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With so much delicious B.C. wine out there, and new wineries springing up almost every day, it's hard to know where to start drinking until now
Pop your cork this summer with B.C. wine! This season, we’re all about rosé and chilled white easy-sippers. We’ve got great sommelier recommendations for all your red and white patio pairings, and a chat with Naramata Bench superstar winemaker Gavin Miller from Upper Bench. Plus, news on the hottest new opening in the Similkameen.
Cheers… and here’s what you should be drinking until summer’s end…
I was so excited when I heard about Row Fourteen opening in Cawston, a collaboration between Savio Volpe’s opening chef de cuisine, Derek Grey and long-time organic farmers Anna-Marie and Kevin Klippenstein (who’ve been supplying tasty produce to all your favourite Vancouver restaurants for years!), which soft opened last week. I’ve been in twice so far for lunch and dinner and have been raving ever since.
The heart of this gorgeous room on Klipper’s Organics farm is a roaring wood-burning stove, which is doing sterling service creating a drool-worthy char on everything from heirloom carrots to Two Rivers dry-aged steaks. On the wine list is a rotating menu of Similkameen wineries, plus ciders from the newly opened Untangled Craft Cider, based at the restaurant. The menu changes according to what’s fresh and tasty right now. Make a reservation for lunch or dinner, and welcome Row Fourteen to the ‘hood.
“The wine scene on both Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands is currently on the rise and producing some really great wines. The maritime exposure, diverse soils that include marine sediment, volcanic, plus a variety of others, and a generally warmer climate combine to create an interesting place to grow grapes. In other parts of B.C., these grapes have generally been torn out and replaced with more commercially successful (but less interesting) grapes; however, this little corner of the province continues to see hybrid varieties develop.
Keep that patio vibe going all summer long…
Fitzpatrick Pink Mile rose 2018, $19.50: Grapefruit and lemon zest meet strawberries in this winner from Peachland. And, you know what? This is amazing with curried pickled cauliflower.
Liber 100% Estate Merlot Rosé, $23: Certified organic, this complex and mouthwatering wine has a fragrant strawberry jam nose with a savoury and mineral-y finish. Loved this!
Quails Gate Lucy’s Block, $24.99: Is it even summer rosé drinking if it’s not Lucy’s Block? Perfect with, well absolutely everything. I absolutely freaking adore this elegant and dangerously sippable blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Trust me: go get some.
Winemakers Cut Rosé 2018, ($22): I had a group over to taste wines for this column and there was almost an undignified scramble to try and bag the remains of this baby to take home. It’s the prettiest, palest pink with a wonderful l-o-n-g racy, zippy finish wrapped in savoury crushed tinned strawberries. Just ace.
Indigenous World Wine La’p Cheet Sparkling rosé 2018, $24.99: Light, bright, bubbly, this Charmat method (think Prosecco-style, super fresh!) sparkler is made from a blend of Cab Sauvignon and Gamay and is beautifully crisp and dry. Cherries and strawberries meets red vines!
Calliope Rosé, $25: Well, this is a bummer! This fabulous bright Cab Franc summer winner is all sold out. It’s beautifully balanced with nice high acidity and crushed strawberries on the finish, kinda savoury and lip-smackingly dry, so lesson learned? Get in early next year, ’cause this is ace. BUT you can still taste it at the excellent Burrowing Owl winery restaurant, the Sonora Room. Up in the Okanagan for a visit? Go there! Oh and it’s pronounced ka-lie-OH-pee!
“Growing up in B.C., summer was always synonymous with camping, hiking, swimming and a not-so-rainy August; all things to love, enjoy and hopefully share with friends. Being a grown-up in B.C., summer means sparkling wine, Pinot Gris, rosé and a not-so-rainy August, too! All things to love, enjoy and hopefully share with friends.
“We often forget the day we spent at the Aquarium avoiding the rain, much like we forget Pinot Noir, Syrah and Merlot—all things we love and enjoy, but something we can do on a cold rainy day. That isn’t the case anymore, red wine should no longer be overlooked between June and September! B.C. winemakers are producing some world-class red wines that are as perfect for summer as camping, hiking, swimming… and a not-so-rainy August.
Gavin Miller of Upper Bench Winery & Creamery in Naramata has a multi award-winning partnership with his wife, Upper Bench’s cheesemaker Shana Cole Miller.
What’s your go-to patio wine?Pinot Blanc! I love Pinot Blanc from Lake Breeze, Clos du Soleil and Hester Creek. They’re lovely simple wines, but refreshing and perfect for the patio.
What food and wine myth would you like to dispel?That you shouldn’t chill red wine because Pinot Noir, Zweigelt or Gamay is really nice lightly chilled, especially in the summer. I love Roche’s Pinot Noir or Deep Roots’ Gamay chilled with salmon.
What should we be drinking in summer 2019 from B.C?Everything ’cause it’s fantastic! But in summer it’s all about bubbles and some of my faves are Blue Mountain, Bella Wines Blanc de Blanc and Fitzpatrick’s.
What should we be drinking from Upper Bench, and why?Always my Merlot and Bordeaux blends; they are my passion, and you can’t go wrong with our Reisling. It’s quite refreshing and off-dry, and along with our Chardonnay and Merlot just won best of varietal in the Alberta Beverage Awards!