Mission Hill Winery—the world beater that just happens to be in our figurative back yard and recently copped a big award in Europe—has just released a new vintage of the popular Five Vineyards series of Okanagan varietals in brand-new livery.

With distinctive colours for each type of wine and unique graphics, they really come alive on our crowded shelves. There are seven wines in the series; I tasted six of them over the holiday weekend. (The rosé is coming in the spring, it not really being rosé weather right now.)

They are Pinot Noir, Cabernet Merlot, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio. Prices start at $14.99; a few cost a dollar or two more, the Pinot Noir being the costliest, at $18.99. Ah, it was ever thus. They come in screw-capped bottles (all except the Cab Merlot).

The wines are universally delicious and may well alter your opinion of some of the most popular B.C. varietals. There’s not a dud in the lot. The Pinot Noir and the Cab Merlot are my favourites among the reds; the Pinot Blanc and Pinot Grigio are my favourite whites.

And now some more detailed tasting notes. The five Mission Hill Estate vineyards are Martin’s Lane Vineyard, West Kelowna (it was a wine from there that was named “World’s Best Pinot Noir” in the under £15 category a few months ago); Lakeshore Vineyard, East Kelowna; Naramata Ranch Vineyard, Naramata Bench; Black Sage Bench Vineyard, Southeast Oliver; and Osoyoos Vineyard, East and West Osoyoos.

These distinctive vineyards all provide balance in the wines. Composed of different microclimates, the region’s variety in a relatively small area provides ideal conditions and flavours for crafting vintage after vintage.

Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Noir 2012 ($18.99)

Perfectly balanced and very full, it likes a little chill on it; ultra clean with a tiny bit of bite in the finish. We had ours with one of those Costco roast chickens, which at $7.99 has to be one of the most reasonably priced ready-cooked dishes in town, or try it with lamb loin with saffron and quinoa. The winery notes suggest pairing it with grilled salmon, Portobello mushrooms, roast duck, toasted walnuts, or olive bread.

Mission Hill Five Vineyards Cabernet Merlot 2011 ($16.99)

Rich and fruity, no edges, dense and clinging. Cherries again; an excellent all-around red that welcomes braised beef ribs, osso buco, duck over polenta, pasta Bolognese, Asiago ciabatta, or eggplant Parmesan.

Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Blanc 2012 ($14.99)

A real bargain! Another beautifully balanced wine, light and bright, crystal-clean. It shows some ripe orange and melon, with a long and fresh finish. Ideal with spinach and cherry tomato salad with Tiger Blue cheese dressing. The winery suggests pairing it with “a plate of oysters, beet and goat cheese salad, sushi, creamy Brie with baguette slices or chicken with steamed broccoli”.

Mission Hill Five Vineyards Chardonnay 2012 ($14.99)

If you’re one of those people who’s all but given up on Chardonnay, come here to get your mojo back! This one is pretty and crystalline, fresh and green. There’s some oak here, but it’s deft and delicate. There’s well-knit, ripe fruit, and the finish lingers long on the palate. Ours went perfectly with an oyster soufflé; the winemaker likes it with risotto and spring veggies, cracked crab, arugula salad with apple slices, or pan-seared halibut with a tropical salsa.

Mission Hill Five Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2012 ($14.99)

Not being a big SB fan generally, I wasn’t expecting anything so tasty: it’s fresh and not too green or acidic, well balanced and whistle-dry, with a most distinctive herby, lingering finish. It easily runs rings around most New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. Wonderful with salmon, smoked or baked, or heed the winery’s suggestions of toasted pine nuts, shrimp egg rolls, prosciutto-wrapped cantaloupe slices, celeriac salad, or jicama with a light vinaigrette.

Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Grigio 2012 ($15.99)

PG has become a favourite with local restaurant goers. (People ask, “What’s the difference between Gris and Grigio?” None, except in the style of making it: Grigio tends to be drier and steelier, while Gris is often described as being softer and more “feminine”.) This one has good golden colour, with lovely apple juice notes in the flavour mix. Bold and intriguing fruit, but a fairly short finish. This is the one for pad Thai and other Asian delicacies. Also smoked salmon and hot horseradish, grilled halibut with fresh tarragon, or apple-smoked Gouda and toasted pane nero.