An exclusive celebratory reception with the winemakers from BC’s
Gray Monk Estate, Tinhorn Creek, Sandhill, Black Hills, and Red Rooster
This is the third in a series of exclusive features, one for each of the presenting wineries that were in attendance. It was an incredible night of wine tasting, nibbles and conversations about the wines presented.
The evening featured a series of thoughtfully curated food pairings, great conversation, and the opportunity to taste the newly relaunched wines alongside the winemakers themselves – a meaningful moment, especially given the challenges the BC wine industry has faced recently.
SOVEREIGN OPAL BC VQA Okanagan Valley 2024
GROWING CONDITIONS – 2024 SEASON
In January 2024, British Columbia’s wine regions, including the Okanagan Valley, experienced an extreme cold event with temperatures plummeting below -20°C for extended periods. This freeze resulted in an estimated 90% loss of the wine grape crop and destroyed a significant amount grapevines, leading to a projected 97–99% reduction in typical yields for the year. The 2024 growing season was relatively dry and saw above average temperatures which promoted early ripening of fruit of the flew blocks of vineyard that did survive..The low crop load along with the hot and dry season produced very concentrated flavours.
WINEMAKING
THE GRAPE
Once the grapes have arrived at the winery, they are gently pressed, allowing the juice to be separated from the skins. The juice is then fermented with a yeast selected to enhance the floral characters. The goal is to promote a lot of peach
character in the aroma and flavour profile. We achieve that by picking at exactly the right time and controlling the fermentation temperature to retain that character.
Sovereign Opal however is a varietal that was produced in British Columbia. It is a cross of Golden Muscat and Marechal Foch and was created to be very winter hardy and can tolerate temperatures below -25°C. This crisp and refreshing wine
has notes of melon, gooseberry and citrus.
FLAVOUR PROFILE
Clear and bright with a fresh, clean aroma of peach, pink grapefruit, gooseberry, fresh cut flowers, and a touch of site-specific minerality. This light-bodied Sovereign Opal has the perfect balance of natural sweetness and acidity, along with flavours of tropical fruit, melon, and gooseberry.
CELLARING: Enjoy now
ALCOHOL: 12.0%
GRAPE VARIETY:100% Sovereign Opal
RELEASE DATE: May 2025
PINOT GRIS 2024 WASHINGTON STATE
WASHINGTON REGION
The wine-growing regions of Eastern Washington, located at 46 degrees latitude north, receive about 17 hours of summer sunshine daily, similar to the Okanagan Valley at 50 degrees latitude north, which gets 16.5 hours. Both regions share clear skies and dramatic daily temperature fluctuations, where warm summer days help develop ripe fruit flavors while the cool nights at harvest preserve natural acidity. These conditions result in similar fruit profiles in both regions.
GROWING CONDITIONS – 2024 SEASON
The 2024 growing season in Washington began with cooler-than-average temperatures in the spring, which delayed early vine growth slightly. However, the warm conditions in July and August accelerated ripening, while the ideal cooling in the fall allowed for extended hang time, supporting excellent flavor development and balanced acidity. This slowdown in sugar accumulation contributed to achieving optimal ripeness across many varietals. The dry conditions during harvest ensured minimal disease pressure, making it easier to pick fruit at perfect maturity.
WINEMAKING
The grapes were gently pressed, with very limited skin contact time, at cool temperatures to maximize fruit expression and fine texture. The juice was cool fermented, then aged in stainless steel tanks for 2 months.
FLAVOUR PROFILE
Clear and bright with fresh, clean aromas of pear, melon, peachm and apricot fruit, This medium-bodied Pinot Gris has a smooth, slightly rich mouthfeel. Wonderful flavours of peach, red apple, melon, pear, and spice fill the mouth and linger in the long finish, Pair wells with leek and mushroom quiche; crab cakes; roast chicken or turkey; Butternut squash soup; gouda cheese.
CELLARING: Enjoy now
GRAPE VARIETY: 100% Pinot Gris
ALCOHOL: 12.2%
RELEASE DATE: April 2025
SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024 WASHINGTON STATE
WASHINGTON REGION
The wine-growing regions of Eastern Washington, located at 46 degrees latitude north, receive about 17 hours of summer sunshine daily, similar to the Okanagan Valley at 50 degrees latitude north, which gets 16.5 hours. Both regions share clear skies and dramatic daily temperature fluctuations, where warm summer days help develop ripe fruit flavors while the cool nights at harvest preserve natural acidity. These conditions result in similar fruit profiles in both regions.
GROWING CONDITIONS – 2024 SEASON
The 2024 growing season in Washington began with cooler-than-average temperatures in the spring, which delayed early vine growth slightly. However, the warm conditions in July and August accelerated ripening, while the ideal cooling in the fall allowed for extended hang time, supporting excellent flavor development and balanced acidity. This slowdown in sugar accumulation contributed to achieving optimal ripeness across many varietals. The dry conditions during harvest ensured minimal disease pressure, making it easier to pick fruit at perfect maturity.
WINEMAKING
The Sauvignon grapes were picked from premium sites in the Columbia valley. The fruit was picked at optimal time, with the sugar, acid and fruit flavours all being perfectly balanced. The grapes were gently pressed, directly to stainless steel
tanks where it was cold settled before fermentation. Special selected yeast was used to enhance varietal characteristics.
FLAVOUR PROFILE
Clear and bright, pale straw in colour, with a fresh, clean aroma of tropical fruit, ripe peach, and pineapple. This light-bodied Sauvignon Blanc has a refreshing mouthfeel and flavours of tree fruits with a subtle minerality. Pair with pan-fried fish filets with fresh herbs; herbed pasta salad; gazpacho; goat cheese appetizers, Margherita pizza.
CELLARING: Enjoy now
GRAPE VARIETY: Sauvignon Blanc
ALCOHOL: 13.0%
RELEASE DATE: April 2025
CRAFTING WINES SINCE 1997 IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN KELOWNA
Uniquely positioned to be Kelowna’s premiere wine destination, Sandhill Wines is located in the heart of downtown Kelowna. The Estate, once home of Calona Wines, was established in 1932, and has the distinction of being BC’s original and oldest continuing winery.
At Sandhill Wines, we have been expertly crafting top BC VQA wines that are approachable in style and made from classic varietals, becoming an essential part of our White Label wines. Each bottle is made from grapes that come from six select vineyards located in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. This unique variety gives us an opportunity to create wines that have complexity while ensuring the best expression of each varietal. Every sip reflects a journey of dedication and vision.
Read the first of the series Gray Monk here, the second of the series Tinhorn Creek here.
