As much as I love all season wines I also can’t help falling for Automn wines. What’s the difference? In my opinion the only difference is the weather itself and what you pair the wine with.
In other words you can enjoy every one of these wines all year round, but that being said, the wines pair so well with comfort foods and stormy nights they are something special to cozy up with.
I can’t think of a more perfect time to enjoy these wines. Who’s afraid of the dark? Enjoy these distinctly unique wines from Moon Curser
Roussanne Marsanne 2022
A classic Rhône Valley combination of Roussanne and Marsanne grown and made on the Osoyoos East Bench. Floral and apple notes with a kiss of oak; elegant and graceful.
Tasting Notes
Our Roussanne Marsanne blend is a dry, medium-bodied white wine with a beautiful pale straw-yellow colour. The nose jumps out of the glass with notes of orange blossom, cantaloupe, quince and nutmeg. The palate follows with flavours of lemon meringue, granny smith apple, cinnamon and a refreshing minerality. A portion of this wine spent four months in oak with lees stirring, and the resulting richness adds an intriguing dimension of toast and baked apples. This is an elegant and graceful wine, with a smooth acid profile that allows its brightness and freshness to serve as a welcomed counterweight to the rich brioche notes. Aging will allow for the development of the fantastic secondary flavour characteristics typical of the Marsanne grape – look for marzipan, honey and caramel if you are able to set the wine down for three to four years. This wine drinks well now, but will benefit those willing to wait till 2027 or so before opening. Pair this wine with all types of seafood, foie gras, or asparagus gratin for a wonderful culinary experience.
Current Awards
GOLD MEDAL – 2023 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada; GOLD MEDAL – 2023 Cascadia International Wine Competition
$26.99 online and at the winery
Heist 2022
This Syrah dominant rosé spent time in neutral oak barrels (with lees stirring) to add a creamy richness and weight to the exuberant yet refined fruit profile. Yum!
Tasting Notes
Our 2022 Heist is a beautiful, dry, medium-bodied rosé wine that showcases a gorgeous pale pastel-pink colour in the glass. Aromas of strawberries, rhubarb, watermelon and pink grapefruit leap out of the glass, while a bright & fresh acidity carries the palate. Half of this wine spent four months in neutral oak barrels with lees stirring, and the resulting subtle richness adds an intriguing dimension of a light creaminess. Flavours of cantaloupe, blood orange and a floral note of lilac dominate on the palate. This wine has a fantastic mid-palate weight and roundness, giving the wine substance and definition without being overly heavy. The finish is long and refreshing, making our Heist rosé perfect for a summer day. Try this wine with your favourite barbecued meal, smoked salmon, paella or tapas. Enjoyable right away, and will drink well through 2026.
Current Awards
GOLD MEDAL – 2023 All Canadian Wine Championships, SILVER MEDAL – 2023 Cascadia International Wine Competition
$26.99 online and at the winery
Dolcetto 2022
A rare sight in the Okanagan, this unoaked, juicy red wine remains true to its Italian origins and will be sure to charm with its vibrant flavours of pomegranate and berries.
Tasting Notes
We honour the traditional way of making Dolcetto without any oak influence in order to showcase its fresh and fruit driven flavour profile. The 2022 vintage of Dolcetto perfectly embodies its traditional Italian roots. This medium-bodied red wine has a pale purplish colour in the glass, bursting out of the glass with intense aromas of pomegranate, blood orange, sun-dried tomato, blueberry and a hint of milk chocolate on the nose. Flavours of rose petal, cranberry, cedar, and graphite intertwine with a soft tannin structure, all carried by a bright acidity that brings this wine to life. A light but rich texture, and an extremely long finish close the deal on this incredibly well-structured Dolcetto. This is a fantastic food wine, pairing well with your favourite charcuterie plate, Bolognese lasagna, Margherita pizza or eggplant Parmesan. Drinks very well now, and should be enjoyed before 2027 for best results.
Current Awards
GOLD MEDAL – 2023 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada; GOLD MEDAL – 2023 All Canadian Wine Championships; SILVER MEDAL – 2023 Cascadia International Wine Competition
$29.99 online and at the winery
Syrah 2021
South Okanagan Syrah is a thing of beauty: dark, rich fruit; notes of violet and blackcurrant.
Tasting Notes
Syrah has become one of the main pillars of the Moon Curser portfolio, providing us with a consistently magnificent wine, year after year. The 2021 iteration of our Syrah shows no sign of that trend slowing down. The wine is a medium to full-bodied red wine with the trademark South Okanagan fresh acidity. This Syrah is a deep ruby colour in the glass, with a highly aromatic nose of violet, vanilla pod, blackcurrant and black peppercorns that is followed by the palate of round tannins and anise, black olive, Morello cherries and cinnamon. A nicely balanced and elegant rendition of Moon Curser Syrah, this wine is approachable in its youth, while the fresh acidity makes promises of a long life. Drinks very well now, but we expect it will continue to develop in the bottle if cellared until 2030. Pair with pepper steak, Peking duck, bison burgers or falafel.
Current Awards
BEST OF CATEGORY, DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – 2023 All Canadian Wine Championships; SILVER MEDAL – 2023 Cascadia International Wine Competition
$32.99 online and at the winery
Border Vines 2021
Osoyoos East Bench interprets Bordeaux: our 2021 blend of all six permitted Bordeaux grape varieties is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant and, like every year, a reflection of our winemakers’ desire to produce a well-rounded and delicious blend for all to enjoy.
Tasting Notes
Our 2021 Border Vines is a complex and appealing blend of six Bordeaux varieties – a rare sight in the Okanagan. It is a medium-full bodied red wine, medium-ruby in the glass. Aromas of plum, cinnamon, sour cherry and eucalyptus dominate the nose. The round tannins and smooth acidity combine to provide an excellent backdrop for the flavourful palate to shine. Cocoa powder, clove, dates and black pepper give this wine an incredibly approachable flavour profile, and the long finish leaves you wanting another sip. While this wine drinks incredibly now, it will reward those who are willing to cellar, peaking around 2033. Enjoy this wine with beef bourguignon, leg of lamb, roasted root vegetables, smoked sausage or Brie with jam.
$32.99 online and at the winery
Dead of Night 2021
Moon Curser’s flagship blend of Osoyoos East Bench grown Syrah and Tannat. Bold, rich, age-worthy and so very delicious. One of a kind.
Tasting Notes
The 2021 vintage of our flagship Dead of Night is comprised of the top performing barrels of each of our Syrah and Tannat blocks. This is a full-bodied wine with a deep ruby colour in the glass, and an aromatic nose of blackberry, cocoa, chai spice and hints of vanilla bean. The palate brings out characters of coffee, chocolate-covered strawberries, and cherry wood. This wine has incredible structure; rich and complex with a beautiful texture and depth of flavour. The well-integrated tannins provide the perfect backdrop for the complex aromas and flavours while allowing the acidity to carry the lengthy finish. Dead of Night is quite approachable and drinks well upon release – surprisingly so for such a well-structured wine. However, this is also a wine that has the intensity, acidity and tannins required to make it an ideal candidate for cellaring up to and through 2033. Pairs beautifully with smoked brisket, carpaccio, vegetarian goulash and duck with plum sauce.
Current Awards
SILVER MEDAL – 2023 Cascadia International Wine Competition; JUDGES’ SELECTION – 2023 Alberta Beverage Awards
$45.99 online and at the winery
The Moon Curser name pays tribute to the gold smuggling history of Osoyoos.
The Moon Curser wines, however, break from tradition – the winery’s focus has always been on making premium wines from old-world grape varieties not previously planted in the Okanagan such as Tannat, Dolcetto and Touriga Nacional. These varieties have not historically been a part of the South Okanagan viticulture, but thrive in the distinctive terroir of the Osoyoos East Bench and continue to deliver unique, world class interpretations of these wines.
Moon Curser was recognized as #1 Best Performing Small Winery in Canada at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada and also ranked second overall in the Top 25 Wineries in Canada.
Visit Us
Some think that this wine shop is a front for other nefarious activities. Could be…
Why not just go along with it nonetheless. No one will know any different.
OUR TASTING ROOM IS OPEN!
Tastings are by appointment and can be booked online.
Fall Releases NOW available! Tasting Room open daily till Nov 5*, book now!
Step into fall with our CURRENT TASTING ROOM OFFERS:
📦🍷 Case Lot Sale – featuring ’21 Border Vines and ’21 Syrah. Get 15% OFF purchase of 12 or more bottles in our Tasting Room only, can be mixed cases of the two wines! Cannot be combined with any other discounts.
📚🍷🔦 Library Wine Spotlight – we’re bringing rare library wines out of the depths of our dark cellar and into the light. For sale only (no sampling); limited quantities. Once they are gone, they are gone!
Wine Tasting
$10 (plus tax) per person; waived with the purchase of 2 bottles per person (or complimentary for wine club members and three of their guests).
Wine tasting experience of five pre-selected wines with one of our fabulous tasting room associates.
Enjoy views of our vineyard and Osoyoos Lake while being led through a tasting flight that aims to provide a representative cross-section from all tiers of our portfolio. It will generally include one white, and four red wines.
Please allow 20-30 minutes for your visit.
Maximum 4 – 6 people per group (including children) depending on space available.
Daily 10am-5pm (last tasting at 4:30pm) April 5 until Nov 5, 2023*.
*Plus “Two Weekends of Winter in Wine Country” 10am-4pm Nov 24-26 & Dec 1-3
Reservations recommended. Book now.
Wed, Oct 25, 2023 – Sat, Dec 9, 2023
Venue: Various
Moon Curser is at many events around the Okanagan and Vancouver this fall & winter. Come join us!
October 2023
- Lavoro D’Amore Italian Wines of the Okanagan, Oct 25 – Kelowna
- Ok Wine Festival, Apres Crush South & Grape Talks, Oct 27 – Penticton
- Moon Curser Winemaker Dinner at Erica Jane, Oct 30 – Kelowna
- Ok Wine Festival, Apres Crush North Consumer and Trade & Media, Nov 3 – Kelowna
- Swirl Around BC Trade & Media Tasting, Nov 6 – Vancouver
- Moon Curser Winemaker Dinner at Sociale, Nov 16 – Penticton
- Fire & Ice Carnival (part of Fire & Ice Festival), Nov 25 – Osoyoos
- Ok Wine Festival, Big Reds Magic of Meritage & Big Reds Elevation Grand Tasting, Dec 8 & 9 – Big White
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Fri, Nov 24, 2023 – Sun, Dec 3, 2023
Venue: Moon Curser Vineyards Tasting Room, 3628 Hwy 3 East, Osoyoos, BC
Contact: Barbara Kahlo 250-495-5161, wineclub@nullmooncurser.com
Visit our Osoyoos East Bench tasting room for “Winter in Wine Country”! We’re opening for tastings for two weekends; 10am – 4pm Friday November 24th to Sunday November 26th AND Friday Dec 1st to Sunday Dec 3rd.
Reservations recommended. Walk-ins will be accepted when time and space permits.
Tasting notes and bottle shots courtesy of the winery. Feature image: MyVanCity. I received complimentary wine to facilitate this feature.
