Celebrating the Wines of British Columbia spring release tasting with over 80 BC wineries showcasing more than 300 premium VQA wines. An opportunity to chat with the owners and winemakers in pleasant surroundings.
Members of the hospitality and media industry were out in force to taste the new sampling of great British Columbia wines.
Of course I have my own personal favourites and I never fail to start my British Columbia wine tasting with a taste of the “Bub” from Okanagan Crush Pad.
Here is a little information about my favourite BC wineries and which wines that were being poured.
Winery: Mount Boucherie Family Estate Winery
Located: Kelowna
Winemaker, Jim Faulkner and representatives Don Pfeffer and Mario Rodi
Pouring:
2013 Pinot Gris
2012 Family Reserve Chardonnay
2012 Family Reserve Gamay Noir
2009 Summit Reserve Syrah
Did you know: this winery just quietly goes about its business making incredible wines which reflect their soft personality. All of their wines are 100% family owned and grown. Mt. Boucherie holds the province’s largest acreage of family-owned vineyards – more than 300 acres. They sell their grapes to many others in BC since the 1970s, and keep a small and interesting assortment for themselves and their wine program. (*)
Winery: Okanagan Crush Pad
Located: Summerland
Sales Ambassador, Alison Scholefield and Rebeka Eriksson
Pouring:
2012 Haywire Syrah
2011 Haywire Canyonview Pinot Noir
2012 Haywire The Bub Sparkling Wine
2012 Haywire Switchback Pinot Gris
Did you know: Okanagan Crush Pad is the first in Canada to extensively use concrete tanks, and wines that are fermented and aged in concrete carry the Raised in Concrete™ designation. See what differences you think the use of concrete makes. The Haywire sparkling wine, the Bub, is named after Alison Scholefield,.(*)
Winery: SpierHead Winery
Located: Kelowna
Owners, Bill and Marina Knutson
Pouring:
2013 Rosé
2013 Pinot Gris
2012 Chardonnay
2011 Persuit
Did you know: This tiny relative newcomer of a winery flies under the radar for many, but keeps capturing accolades and awards in every competition entered. (*)
Winery: Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Located: Kelowna
Winemaker, Eric VonKrosigk
Pouring:
2013 Organic Riesling
2013 Ehrenfelser
2011 Organic Pinot Noir
Did you know: The Cipes Brut just captured the Best Sparkling Wine in Canada at the All Canadian Wine Championships. The winery recently released its first lower sulphite wines, on account of the use of a nitrogen generator in the cellar. Ask Eric and Ezra about it. (*)
Winery: Fairview Cellars
Owner: Bill Eggert
Pouring:
2011 Two Hoots
2012 Sauvignon Blanc
2011 The Bear
2011 Madcap Red
Did you know: Fairview Cellars is the culmination of a life long quest of Bill Eggert’s to own and operate his own winery. The 10 acre property located adjacent to the first green of the Fairview Mountain Golf Course was purchased by Bill in 1989. After development of the water system the vineyard was started in 1993. The first commercial vintage was produced from the 1997 crop. Half the property was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc and Merlot were planted in equal parts to fill out the property. One row of Syrah and one row of Petit Verdot were added later, and Sauvignon Blanc was planted on a lower terraced bench close to the first green in 2007.
Did you know: All of these great wines are ideal for your summer sipping, go great with BBQ and are available at VQA and specialty wine stores.
If you would like to receive the complete list of BC VQA spring release wines leave a comment on this post.
Check out Wine BC’s website for a full listing of VQA stores and their locations http://www.winebc.org/members/stores
For more information on the all the VQA wines available visit your nearest specialty wine store.
(*) kindly provided by Town Hall.
