Many or even most people only think of sparkling wines when it comes to special occasions – celebrations, weddings, birthdays, or New Year’s Eve. This three-part series is titled Festive Fizz, but I am a firm believer that any time is a good time to open a sparkling wine. Many are very reasonably priced – no more than what you might pay for any bottle. Additionally, BC sparkling wines are known for their excellent structure making them versatile food wines. You can pair BC bubbles with just about any dish, from starters, through mains and even desserts. So why wouldn’t you open one any time wine is involved? That said, I too am often guilty of not grabbing some bubbles when I head down to the cellar. One of my consistent New Year’s resolutions is to drink more sparkling wine.
Okanagan Crush Pad (OCP) is big into bubbles with over a half dozen offerings in their portfolio. In part two we look at a pair from Summerland’s OCP and one from across the lake in Naramata.
Okanagan Crush Pad
Haywire The Bub 2017
$29.99
I have always enjoyed this wine, vintage after vintage. It is a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity. The nose is expressive with aromas of apples, honey, lemon, mango, and a delicate hint of bread dough. Good balance and mousse. Pleasing citrus flavours dominate the palate, especially white grapefruit followed by a medium-plus finish. Open one today!
89 Points
Okanagan Crush Pad
Garnet Valley Ranch Traditional Method Sparkling 2016
$49.99
As soon as you pour this wine you can tell it has been aged for a while. This high-elevation wine, a classic blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is rich golden yellow with medium intensity. That lovely aged quality comes through on the nose as well with aromas of biscuit, brioche, lees, ginger, lemon, tangerine, toast and a hint of butterscotch. Very good balance with big mousse. Classic on the palate with flavours echoing the nose followed by a medium-long finish with flavours lingering. Wow! I am a big fan of aged bubbles and this one could easily be confused as coming from Champagne.
93+ Points
Coolshanagh
Blanc de Blanc 2019
$45.00
Coolshanagh translates to ‘a meeting place for friends’ and what better wine to share with friends than this Naramata sparkler? Made from 100% estate-grown Chardonnay that was aged for 29 months. Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity. The nose is delicate with pleasing fruit aromas –lime, pineapple, lemon cream, orange zest, buttered bread, straw, herbs, and faint yeasty notes. Good balance with fine mousse. Pleasing flavours reflect the nose followed by a medium-plus finish.
90 Points
In case you missed it, here is the link to Festive Fizz part one here: https://myvancity.ca/author/sam-the-wine-teacher/
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
