BC is well-known for producing quality sparkling wines. Township 7 Vineyards & Winery has dedicated a significant portion of their wine production to making top-quality sparkling wines, under the “seven stars” label, for over 25 years. These wines are small lot cuvées, crafted with passion in the méthode champenoise style and made by Township 7’s winemaker, Mary McDermott. Grape varieties are not limited to the big three from the Champagne region. You will also get wines made from Viognier and Riesling, for example. I received two of their sparkling wines recently, the seven stars Aurora Sparkling Wine 2022 and the seven stars Rigel Sparkling Wine 2023. Here are my tasting notes, plus a surprise at the end.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery seven stars Aurora Sparkling Wine 2022 (a wine club exclusive)
Winemaker’s notes, “This single-vineyard Blanc de Noir is crafted from 100% Pinot Noir grown at Stoneridge Vineyard in Okanagan Falls, a southwest-facing hillside overlooking the Okanagan River…The grapes were hand-harvested with naturally high acidity and lower sugar levels, ideal for extended aging. The wine was aged en tirage for 30 months, allowing for the development of refined autolytic character. Following riddling and disgorgement, a small addition of proprietary dosage was made, lending added depth, balance, and complexity to the finished wine.”
Appearance: A clear, bright, medium-intensity mix of straw and lemon colours. Medium-sized bubbles.
Nose: Very light toasty nose.
Palate: Dry, medium to medium-plus body with a mouthfilling mix of biting bubbles that turn creamy. Tart apples, some grapefruit pith, and maybe a hint of stone fruit on the palate. Higher acidity.
Finish: Medium to medium-plus length with a tart finish of apples with some apple skin bitterness.
Rating: 
A more traditional sparkling wine made with Pinot Noir grapes.
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery seven stars Rigel Sparkling Wine 2023 (BC $34.97)
Winemaker’s notes, “This traditional method sparkling wine is crafted from Riesling sourced from the sustainably managed Fool’s Gold Vineyard in North Oliver. Owned by respected vineyard manager Mark Antonello, the site was planted more than two decades ago by his father-in-law, Richard Cleave, one of the Okanagan’s most renowned viticulturists. The west-facing vineyard features sandy clay loam soils layered with rock and gravel, providing excellent drainage and ideal growing conditions for premium sparkling wine fruit. Only the free-run juice was selected for the final cuvée, then cool fermented in stainless steel to preserve delicate aromatics and freshness. The wine was aged en tirage for 12 months before disgorgement and finished with a proprietary dosage, creating a lively and expressive sparkling wine..”
Appearance: Clear, bright, medium-intensity lemon colour in the glass. Many more medium-sized bubbles in the glass compared to Aurora.
Nose: Medium-intensity aromas of toast, crisp apple, and petrol.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium-bodied, and higher in acidity. A nice light mouthfeel with mouthfilling, light, airy, biting and creamy bubbles. Pronounced flavours of apple and petrol on the palate along with touches of toast and stone fruits.
Finish: A medium-plus to long length, finishing dry with some apple skin bitterness.
Rating: 
– Delightful. Nice, light bubbles.
Previous Vintages
Curiously, last year I tasted the previous vintages of these two sparkling wines during a masterclass, lead by Mary. I thought I’d post the tasting notes to see the consistencies or differences in these wines. I did not rate either wine at that time. And I did not check these notes before I tasted and wrote about the current released vintages.
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery seven stars Aurora Sparkling Wine 2021 – A light lemon colour. Medium-minus lemon-straw colour. Light aromas of apple, citrus and toast. This wine is dry, medium-plus body with a round, thicker mouthfeel. Medium acidity and light bubble. Apples plus a touch of chalk on the palate. Medium-plus length with a lightly tart finish.
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery seven stars Rigel Sparkling Wine 2022 – Very bright, medium-intensity lemon colour. Medium-intensity aromas of apple, petrol, and mint. Medium body, with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Medium-plus acidity. Light biting bubbles on the tongue. A dry finish.
Very similar tasting notes! Here is the URL to the full masterclass article.
Where Can I Buy These Sparkling Wines?
Both wines are available to purchase online from the Township 7 website, but you need to be a member of their wine club to purchase the Aurora sparkling wine.
