bright, fresh candied cherry nose. Dry, light body with a soft mouthfeel. Fresh red fruit flavours (raspberry in particular), and some candied red fruits. Higher acidity and light tannins. Medium-plus length with a tart finish.
1 Mill Road Pinot Noir 2023 – Medium garnet colour. Medium intensity aromas of crunchy red cherries. Dry, medium-minus body with a soft, smooth, buttery mouthfeel. Ripe red cherries and candied cherries plus a touch of dill and pepperiness on the palate. Medium acidity and tannins. Some cinnamon spice on the finish.
1 Mill Road Syrah / Pinot Noir 2024 – A blend of WA state and BC grapes. This wine has a bright raspberry colour. Fresh, sweet red berry fruit aromas. Medium body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Medium acidity and light tannins. Tasty red cherries, red fruits and a touch of sweet spices. Medium-plus length with medium intensity fine grained tannins. Some pepperiness on the finish. –
3Benches Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023 – medium garnet colour. Nice aromas of ripe red fruits and sweet spices. Dry, medium body with a smooth mouthfeel. Red fruit, cherries and sweet spices prominent on the palate. Medium tannins get stronger toward the finish. A delicious wine in the New World style.
