Singletree – Family Run Winery

Located on Mt. Lehman Road, just north of Harris Road in Abbotsford, Singletree winery is one of BC’s newest wineries. The Etsell family, which has a long history of farming in the area, includes Debbie and Garnet, their son, Andrew, his wife Laura and their two sons. The winery sits on a hill with a stunning view of Mount Baker and the Fraser Valley.

Curious about the name? No, there is no big ‘single’ tree dominating the property, and no, the impressive free-face wooden bar has nothing to do with it either. A ‘singletree’ is a harness yoke used with workhorses who historically helped clear the land. Singletree examples can be seen festooning the front of the tasting room bar.

Singletree’s wines will surprise first time tasters. Their current line up includes Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Farmhand White (a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris), Siegerrebe and Pinot Noir. All the white wines are made with fruit grown on site (yes, in Abbotsford!) while the Pinot Noir, their sole red wine, hails from the Okanagan. These are aromatic wines that delight the nose.

The winery, which just opened in January 2015, is in the process of bringing more wines into their portfolio as the on-site vines mature. Look for Grüner Veltliner, a sparking wine – I’m really excited about this one – and a Bordeaux-style red blend. The wines, made by Andrew Etsell, are currently produced at the Okanagan Crush Pad, under the supervision of winemaking consultant Matt Dumayne.

These are well-crafted wines that are dry, focused, elegant and very well balanced. The wines I sampled were:

2014 Pinot Gris 98 cases produced

75% spent three to four months in neutral oak barrels the remaining 25% remained in stainless steel tanks. The oak aging gives the wine roundness and a note of complexity. Aromas and flavours of delicate pear and green apple with subtle hints of peach and apricot.

2014 Farmhand White 95 cases produced

A blend of oak fermented sauvignon blanc and pinot gris gives this wine good mouthfeel. The delicate nose shows aromas of cream, orange peel and spice. Clean and dry with a medium-long finish.

2014 Sauvignon Blanc 107 cases produced

Barrel fermented in new and old oak. Reminiscent of New Zealand style sauvignon with mouth-watering aromas and flavours of tropical fruit, citrus, toast and a hint of grassiness with a lingering finish.

2014 Siegerrebe 313 cases produced

This is Singletree’s signature wine. Comparable to Gewürztraminer in many ways, it shows intense aromatic aromas and mouthwatering juicy fruit on the palate. Good balance and texture. Just slightly off-dry with refreshing acidity. Elegant nose, richly layered with stone fruit, peach, pear juice, lychee and floral notes.

2013 Pinot Noir 185 cases produced

The grapes for this wine were sourced in Summerland. It is medium-light in body, but with an inviting varietal nose of red berries, forest floor and earth. The flavours are fruity and pleasing with vanilla notes on the backend. A great picnic wine or serve with roasted chicken or turkey.

2014 Pinot Noir

These grapes come from the Lazy Dog vineyard in Penticton. This was a hotter year and produced riper fruit. The resulting wine has more depth and body and ripe fruit flavours.