BC wineries are quite accomplished at producing quality, aromatic white wines. I have two aromatic white wines from the Okanagan coming from the Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris grapes. They are the Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vine Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris wines from the 2025 vintage. 2025 was a fantastic vintage for BC Okanagan wines. The white wines are now out, and you should start seeing some red wines coming out this fall. Let me tell you about these two Pinots from the Hester Creek Estate Winery.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vine Pinot Blanc 2025 (BC $23.99)
Winemaker’s notes, “This fresh and fragrant Old Vine Pinot Blanc was grown exclusively on our Golden Mile Bench vineyard. The grapes were hand harvested from our historic block 4 on September 18, 2025, destemmed and pressed that same day. The resulting juice was cold settled for one day before being racked into stainless steel tanks. The Aromaloc was utilized during a slow cool fermentation to help preserve the lush aromatics and flavours of this outstanding vintage. The wine was filtered, blended and bottled on January 21, 2026.”
Appearance: A pale, clear lemon colour in the glass.
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of crisp apple, along with citrus, pears, straw, and grape stem. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium body with a soft, light mouthfeel. Bright flavours, mostly crisp apples, followed by pears, citrus, a touch of peach and stony minerality, and some grape stem bitterness. Medium-plus acidity. A touch of pepperiness toward the finish. The wine gets a little more body with swirling in the glass. No change after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus length, finishing with crisp apple flavour, some grape stem bitterness, stoniness, and pepperiness. No change to the finish after decanting.
A Pinot Blanc with bright crisp apple aromas and flavours, with some citrus and grape stem. No need to decant.
Rating: 
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The Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vine Pinot Blanc 2025 shows a pale lemon colour with fresh aromas of crisp apple, citrus, pear, straw, and a hint of grape stem. The palate is dry and medium-bodied with a soft, light texture and lively acidity, offering bright apple, pear, citrus, peach, and stony mineral flavours, subtle grape stem bitterness, and a touch of pepperiness. It finishes medium-plus in length with lingering crisp apple, minerality, grape stem, and peppery notes.
Hester Creek Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2025 (BC $21.99)
Winemaker’s notes, “This bright and refreshing Pinot Gris is an exceptional mix of both estate grown fruit from our historic Block 5 and fruit sourced from trusted growers in the South Okanagan Valley. Hand harvesting began mid August and continued to mid September. The grapes were destemmed, gently pressed for optimal juice extraction and cold settled of two days before being racked into stainless steel tanks. The Aromaloc was utilized during a slow cool fermentation to help preserve the lush aromatics and flavours of this outstanding vintage. The wine was then aged a further three months in stainless steel tanks. It was cross blended, filtered and bottled in January of 2026.“
Appearance: A medium-intensity, clear, bright bosc pear skin colour.
Nose: Light aromas of stone fruits, stoniness, and a hint of grape stem. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium-plus body with a smooth, soft, thicker mouthfeel. Medium-plus acidity. Subdued stone fruits, along with a touch of citrus rind bitterness. The stone fruit flavours are a little stronger after decanting, but I get touches of acidic prickle and pepperiness on the palate.
Finish: Medium length, finishing with subdued stone fruits, citrus rind, and a hint of pepperiness. Soft mouthfeel on the finish. No change to the finish after decanting.
A smoother, fuller-bodied Pinot Gris with light stone fruit aromas and flavours. No need to decant.
Rating: The Hester Creek Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2025 shows a bright Bosc pear skin colour with light aromas of stone fruit, stony minerality, and a hint of grape stem. The palate is dry and medium-plus in body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel and fresh acidity, offering subtle stone fruit flavours accented by citrus rind bitterness, with the fruit becoming slightly stronger after air. It finishes medium in length with restrained stone fruit, citrus rind, and a touch of pepperiness.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
You can purchase both wines online from the Hester Creek Estate Winery website:
Both wines are available at Everything Wine stores. The Hester Creek Estate Winery Pinot Gris is available at BC Liquor stores.
