If you visit Osoyoos and stay at the Spirit Ridge Resort or visit the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, you will drive past Adega on 45th Estate Winery. The winery and tasting room is at the top of a hill slope and gives you a wonderful view of Osoyoos. The winery was recently taken over by Gate 22 Winery, which has Christa-Lee McWatters as one of their principals. Christa-Lee is well known in the BC wine trade for her and her father’s (Harry McWatters) contributions to developing and promoting BC wine.
I visited Christa-Lee, getting a tour of the winemaking room with stainless steel tanks, and the barrel room which contains an amazing 500 barrels, for this small scale winery. Gate 22 Winery acquired Adega on 45th earlier this year when the owners were retiring. The winery is in good hands and I expect some excellent wines in the future, including sparkling wines. They currently do not have sparkling wines, but Christa-Lee loves them and is bringing them to Adega on 45th. I am looking forward to popping a cork.
Below are my tasting notes for the wines I tried on that day. Enjoy.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Viognier 2023 (BC $24.99) – a medium-plus lemon colour. Light but deep aromas of oranges and stone fruits. Medium body with a smooth, thicker mouthfeel. Fresh stone fruits and a touch of pepperiness. Medium acidity. Medium-plus length. 
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2023 (BC $24.99) – a medium pear skin colour. Light, fresh stone fruit nose. Medium-minus body with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Light stone fruit flavours with some pepperiness on the finish. 
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2022 (BC $32.99) – nice, intense aromas of cedar and red fruits with more on the palate. You also get coconut on the palate. This wine is dry, medium-minus body with a lean mouthfeel. Medium tannins and medium length. –
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Merlot 2020 (BC $29.99) – a deeper garnet colour. Light cherry flavour with a touch of meatiness. Dry, medium-plus body with a light mouthfeel. Very ripe red cherries and a touch of oak on the palate. Medium acidity and tannins. You get tart red fruit and drying tannins on the finish. –
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Cabernet Merlot 2022 (BC $37.99) – a lighter, clear garnet colour with some bricking. Light nose showing red fruit and aged red fruit aromas. Medium-plus body with a smooth mouthfeel. Higher acidity. Red cherries and red apple flavours, plus a touch of oak on the palate. Medium tannins. You get a strong tart mouthfeel plus oak on the finish.
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Syrah 2021 (BC $33.99) – a deep, black-garnet colour in the glass. Medium intensity aromas of black pepper and black fruit. This wine has a smooth soft mouthfeel with nice texture. Sweet black fruit flavour. Lower acidity and tannins. Some tartness on the finish.
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Quarteto Tinto 2019 (BC $42.99) – this wine is only available at the winery. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 12.5% Merlot and 12.5% Malbec. It has a medium garnet colour with some bricking. Medium intensity aromas of sweet dark fruit. Smooth and soft with a thicker mouthfeel. Sweet dark fruit, porty flavours, with a touch of sweet spices. Medium acidity and tannins. A drying finish. –
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Alexandrino Reserve Syrah 2018 (BC $50.00) – a deeper garnet colour. Rich, ripe dark fruit and cherry aromas. Medium-plus body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Sweet, ripe dark fruit and berry flavours plus some red apple. Medium acidity and tannins. Puckering red fruits on the finish.
Adega on 45th Estate Winery Portao Da Adega Branco (White Port) (BC $22.99) – this wine is a blend of Muscat and Gewurztraminer. It has a medium lemon colour. Nice, sweet orange and stone fruit aromas. Light body with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Lightly sweet. Medium acidity. Orange rind, sweet spices and a touch of pepperiness on the palate. –
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can purchase these wines online from the Adega on 45th website. A selection of these wines are available at Everything Wine stores. I found the Merlot available at Save on Foods stores.
