If you happen to be in Kelowna sometime this season, including a Saturday, consider signing up for a free wine tasting at Franco’s Liquor Store, located near the University of BC Okanagan campus (UBCO) and just south of the airport. These events are listed on their website: https://francosliquorstore.com/
Most tastings are free, though some premium tastings charge a modest fee. On rare occasions, you might get the opportunity to taste a rare wine. Earlier this year, I had the amazing chance to taste the 2015 Penfolds Grange, an Australian Shiraz (Syrah) widely rated as a 100-point wine.
The tasting area has room for 10 people, and 3 time slots are available from 12 to 4. Large regional maps help people understand the various wine regions.
This past weekend, I signed up for their Mediterranean Wine Tasting. I was intrigued as these regions represent the heart of Old-World Wines – Greece, Italy, France, and Spain, and they present an opportunity to learn about new varieties. I often think of tastings like this as an opportunity to explore the world without all the cost and inconveniences of travelling.
For this tasting, wine expert Luigi Coccaro decided to focus on coastal wines from Italy – Sardinia, Naples, and Tuscany; however, the planned Italian rosé wines did not arrive in time, so he substituted one from the south of France.
The wines we sampled were:
Antinori
2021 Le Mortelle Vivia
$30.99
From the Maremma coast of Tuscany, this wine is a blend of Vermentino and Viognier and a small percentage of Ansonica. Very pale straw yellow, almost water-like in appearance. A big, inviting nose showing aromas of lemon, wet stones, green apples, herbs, and hints of pear. Good balance. Pleasing on the palate, followed by a medium-plus finish. I was very pleasantly surprised by this blend. Well worth trying.
Miraval
2023 Studio Rosé
$23.99
From the Cotes de Provence in the south of France. Some may recognize this name as the one owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (2011). The previous owner, a French jazz pianist, built a recording studio on the property (1977). Many well-known artists have recorded there, including The Cranberries, Pink Floyd (The Wall, 1979), Sting, and Wham!
‘Studio’ is Mirabel’s second wine and is intended as an easy-to-drink wine. A blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle (Vermentino), and Tibouren. It is pale in colour with just a hint of pink. Red fruit, bramble, grapefruit, and white flowers on the nose and palate, followed by a medium-plus finish. Best served chilled. Easy to drink and a good value.
Fattoria
2022 Le Pupille Morellino
$29.99
From the Toscana (Tuscany) region of Italy (think Pisa and Florence). This Sangiovese-dominant blend also contains small additions of Ciliegiolo and Alicante. Garnet red with medium intensity. The nose is fresh and fruity with red fruit dominating – cherry, raspberry, orange zest, floral notes and a hint of spice. Pleasing on the palate. A medium finish. A great choice for burgers, pizza, or your favourite pasta.
In the past, I have attended tastings featuring the wines from:
Australia
Nebbiolo
Campania
The Rhone Valley
Feature image courtesy of Franco’s.
(All photos, except as noted – Sam Hauck)
