The Swirl Around BC Wine Expo was held this week for people in the wine trade to show off the latest vintages from BC wineries across the province. I decided to start by tasting white wines only, and then as time and my back permitted, I would try a few red wines. Most of the white wines are from our fantastic 2025 vintage. One of the wines is from 2024 using grapes from WA state.
I tried but was not able to taste one wine from every table and make tasting notes. So if you attended and thought certain wines were terrific, please comment below with the name of the winery and the wine. Thank you.
Below are the wines that stood out to me. You should see them available from the wineries’ websites, as well as at either BC Liquor stores or private wine shops across BC. Enjoy!
My Wine Picks from Swirl About BC Wine Expo
Lunessence Winery & Vineyard Chardonnay 2025 – Inviting apple, vanilla, and butterscotch nose. Medium body with a smooth, soft, thicker mouthfeel. Light acidity. Butterscotch and apple on the palate plus a hint of spice. Mouthfeel texture. Medium length. 
Tightrope Winery Riesling 2025 – Light aromas of apple and petrol. Dry, light body with a lean, soft mouthfeel. Apples, bruised apples, and a touch of toastiness on the palate. Tart finish with medium-plus length.
Lakeboat Vineyard Chardonnay 2023 – A nice light butterscotch nose. Dry with a soft, thicker, textured mouthfeel. Lighter acidity. Roasted apple and butterscotch flavours.
Mythology Vineyard Viognier 2025 – Richer aromas of bruised apples on the nose. Sweet spices and bruised apples plus a little pepperiness and a hint of fino sherry on the palate.
Gneiss Wines Single Vineyard Series Viognier 2025 – Nice aromas of oranges and stone fruits. Light body with a soft mouthfeel. Maybe a little off-dry? Orange and stone fruits on the palate. A touch of pepperiness. Medium acidity. Elegant.
Phantom Creek Estate Pinot Gris 2025 – Fresh stone fruits and stoniness on the nose. Dry, medium-plus body with a smooth, thicker mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Fresh stone fruit flavours. Medium length.
Poplar Grove Pinot Gris 2025 – Flint and stone fruit on the nose. Medium body and acidity. Smooth mouthfeel. Fresh stone fruits plus a hint of herbaceousness on the palate. Balanced.
Kalala Organic Estate Winery Pinot Gris 2025 – Light pears and apples aromas. Dry, medium body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Pears and bruised apple flavours on the palate.
Lightning Rock Cross Border Collection Chardonnay 2024 – A classic Burgundy nose with apple and sweet spice aromas. Dry, medium to medium-plus body with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Apples and sweet spices on the palate, along with a touch of pepperiness on the finish.
Off The Grid Organic Winery Pinot Noir 2023 – Medium intensity, translucent garnet colour. Nice aromas of red fruits, red cherries, and leather. Dry, medium bodied. Fresh red fruits and leather on the palate. Medium acidity and tannins.
Azhadi Vineyards Viognier 2025 – A gewurztraminer-like nose. Lychee in particular on the nose. Medium-minus body with a soft, round mouthfeel. Grewurztraminer-like flavours, plus lime and lime rind. Medium to medium-plus length. 
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Off The Grid Organic Winery White Blend 2025 – a mix of Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, and Chardonnay. It has nice fresh citrus, stone fruit, and apple aromas. Dry, medium body. Medium-plus acidity leaving a light prickle in your mouth. Gewurztraminer spices, apples, and citrus flavours. –
Volcanic Hill Wines Pinot Gris 2025 – A light peach nose. Dry, medium-plus body with a lean mouthfeel. Acidic prickle in your mouth. Pears, light stone fruits, and some stoniness on the palate. Medium-plus length. –
Wild Goose Winery Autumn Gold 2025 – A nice sweet spice nose. Off-dry, medium body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Light acidity. Stone fruit and sweet spices on the palate. An easy sipper. Would be nice with roast turkey. –
Noble Ridge Vineyards & Winery Block 4 Old Vines Kings Ransom Chardonnay 2024 – A nice, light stone fruit nose. Medium body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Light stone fruit and apple flavours plus touches of sweet spice and pepperiness. Lower acidity. –
Bordertown Vineyards & Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2025 – Suprised me with gewurztraminer-like aromas and flavours. Medium-plus body with a round, thicker mouthfeel. Off-dry. I also picked up some tropical fruit and grape stem on the palate. –
Ruby Blues Winery Viognier 2025 – Nice aromas of stone fruits and some grape stem. Dry, medium-plus body with a smooth, thicker mouthfeel. Some gewurztraminer-like character on the palate along with ripe tropical fruits. A mix of tartness with some bitterness on the finish. –
Sandhill Wines Sovereign Opal 2025 – Beautiful, fresh orange, lychee, and stone fruit nose. This wine is off-dry, medium-plus bodied. Light acidic prickle. Oranges and sweet spices on the palate. An easy sipper. –
Three Sisters Winery Pinot Gris 2025 – Light stone fruit and some grape stem aromas, which continue to the palate. This wine is dry and smooth with a thicker mouthfeel. A touch of pepperiness. Medium acidity. Balanced. –
Thank you to all the BC wineries that presented their wines today. I’m sure there is a wine for everyone’s taste.
