It’s coming around to that time of year when adults, grown-ups, and empty-nesters start preparing for a road trip through the Okanagan. This season you can up the ante by a stop at the iconic Liquidity Winery…for lunch. The restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday 12 noon to 4 pm.
A favourite spot for those in the know, Liquidity offers visitors a welcoming that includes a permanent outdoor art installation, a spacious tasting room with the fabulous wines from winemaker Amy Paynter, and this season, a “to die for” culinary experience with Chef Josh Mueller.
Earlier this summer the power house team of Paynter and Mueller hosted a small group of specialized culinary and wine reviewers, giving us the opportunity to sample a four course tasting menu with paired wines. A collaboration that was met with raves and accolades.
The afternoon started with the Liquidity Rosé of Cabernet Franc, followed by a tasty amuse bouche.
2022 Rosé of Cabernet Franc
$35.00 / 750mL
Tasting Room Exclusive
Wine Profile
TASTING NOTES
An aromatic wave of guava, fresh peach, and jasmine blossom washes over you while notes of blood orange, rhubarb and pink peppercorn tickle your tastebuds. The finish perfectly balances texture and juicy acidity, delivering playfulness and complexity.
VINEYARD NOTES
Grown in Osoyoos on our southernmost vineyard, this block of young vines Cabernet Franc was perfect for Rosé. Hand-picked in small sections ten days apart, with each pick perfectly capturing different fruit flavours.
WINEMAKER NOTES
After careful hand sorting, the fruit spent two hours in contact with skins, to extract beautiful light peachy hues. One portion of the pressed juice was fermented in neutral French oak barrels to bring weight and depth to the wine. The other portion was held at cool temperatures for two weeks before fermentation in a stainless steel tank, to elevate citrusy aromatics and bright, fresh acidity.
FOOD PAIRING NOTES
Sushi, arugula and tangerine salad, vibing to “Just The Two Of Us” by Alex Cuba dressed in a white linen shirt.
The wine is excellent and unique in its single varietal, making it an outstanding introduction to the fine wines of Liquidity. Bursting with beautiful fruit scents, for me, predominately rhubarb. Smooth with good body and an excellent level of acidity. The colour is delicate and inviting.
We started with a delicious spicey amuse bouche of tuna, rhubarb and cinnamon, followed by the first course of wild pacific side stripe shrimp, textures of carrot, orange gel and lemongrass velouté, which was nothing short of fabulous, paired with the 2021 Estate Viognier.
2022 Estate Viognier
$30.00 / 750mL
Wine Profile
TASTING NOTES
Aromas of jasmine, honeysuckle, and green tea awaken your senses. With your first sip, apricot, Meyer lemon peel and notes of chalky minerality dance across your palate. Our signature vibrant acidity, balanced with beautiful concentration, prepares you for more.
FOOD PAIRING NOTES
Carrot and ginger soup, scallop ceviche and the joy of finding a perfect shell on the beach listening to ‘Nevermind’ by Dennis Lloyd.
“Each block of fruit was carefully handpicked, sorted and whole cluster pressed. The flavour profiles being expressed by the fruit called out for stainless steel fermentation, but we did add some new French oak barrels in there too – just to give the wine an extra boost of luxuriousness.” Amy Paynter
Just like Chardonnay I find Viognier to sometimes be a challenge to my palate. Instead I reveled in scents of stone fruits, apricot and spice with lighter berries. Slight aromas of oak tamed by ‘over the top’ acidity. Very mellow without the often prevalent perfume particular to Viognier. Very approachable with a nice lingering finish.
The broth of the shrimp dish made the acidity even more pronounced, now presenting with more flavour while maintaining it’s level of acidity. Wonderful finish with flavours of pineapple and tropical fruits.
For the second course, another outstanding dish, wild caught scallops, butternut squash tortellini with brown butter espuma paired with the 2020 Estate Chardonnay. The Chardonnay was excellent with the scallops.
2021 Estate Chardonnay
$35.00 / 750mL
Awarded Gold at the 2023 WineAlign National Wine Awards
“Chardonnay is one of those varieties that’s just so full of character from where it’s grown and the climate it’s in, lending itself to so many wonderful, magnificent things.” Winemaker, Amy Paynter
I found the Chardonnay to have floral notes with hints of spice, but also mellow with a subtle scent of oak. The grapes were hand picked from a 1994 block allowing each pick to show its potential. 10 months on French oak.
Slightly darker than the Viognier in appearance, a lovely colour. I thought I may have detected a slight hint of smoke. The fruit is the star with the oak playing a supporting role.
100% of the fruit was from vineyards in Oliver crafted in an Okanagan style. Look for the newer vintage later this summer.
Just when you think things can’t get any better, the third course was an outstanding coffee aged beef tenderloin with smoked potato, Okanagan fire morels, spring onion and tarragon paired with the 2020 Dividend.
2020 Dividend
$40.00 / 750mL
“This gorgeous Bordeaux-inspired blend is a beautiful marriage of flavours and reflects both the artful nature of our winemaking and the power of diversity in flavour.” Winemaker, Amy Paynter
Wine Profile
TASTING NOTES
Dark, deep and rich. This beautiful blend has both power and elegance, surprising you with every sip. Aromas of juicy red strawberry, licorice, and freshly chopped fennel burst from the glass, while notes of black cherry and raspberry leaf tea are accentuated on the palate by a juicy acidity and soft tannins.
WINEMAKER NOTES
Dividend is truly a wine made with an artist’s mindset. All the varietals are picked, fermented, and aged separately, spending 16 months in French oak. Each individual barrel is tasted and like the many colors that make up a piece of artwork, each varietal brings something bold and fresh to the table — creating a blend that is so much more than the sum of its parts.
OTHER NOTES
Sip to ‘Into The Mystic’ by Van Morrison.
Beautifully rich scents with slight oaky notes. Aromas of ripe blackberries, coffee and tobacco with black pepper and raspberry. A beautiful colour in the glass.
Of course we weren’t finished until we enjoyed a fourth course of chocolate cheesecake with Haskop Farms berry compote, honey oat crumble and raspberry paired with the 2020 Estate Merlot.
2020 Merlot
Bright, juicy and delightfully complex, our 2020 Estate Merlot is everything. Succulent aromas of blackcurrant, Ceylon black tea, and blueberry are showcased on the nose. Rich dark cocoa and acai berry lead the palate, complemented by refined dusty tannins.
Wine Profile
WINEMAKER NOTES
Each individual block of Merlot was picked at optimal ripeness and fermented separately in small open-top fermenters. After gentle cap management and the perfect amount of time on skins, the wine was carefully pressed and put to barrel. After spending 16 months in French oak, the wine was blended and bottled without filtration or fining.
FOOD PAIRING NOTES
Autumnal mushroom foraging in the forest.
This wine is rich and delicious with some oakiness. Dense and smooth, crisp and not heavy with a nice dark colour in the glass. Striking flavours of blackberries and dark cherries.
It was a very interesting wine and culinary adventure that highlighted the collaboration between winemaker and chef resulting in a delightful and tasty repast.
It was especially enjoyable to hear the reflections of winemaker, Amy Paynter, whose description of Okanagan Falls brought some chuckles and understanding when she referred to the region as the “Goldilocks of wine growing regions, not too hot and not too cool”. Paynter predicts big things for the Okanagan in the years to come, particularly for the Okanagan Falls wine region.
Lunch at Liquidity is highly recommended, as are reservations to avoid disappointment. Indoor and patio seating is available with cascading views. There are also a number of Tasting room options available, to learn more click here.
The Restaurant at Liquidity Wines
Nestled in the heart of Okanagan Falls, The Restaurant at Liquidity offers striking views of McIntyre Bluff and Vaseux Lake
to enhance wine-inspired, locally sourced seasonal dishes.
OPEN WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY: 12PM – 4PM
Reservations strongly recommended
The Menu
3 Course Wine-Paired Lunch | $65 Per Guest
Inspired by the surrounding Okanagan landscape, Chef Josh has used locally sourced ingredients to develop seasonal dishes, creating a stylish and flavourful menu that will enchant your palate.
Our Winemaker Amy has worked hand in hand with Chef Josh to select wines that will inspire his cuisine, and represent this stunning vineyard and estate.
About Chef Josh Mueller
Chef Josh is European born and has trained under Michelin Star Chefs. He has been a leader in the kitchens of some of British Columbia’s most inspired restaurants. With a resume including BauHaus, Relais & Châteaux, Bacchus and The Terrace at Mission Hill he brings a wealth of culinary knowledge and experience. His dishes are as Instagram-worthy as they are delectable.
“The Liquidity wines and the Okanagan Falls setting are phenomenal partners in creating wine inspired, locally sourced seasonal dishes. My goal at Liquidity will be to highlight the bounties of the Okanagan and complement the beautiful Liquidity wines.” – Chef Josh
About Amy Paynter
Amy Paynter believes her career in winemaking has been fuelled by her creative spirit, love of science, and passion for the outdoors. Born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand, Amy attended Lincoln University where she graduated with a degree in Viticulture and Oenology. Trained and determined, Amy spent the next decade traveling the world and making wine on an international stage. From Waipara, New Zealand to Santa Barbara, California to Cape Agulhas, South Africa—Amy has collected a wealth of experience and a taste for exploring the undiscovered.
Restaurant at Liquidity Wines
Sample Menu
Wine profiles courtesy of the winery. My notes in (bold italics). Images (except as noted) MyVanCity. Chef Josh Mueller and Amy Paynter images courtesy of the winery. I enjoyed a complimentary four course tasting menu + amuse bouche, hosted by Liquidity and I also received a parting gift of a bottle of the 2022 Estate Viognier. All opinions are my own.
