What can you say about love that hasn’t already been said many times over? Love is constant and nourishing, very much like wine. This Valentines share a glass of wine with someone you love.
Love, an intense feeling of deep affection.
Hester Creek 2021 OLD VINE BRUT
WINE PROFILE
Tasting Notes
Defined and delicate beads sparkle up to the nose with full notes of citrus and toasty brioche. Fresh lemon zest embraces the palate with a light touch of stone fruit and a toasty mouthfeel that comes from 24 months en tirage. This is a classic wine to enjoy on milestone occasions paired with aged cheddar or smoked mussel, dill and Havarti quesadillas.
Vineyard Notes
The 2021 growing season in the South Okanagan was one for the history books as the driest on record, due in large part to the “Heat Dome” and its record-breaking high temperatures. It was also one of the warmest years, seeing the most growing degree days GDD (1758) since 2015. Following flowering, we experienced an extremely dry and hot June during fruit set. The heat led to a lighter fruit set and smaller berry size than usual. While there was less fruit per vine and the yield was light in volume, on the upside the smaller berries in the clusters resulted in more concentrated flavours and colours on the red varietals. Similarly, for the white varietals there are intense flavours and vibrant aromatics. With the warm dry season, the grapes reached phenolic ripeness earlier than usual with harvest commencing and finishing early. We began picking the whites on August 27th for our Ti Amo (Prosecco-style sparkling wine). We started picking our first reds in mid-September with our Block 10 Merlot on September 14th at our historic Golden Mile Bench estate vineyard. We finished our last estate reds pick with Cabernet Sauvignon from Block 8 of our Golden Mile Bench vineyard on October 28, 2021. Overall, the 2021 harvest produced wines of outstanding quality and varietal character. We expect to see some intense, fruit driven wines, with excellent depth of flavour.
Winemaker Notes
Our 2021 Old Vine Brut was crafted in a blanc de blanc style using 100% Pinot Blanc grapes from our historic Golden Mile Bench estate vineyard. The grapes were hand sorted and whole cluster pressed to retain the natural brightness of the fruit and to allow this wine to age gracefully over time. The primary fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks and was followed by a secondary fermentation done in the traditional method with 24 months en tirage. Fermented to absolute dryness, disgorgement took place in February of 2024 with a small dosage of the current 2023 Pinot Blanc to give this elegant sparkling the Brut designation.
Haywire The Bub 2018
Geographical Indication: Okanagan Valley BC VQA
Varietal: 64% Chardonnay, 36% Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Summerland and Oliver
The Bub, named for our daughter Alison, known as The Bub, Bubster or Alibubba in her early years, is made from 64% Chardonnay and 36% Pinot Noir which were harvested the first week of September from vineyards in Oliver and Summerland. Primary fermentation took place in concrete tanks before bottling for secondary fermentation. The wine was left to age en tirage for
30 months.
Dry and intensely lifted aromas of toasty yeast notes and fresh lively citrus. The pallet is weighty with a delicate and very fine mousse which compliments the length and excellent finish. Pair with oysters, shellfish, soft cheese, salty appetizers or pop corn.
Available online $34.99 or also available at WineClub.ca by subscription.
Appearance: Beautiful, light and clear with hints of gold that in certain light has a rose gold hue
Nose: Light and tingly effervescence on the nose, subtle and intriguing with delicate white peach and a passing note of jasmine in the background making this a hint of what is to come.
Palate: This could be the perfect bubbly. It is delicate in its flavour palate with a hint of brioche and apricot mixed with white peaches that linger in your mouth in the most delicious way. Finishing with just a touch of white grapefruit. Everything about this wine denotes sophistication. It is subtle as it coaxes you to have always one more sip.
Food Pairings: This delicate wine is so versatile it would lend itself to the more likely pairings such as oysters on the half shell or Coquille Saint Jacques but also to fun combinations like waffles with maple syrup and whip cream.
I was first introduced to The Bub in 2014 when it made its inaugural debut at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, specifically on the eve of the opening at Joey’s Wine Bar. It created a lot of excitement and it has been a favourite of mine ever since.
The Bub is consistently a quality sparkling wine that suits any occasion, or makes any time you open a bottle of The Bub an occasion itself.
The Bub, named for Haywire winery owner’s daughter, Alison, known as The Bub in her early years.
Decanting: not necessary, just pop open and enjoy!
Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, located in Summerland, BC, is a pioneering force in Canadian winemaking and a leader in sustainable, organic viticulture. Founded by Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie, the winery is home to a state-of-the-art facility where innovation meets nature, and where wines are crafted with minimal intervention to express the true character of the Okanagan terroir.
Under the guidance of winemaker Matt Dumayne, Okanagan Crush Pad produces a diverse portfolio of wines—from vibrant, textural whites and structured reds to wild-fermented, amphora-aged bottlings—each made with native yeasts and aged in concrete or clay vessels. Grapes are sourced from the winery’s certified organic estate vineyards and select growers across the region, ensuring purity, precision, and a deep sense of place.
Each bottle is a reflection of the winery’s commitment to authenticity, sustainability, and the future of Canadian wine—where thoughtful farming and fearless experimentation go hand in hand.
Blasted Church Hatfield’s Fuse 2024
Winemaking
The fruit for the 2024 Hatfield’s Fuse was sourced from the Sustainable WA certified Andrews Family Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA in Washington State. Each block of fruit was harvested separately at its ideal combination of sugar, acid, and flavour, with a vision not only to each individual wine, but to how the blend would work as a whole. This approach allowed us to work simply in the cellar while putting together a beautifully balanced and nuanced wine. We also incorporated a few hours of skin contact into the processing on a few of the lots to push the aromatic intensity and mouthfeel of the wine.
The various components are selected to bring a piece to the whole. The Pinot Gris brings orchard fruit and stone fruit as well as a boost to the texture of the overall blend, the Riesling brings brilliant acidity and a beautiful citrus component, and the Viognier brings a floral character, while also having a huge contribution towards the mouthfeel of the blend. Every component in the wine has a specific role to play, and in 2024 they are all performing their roles beautifully!
Tasting Notes
Colour: Pale Straw.
Nose: Lemon, clementine, pear, green apple, and white peach.
Palate: A juicy attack of lemon, orange, florals, and peach, with lively acidity carrying through the mid-palate. Orchard fruits take over from there and the texture builds through the long finish. Great balance, freshness, and fruit character from start to finish.
Pairing
Poached salmon, pork schnitzel, roasted chicken, or creamy pasta dishes.
Awards
91 Points – BC Wine Trends
“A juicy attack of lemon, orange, florals, and peach, supported by lively acidity through the mid-palate. Orchard-fruit flavours take over from there, and the rich texture builds through a long, fresh finish,” writes Julian Park, awarding the 91-point score.
Township 7 2024 Interlude Series Pinot Noir
WINEMAKER NOTES
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Four Palms, Sonoma, CA
TASTING NOTES
Vibrant and alluring aromas of red cherry and raspberry are complemented by a delicate earthy undertone. The palate opens with bright, juicy fruit, balanced by subtle savoury nuances that add depth and intrigue. Silky tannins and refined acidity carry through to a long, elegant finish. A Pinot Noir of remarkable finesse and complexity, harmoniously uniting delicacy, texture, and depth.
STYLISTIC NOTES
This single-vineyard Pinot Noir hails from the renowned Russian River Valley in Sonoma, California, planted to clones 777, 667, and 115. The vineyard’s sandy loam soils, interlaced with shale, volcanic ash, and rocky deposits, provide excellent drainage and retain warmth, contributing to optimal ripening and concentration. Crafted to highlight its vibrant fruit purity, the wine was fermented in stainless steel to preserve freshness and aromatic intensity, then aged for 12 months in 500L French oak puncheons to achieve balance and finesse without overwhelming the wine’s delicate structure.
FOOD PAIRING
Pair with Char Siu with steamed greens, or a baked brie appetizer.
Priced at $43.97 please contact the winery for availability
Notes from winemaker Mary McDermott
Another harvest season has come and gone, and what a whirlwind it’s been! This year marked our second-largest harvest ever, bringing in 232 short tons of fruit. Despite a cool, wet spring that delayed bud break and flowering and some early disease pressure, the warm, dry summeraccelerated ripening beautifully. By late August, we began picking sparkling wine fruit in Naramata, and the pace never slowed. With strong yields across the board, we increased our intake of white and sparkling wine grapes to balance lighter vintages from the past two years.
We also welcomed exciting new varieties, Roussanne, Auxerrois, and Rotberger which will enhance future blends and our Rosé program. As we celebrate another successful vintage, we’re thrilled to share our newest releases for the holiday season. Radiant and refined, the 2021 seven stars POLARIS is a Blanc de Blancs Brut crafted from 100% unoaked Chardonnay. The grapes are hand-harvested at optimal natural acidity, which is carefully preserved through extended bottle aging. Sourced from two exceptional South Okanagan vineyards, Hidden Terrace in north Oliver contributes rich phenolic ripeness, while our estate vineyard on the Naramata Bench imparts bright acidity and vibrant freshness. Aged en tirage for 21 months to develop delicate autolytic notes, the wine was then riddled, disgorged, and finished with our proprietary dosage, adding layered complexity and finesse. Following disgorgement, POLARIS was bottle-aged for an additional 18 months.
Available for $39.97.
Fort Berens Chardonnay Reserve White Gold 2023
Tasting Notes
This beautiful Reserve Chardonnay is showing a combination of stone fruit, honey blossoms, lemon peel, and some roasted nuts on the nose. The rich and creamy mouthfeel from time spent in French oak is beautifully balanced with fresh acidity on the finish.
Vineyard Notes
100% estate grown grapes from Dry Creek Vineyard.
Winemaker Notes
With cool nights during ripening, the 100% estate grown Chardonnay grapes from our Dry Creek Vineyard were picked later in the season at optimal ripeness. 50% of the grapes were destemmed and crushed with 4 hours of skin contact, which added freshness to the wine. The other 50% of the grapes were whole-cluster pressed to add richness to the palate. Cold fermented with natural yeast and in 400L French oak barrels and further matured for 7 months. Partial malolactic fermentation took place, adding complexity to the wine. 16% new, 33% 2nd fill and 51% neutral oak was used.
Food Pairings
Rich and luxurious, this Chardonnay pairs well with risotto and chicken dishes. You could also enjoy this wine with roasted cauliflower and halloumi cheese.
Aging
This Reserve Chardonnay is ready to be enjoyed now, or with optimal cellaring, it will age beautifully through 2027.
BC’S MOST EXCITING NEW WINE REGION
Fort Berens Estate Winery is located in Lillooet, along the Gold Rush Trail in British Columbia’s newest and most exciting emerging wine region. Lillooet’s first winery was forged on the road less traveled. It is a culmination of the dreams, vision, and pioneering spirit of the team. Today, with 38 acres of vineyard and a cabinet filled with regional, national, and international wine awards, Fort Berens is showing the world that this is a discovery for the new millennium. At this breathtaking location, we passionately handcraft award-winning wines that reflect our unique Lillooet terroir.
Moon Curser Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Moon Curser welcomes Cabernet Sauvignon back, but aged for 24 months in French oak. A world-renowned variety; a fantastic East Bench location. Complex, big, and takes no prisoners.
PLATINUM MEDAL – 2025 Great Northwest Wine Platinum Awards & TOP 50 – 2025 BC Wine Awards Top 50 & GOLD MEDAL – 2025 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
This beautiful Osoyoos East Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, grown exclusively from our Fernandes Vineyard, is a full-bodied red wine that is deep ruby in colour. It has an pronounced nose of black fruit, cigar box, blueberry and clove. It has a round but light acidic structure with fine, firm tannins that provide a perfect complement to the flavour profile of black plum, leather, anise and chocolate. The dense and rich midpalate is backed up by an incredibly long finish, with an oak warmth. Our Cabernet Sauvignon starts to come into its own at least two years after bottling, although the vibrant fruit present in the wine also renders it quite approachable upon release, especially after a decant. If you like your red wines big, this wine is for you. It will continue to evolve and reward those with patience who cellar this wine over the next eight to ten years (or through 2033 – 2035). This bold wine makes an excellent pairing choice for lamb ragout, Texas-style brisket, oxtail risotto or even a salted dark chocolate tart.
Bartier Bros. Syrah 2022
Beautifully balanced between fruit and minerality, and rich and fresh.
The Syrah 2022 was hand harvested in October 2022 (as was the Merlot – 7%), the fruit was de-stemmed and crushed into an oak tank, with 15% whole clusters retained for added complexity. Fermentation was carried out with cultured yeast, reaching a peak temperature of 32°C, followed by a 23-day maceration. The wine then aged for 16 months in 225 L neutral French barrels and a neutral oak tank.
Tasting Notes
Fresh blackberry, black pepper, and violet notes weave through the aroma, palate, and finish. The wine is structured yet balanced, showcasing a harmony of fruit and minerality that carries through a long, elegant finish.
Food Pairings
Pairs beautifully with grilled lamb, braised short ribs, roasted duck, or mushroom dishes. Its spice and structure also make it a natural match for charcuterie and aged cheeses.
The Grapes:
- 93% Syrah, 7% Merlot
Vineyard:
- Cerqueira Vineyard, Black Sage Terrace, Oliver, BC
- Grown on mostly granite glacial till with a sandy loam topsoil
- Vertcial Shoot Positioning (VSP) and cane pruning (double Guyot)
The Bartier Bros.
We’re from this Valley. We grew up here, we know it, we love it, we are a product of it and we feel responsible to it. Our wines are an expression of the valley, being true to the language that can describe any aspect of the Okanagan; bright, fresh, refreshing, pristine, unspoilt, alive and so on . . .
Our ambition is to make great wines. Great wine can be found all over the world but it’s important for us not to merely copy those wines because by definition, great wine is unique and identifiable to its origin. Of course, great wine also by definition should be delicious. In the Okanagan Valley, we have a rare and precious combination of growing conditions; relatively high altitude, desert climate (hot days, cool nights), low humidity, tolerable winters from our moderating lakes, young soils lain over glacial till and all of this occurs at a very high latitude from the equator. The Okanagan epitomizes all of the great qualities, which the entire global wine industry scrambles to define itself as being.