Vanessa Vineyard, located in the Similkameen Valley, may not be a well-known winery to many, but it should. Winemaker, Howard Soon, joined Vanessa in 2017 after retiring from Sandhill Wines. He has won over 100 awards for the wines he has crafted and has received the Order of Canada. Recently there was the 2025 Top 50 BC Wine awards and three of Howard’s wines were selected; the Syrah, Meritage, and The Monarch. I recently visited the winery and was able to try all three of the award winning wines, and one more.
I was looking forward to sampling their Viognier, but all their Viognier vines were killed from the 2024 winter cold snap. This is terrible as we will not get to enjoy Howard’s Viognier until three years after the vines are replanted.
Let me tell you about the four red wines that I sampled.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Vanessa Vineyard Syrah 2020 (BC $45.99) – This wine is co-fermented with a small amount (8%) of Viognier. This wine has a deep, clear mix of garnet and ruby colours. Nice, ripe berry nose along with black pepper and a hint of chocolate. This wine is dry with a lean, light, smooth mouthfeel. Sweet, ripe berry fruit flavours along with touches of oak and sweet spices. Medium acidity and tannins. Medium-plus length finishing with berry fruit flavours and a touch of pepperiness. 
Vanessa Vineyard Right Bank 2020 (BC $49.99) – a blend of 77% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. Nice colour, very much like the Syrah; a clear, translucent garnet colour. Light aromas of red fruit, blackberries, and a touch of pepperiness. This wine is dry, round, smooth and soft. Berry fruit, blackberries and a touch of capsicum on the mid palate. Medium acidity and tannins. Medium-plus length with cherries and a touch of oak on the finish.
Vanessa Vineyard Meritage 2020 (BC $49.99) – a blend of 44% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Cabernet Franc. A clear translucent, medium-plus intensity garnet colour. Light aromas of red fruits, sweet spices, and a touch of oak. Dry, medium-plus body with a smooth, round mouthfeel. Ripe black fruits and blackberries on the palate. Medium acidity and soft, fine tannins that firm up on the finish. Medium-plus length.
Vanessa Vineyard The Monarch 2020 (BC $79.99) – a blend of 38% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 27% Merlot. A clear translucent, medium-plus intensity garnet colour. Light aromas of red fruits, sweet spices, and a touch of oak. Light red berry fruit nose along with a hint of chocolate. This wine has a medium-plus body, is dry, with a smooth, round, soft mouthfeel. Medium acidity and fine-grained tannins. Sweet black fruit and black cherry flavours plus a touch of vanilla. Medium-plus length with the tannins firming up toward the finish.
All these wines were tasting great now, but can easily age another five or more years. Buy a few of each and taste them over a few years. A splurge, but well worth it.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can purchase these wines online at the Vanessa Vineyard website.
