BC’s Sandhill Wines is introducing Secco, a fresh, fruit-forward BC VQA sparkling wine made using the Charmat method, made from 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir. I received a bottle to try. It is a test release, so not widely available; it is just at a few private liquor stores. I thought I would let you read the winemaker’s notes for this wine, followed by my wine-tasting notes. The wine is listed at 10% alc, for those of you looking for lower alcohol wine.
Winemaker’s Notes
Our new Secco Sparkling wine is a blend of Chardonnay (80%) and Pinot Noir (20%) made in the Charmat method. The base wine was made from carefully selected lots to achieve the desired balance of aromas, flavours, and structure. This base wine was then first fermented in stainless steel and then transferred to a pressurized stainless-steel tank, together with a mixture of sugar and sparkling wine yeast, to undergo a second fermentation. The wine was then filtered and bottled under pressure, creating the wine’s effervescence and to preserve its freshness, fruit expression, and delicate mousse.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Sandhill Wines Secco Sparkling Wine – a clear, medium-minus intensity straw colour. Medium-plus sized bubbles form in the glass. It has medium-intensity aromas of fresh stone fruits, crisp apples, and some citrus. This wine is dry, medium-plus bodied, round with a mouthfilling mix of medium-sized creamy and biting bubbles. Medium-plus acidity. Tart citrus flavour, stone fruits, along with some citrus pith toward the finish. Medium-plus length, finishing with tart citrus and pith. 
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I quite enjoyed this sparkling wine. Easy to sip. I look forward to it being a regular on store shelves.
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
This wine has a suggested retail price of $19.99, but since this is a limited test release with a small run, it is only sold at private liquor stores and not at the winery or online. I do not know which private stores carry this wine. It is not at Save On Foods and Everything Wine as I checked online.
