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News from the Okanagan

Dee Newman B&B Owner Wine Lover Amateur Photographer Gardener

SEEYA LATER RANCH VISIT

AUGUST 16, 2011

On Aug. 16, a gorgeous hot sunny Okanagan summer day we decided to take Green Lake Road through Willowbrook, back home from Penticton . As we wound up the mountain, I decided a stop at SYL Ranch for a tasting and bite was in order. SeeYa Later Ranch is part of the Great Estates of the Okanagan (Vincor Canada), [with Inniskillin, Sumac Ridge, Jackson Triggs & NK'Mip Cellars].

I introduced myself to Daphne, one of the Tasting Room staff who immediately found Sally Sharpe, Regional Manager of Hospitality. After introductions and a brief chat, she put her Assistant, Nicolas Stulberg in charge of us and we tasted our way through the following delicious SYL wines:

WHITES :

2010 Pinot 3 – an intriguing blend of equal parts Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir; created to bring you a wine that bursts with fresh apple, melon and tropical fruit. Pinot 3 makes a loyal companion to a wide range of seafood dishes, as well as a lovely summer sipping wine! Dryness 0.

2010 Jimmy My Pal – the flavor, driven by the Chardonnay, is round and supple, with the Pinot Gris added to smooth out the wine. This wine is versatile with a weight and ability to be paired with lots of different foods. Dryness 0.

2010 Pinot Gris – generous orchard and tropical fruit flavors with well integrated sweet oak. Mouth-filling and supple with a long, satisfying finish. Classic pairings with any shellfish, BBQd salmon, chicken or cream sauce pastas. Dryness 0 .

2010 Chardonnay – rich and elegant, full-bodied creaminess with a hint of oak sweetness. A wine of finesse that is well balanced and structured. Dryness 0.

2010 Semillon – displays zesty crispness followed by fresh lemon, pear, and lively apple flavors. This wine pairs perfectly with cheese and fruit plates as well as light salads. Its subtle oak notes and complex acidic structure make this a classic Semillon. Dryness 0.

2009 Nelly – rich and elegant, full-bodied creaminess with a hint of oak sweetness. A wine of finesse that is well balanced and structured. Dryness 0.

SeeYa Later Ranch Gardens and Vineyards

REDS :

2007 Pinot Noir – strawberry fruit palate with warm vanilla. Following a full malolactic fermentation, this wine was racked into a combination of 30% new French Oak barrels and matured for a further 17 months. Dryness 0 .

2008 Ping – great tannin and a full bodied finish follow full, rich flavors of blackberry, cherry and plum. A rich wine that expresses the full varietal character of the classic Bordeaux blend of grapes. PING is a classic blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, then aged for 18 mos. In French oak barrels. Very good cellaring potential or enjoy with dinner now. This wine is a tribute to, “Ping”, one of the Major's faithful canine companions who now is resting in the SYL Ranch dog cemetery. Dryness 0 .

2009 Rover – Shiraz based wine tempered with 2% Viognier; Rover is the most recent wine to join the pack. Beautiful blackberry notes and balanced tannins are left with a slight floral nose. Fabulous served with spice BBQ . Dryness 0.

Although the kitchen was closed for the day – they kindly surprised us with a light plate of cheeses, crackers and fruit which we enjoyed with a glass of the 2008 Ping [my favorite]!!

I engaged in some picture taking from the patio deck of the SYL Ranch grounds and zoomed in on Skaha Lake . Nicolas was kind to open the gates and walk us down the vineyards that gently slope toward the north. The Hawthorne Vineyard totals 170 acres of which 101 are planted and of that one-third is Gewürztraminer grapes. Production is about 24,000 cases per year. They pump water up from the river below and also have several of their own wells for irrigation.

A very lovely winery, with great wines and a view to die for – what makes it even more so is the engaging, friendly and knowledgeable staff! Drop into this beautiful winery, taste/buy some wine and enjoy lunch on the patio with great Okanagan valley views.

We continued on our way stopping to take more pictures of Green Lake with SYL vineyards in the background – a lovely way to end the day!

Green Lake with Vineyards in the background

Dee's visit to Similkameen Wineries Association BBQ

Dee's July report

Dee's Photography can be found on our Photograpers Page and in our gallery

June report

Spring 2011
Winter 2011
Aug 2010
Summer 2010
June 2010
May 2010
March 2010

Okanagan WIneries