Yesterday I attended a trade event in Victoria titled Vintage 2025 in B.C. – Bounce Back / Rebuild that was hosted by Way West Wines and moderated by Treve Ring.
The wineries and their representatives in attendance were:
Charlie Baessler, Corcelettes Winery
Richard Charnock, JoieFarm Winery
Max Legris, Sage Hayward Wines
Alison Moyes, Solvero Vineyards
Keira LeFranc, Stag’s Hollow Winery
David Paterson, Tantalus Vineyard
As many may remember there was a devasting year for B.C. wineries in 2023. 2023 saw the hottest September on record with tempatures as high as 35 degrees. Wine death was 20% with 97% of wineries experiencing some crop loss in the Okanagan and Similikameen regions.
Discussion took place regarding 2025 bounce back vintage, where we stand, and what’s ahead.
Some wineries, like Joie Farm, have replanted their entire vineyard and also revamped their irrigation system. Meanwhile some wineries, like Tantalus, have experienced a bumper crop in 2025. So essentially the industry is recovering and replanting. Some wineries will be pivoting to different varietals.
B.C. wineries are resilient and committed to their plans. B.C. is also likely the most diverse wine region in the world. That means wine lovers are able to enjoy a wide range of wine varietals and styles. There is something for everyone to enjoy about B.C. wines and you are encouraged to support local.
In addition to the remarks and opinions shared by the panel there was an opportunity to taste 12 wines. Here are the wines tasted:
Stag’s Hollow Albariño 2025
Albariño
Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls
Destemmed, lightly crushed, pressed, settled 12 hours, then racked into concrete for cool ferment.
Aged lees for 4 months with bâtonnage, then moved to stainless for 2 months.
Opening with scents of brioche and cut grass. Exhibiting a freshness in the glass. Follows with parsley, pear and blood oranges. As it sits more scents come to the fore with delicate floral notes and stonefruits.
On the palate some spice with citrus and good acidity. Rich and medium bodied. A pleasant wine that has lightness, freshness with a citrus finish.
Stag’s Hollow Pinot Gris 2025
Pinot Gris
Parsons Vineyard, Skaha Bench
3 picks, each approximately 1 week apart
Lot 1 and 2 racked into stainless, lot 3 into 500L French barrels.
Partial MLF, regular bâtonnage over 4 months before blending.
Initially honey without sweetness on the nose along with grass, straw and melon. A prevalent note of butternut squash, with a sweetish finish.
Tantalus Vineyards Bear Chardonnay 2025
Estate vineyard, East Kelowna
Clones 76, 95, 548, whole bunch pressed and native fermented in neutral barriques, puncheons, and stainless. Partial MLF.
2/3 of blend rested in neutral barrels 4 months on yes, with stainless steel component 2 months on lees.
Delicate floral scents with pear and citrus. In the mouth a touch of oak, lingering with a bit of spice. Pineapple with underlying citrus. Nice acidity. Fresh.
Tantalus Vineyards Riesling 2025
Riesling
Estate vineyard, East Kelowna
Clones 212B (75%) and 49 (25%) from estate plantings dating back to 2005, and neighbouring vineyard.
Whole bunch pressed, native fermented in stainless, resting there 3.5months on lees.
Attractive scents of Jasmine, very floral. Granny Smith apples with pear and nougat. So pleasantly floral on the nose.
Honey sweetness with tropical notes. Very drinkable with pronounced minerality. Medium body, some salinity that tames the sweetness. Great body.
The honey without the sweetness was excellent, with the stonefruit delicious.
My #1 pick of the whites.
Jole Farm A Noble Blend 2025
54% Riesling, 37% Gewürztraminer, 9% Ehrenfelser, Oraniensteiner, Pinot Gris
Sourced from vineyards across the Central Okanagan
Destemmed and whole berry pressed as 12 batches, each cool fermented individually in stainless.
Opening with a bit of stinky cheese, mud and some sulphur. Exhibiting green fruits and drier than expected, especially compared with older vintages. An oaky finish with a light to medium body.
Jole Farm Rosé 2025
49% Pinot Noir, 48% Gamay, 3% Pinot Gris
Sleeping Dog Vineyard, Naramata Bench and Secrest Mountain Vineyard, Oliver
Partial direct press, partial overnight maceration, with Gamay seeing 5 days of cold soak.
All lots fermented cool in stainless.
Very pleasant floral scents with chalk. Pale salmon colour. Red apple, rhubarb and some plum. The wine is light with flavours of red candy.
Solvero Chardonnay 2024
Chardonnay
Aebischer Vineyard, Chehalem Mountain AVA, Oregon
Clones 95 & 76, pressed on site and juice chilled and shipped to Garnet Valley winery.
Fermented in mostly neutral oak (14% new) with bâtonnage and partial MLF, with 11 months aging in barrel.
Light but rich scents with oak, almond, stonefruit and dusty rose. A touch of citrus with minerality.
The wine opens with some slight oak, quite pleasant. Spicy with excellent acidity. Fresh cinnamon with beautiful stonefruits. Rich with medium body and a lingering spicy finish.
My #2 of the white wines.
Corcelettes Phoenix Syrah Rosé 2024
Syrah
402 Vineyard, Wahluke Slope AVA, Washington
Whole cluster pressed, with 2 hours of skin contact
5% barrel fermented and aged on lees.
A bubble gum pink in the glass. Some stinky sulphur with wet dog.
The scents follow the nose to the palate and quite alcohol forward ending with a sweetness.
Sage Hayward VIneyards Chardonnay 2023
Chardonnay
Estate Ramsbottom Vineyard, Saturna Island
Vineyards up to 25 years old
Whole cluster pressed, native fermented and aged in French barrels for 8 months, followed by 5 months in stainless.
Opening with a sweet note, honey, and candy notes and allspice. Very pleasant. As it sits some oak, cut grass and hay,
Oaky notes with pronounced citrus, white grapefruit, Green Gage plum and melon. Good body and pleasant acidity. Finishing with lingering citrus notes.
Sage Hayward Vineyards Pinot Noir 2023
Pinot Noir
Estate vineyards Falconridge, Ravenhill, and Ramsbottom, Saturna Island
Southern exposure, sloping sites
Native fermented in French oak for 9 months, followed by 5 months in stainless
Very fruit forward with raspberry and plum torte. A sweetness component on the nose with oranges and cranberry. Smells delicious and has a nice medium colour in the glass.
Solvero Pinot Noir 2022
Pinot Noir
Estate Garnet Valley Vineyard
Clones Pommard, Swan, 115, 667, 777, 828, 943 were each harvested individually and fermented as small batches
Destemmed, whole berry, with 30% whole cluster.
3 week fermentation before pressing off and aging 1 year in French barrels (30% new)
On the nose an immediate wow. Big expectations for this wine. Medium in colour with dark fruits and scents of ripeness. Some sweetness on the nose with Thompson raisins, blackberry and ripe fruits.
In the mouth some tartness with a light body. Some plum torte but lacks body and the expected acidity.
Corcelettes Talus 2022
41% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
Corcelettes Estate Vineyard, Upper Bench, Keremeos, Similkameen Valley
Multiple small lot ferments, saignée for concentration
18 months in French barrels (26% new)
unfined and unfiltered
Dark red colour opening with plum and very rich scents and a hint of spice. Underlying old world notes and pleasantly stinky. Sweet blackberry aromas.
The wine is super rich, powerful and complex with ripe fruits. Exceptional acidity with good body. Lingering finish with some spic. Velvety tannins. Light to medium body.
My #1 of the reds.
Way West Wines
Way West Wines is a premium wine & spirits agency based on Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands of BC, Canada. We feature domestic and international producers looking for full-service representation in our unique market.
Founded in 2012, we have long-standing relationships with our producers and accounts, aiming to build business while maintaining our values and our west coast roots.