Back Door wines were new to me and so I am embarking on a journey of discovery. So we will start together and as I taste the wines, and in some cases pair them with an inspiring dish I have made, then I will update this feature and share on social media. In the meantime I wanted to put these wines out to you, my readers, for their consideration.
The first wines featured are from the Okanagan Hills Reserve collection:
2020 Okanagan Hills Reserve Pinot Gris
Aromatics of soft butterscotch and floral integration and mid pallate balance.
Picture the taste of Okanagan green apples, sweetened with a hint of kiwis. A burst of citrus that is expertly balanced with a slight acidity. Its name is French, and it is German to the taste, but this wine exhibits the very best of BC wine
This is one of my favourite varietals so I’m likely to start on this one first, we’ll see how the mood strikes me.
2020 Okanagan Hills Reserve Chardonnay
Subtle oak integration with supple mid palate and vanilla structure.
2018 Okanagan Hills Reserve Pinotage
An exotic red that is ideal for summer evenings. Strong notes of blackberries and tobacco accompanied by a smooth body with unexpectedly soft tannins and a creamy vanilla finish.
A list of wine shops in Metro Vancouver that carry Back Door wines can be accessed here.
“Over the years you find a niche. That’s the sector that you work in,” he says. “I went back from agriculture into general commercial banking and then a specialization in land development and construction.”
As he worked with Okanagan wineries, he saw an opportunity in 2008 and bought land in Oliver. A vineyard was planted and slowly evolved into Okanagan Hills Estate Winery Corp. in 2014 where they have Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Muscat, Merlot and Pinot Meunier grapes. In 2020, he purchased Backdoor Winery.
“I was up here and I looked around and I thought, this is a model that I see growing,” says Jesse. “The vineyard, winery sector, I saw as a potential for good growth. When you are up in the Okanagan, the weather is great. It’s the place to be right?
“It was something that I felt that I wanted to be a part of,” Jesse continued, as he has 50 acres of vineyards between Double Barrel Vineyard in Oliver and Backdoor Winery.
Jesse Gill
Wine notes courtesy of the winery. Images: MyVanCity. I received complimentary wine to facilitate this feature.
