9 sips from B.C.’s backyard to enjoy this summer

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      What better way to enjoy this sunny stretch between Canada Day and B.C. Day than toasting the summer with wine from our own backyard? This week, a column jam-packed with British Columbian gems. Prices are winery-direct, so expect them to be a few bucks more by the time they make it to local store shelves.

       

      Gray Monk Odyssey Rosé Brut 2015

      ($17.39, online)

      There clearly has to be some sort of mistake here, as this traditional-method sparkling wine is a ridiculous bargain that can be found on B.C. Liquor Store shelves for a mere $18.49. Pop the cork to enjoy cheery cranberry and red-currant notes, dusted with a little sage and white pepper on the quite dry finish.

       

      Summerhill Pyramid Winery NV Cipes Brut Rosé

      ($30.48, online)

      Made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes sourced from various sites across the Okanagan Valley, this nuanced and elegant sparkler carries pink-lemonade flavours with notes of buttery shortbread, allowing for a rich and creamy mouthfeel. Lovely stuff.

       

       

      Harper’s Trail Silver Mane Block Riesling 2016

      ($18.29, online)

      Wines like this make me think Kamloops is potentially poised to be the Next Big Thing in B.C. Riesling. This one is fairly off-dry, making it a good match for spicy fare. Lemon Pez candy and fresh-squeezed lime are rubbed with a little lemon balm and lime leaf. At just a smidge over 10 percent alcohol, it won’t slow you down, even on the hottest of days.

       

       

      Stag’s Hollow Tragically Vidal 2016

      ($17, online)

      The folks at Stag’s Hollow dub this wine tragic due to the penchant of many wine enthusiasts to dismiss the quality and potential of the Vidal variety because it’s a hybrid and not one of the noble Vitis vinifera varieties like Chardonnay, Riesling, or Sauvignon Blanc. Indeed, shrugging off a wine like this would have imbibers missing out on roasted peaches and mangoes, with a generous handful of sorrel and sage.

       

       

      Clos du Soleil Fumé Blanc 2016

      ($20.90, online)

      This Sauvignon Blanc, grown in the Similkameen Valley, carries all the citrus one could want, bursting with lemon, lime, pink grapefruit, and pomelo with shimmering acidity and gleaming minerality. So fresh, so summery.

       

      St. Hubertus and Oak Bay Estate Winery Chasselas 2015

      ($19.50, online)

      A unique flavour profile comes from this Swiss grape variety, with loads of white flowers, young coconut, guava, and a slightly off-dry finish.

       

       

      Singletree Winery Rosé 2016

      ($17.30, online)

      The winery is based in the Fraser Valley, but the Pinot Noir in this dazzling pink is organically grown in West Kelowna. This is strolling in a strawberry patch, sun glinting in your eyes, birds chirping, the whole nine yards. Swoonworthy.

       

      Church & State Vindication Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

      ($40, online)

      I tend to associate Oliver’s Church & State Winery with robust reds built from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and the like. This Pinot Noir is a (certainly welcome) departure from their usual nature, sourced from the Skaha Bench just outside of Penticton. Stewed cherries and a few flecks of Tahitian vanilla bean give this wine an amiable profile, with perfumed raspberries and just a hint of spice on the finish. Do serve this one with a light chill on it; those flavours will be a little bit brighter.

       

      Laughing Stock Vineyards Syrah 2015

      ($35.99, online)

      Sourced at Laughing Stock’s Perfect Hedge Vineyard in Osoyoos desert country, the hot 2015 vintage ensures plenty of ripeness in the wine’s mulberries, blackberries, and black cherries. Further sips see the layers start peeling back. One of them has quite the baking rack of spices, heavy on the cloves and cardamom. The next layer echoes the wild, scrubby sagebrush that grows around the vines, giving all of the fruit and spice a nice, airy lift.

      Going back to the glass, there are definite cola notes I hadn’t noticed in previous vintages. I’m not talking saccharine-sweet Coca-Cola but more those old-timey craft colas that are more about the spice than the sweet. Finally, there’s a good lashing of heat carrying it all—not too surprising, figuring the wine clocks in at almost 15-percent alcohol.

      Syrah can be a tough go in the Okanagan; the vines can be susceptible to winter damage. Winery owners David and Cynthia Enns are fully committed to the variety, however. In fact, you can head to their website and watch a short video of them profiling their investment in the grape.

      A little warning, though. Once you see images of their stunning vineyard and property, you’ll likely find yourself wanting to pack your bags for an Okanagan road trip. Hey, it’s July: maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

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