News from the Okanagan

Contributed by Dee Newman
B&B Owner / Wine Lover / Amateur Photographer / Gardener

 


Black Hills Winery Oliver

 

JUNE VINES & WINES NEWS

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NEWS FROM THE SIMILKAMEEN and OKANAGAN–



SEVEN STONES
Seven Stones is starting the season with a bang as they took a total of 8 medals at the 2010 All Canadian Wine Championships and at the Northwest Wine Summit Competition last weekend.

The 2007 Meritage won its 3rd silver medal, this time at the All Canadian Wine Championships. The newly released 2008 Syrah also took silver and bronze medals. The 2008 Cabernet Franc won gold and silver medals and the 2008 Row 128 Merlot took silver. They will be releasing the Cab Franc and the Merlot later this summer.

Their 2008 Pinot Noir has just been released – barrel-aged longer than their previous Pinot Noirs, the ’08 vintage is soft, elegant and brilliant. It embodies the true essence of this classic varietal with well integrated soft fruit flavors that carry through to a seductive spice finish. A fantastic food wine that is also delicious on its own!

FORBIDDEN FRUIT WINERY
continues to produce quality wines from the Similkameen/ Okanagan Valley. For the 5th year running the winery consistently medals high at the Northwest Wine Summit Competition in Mt. Hood Oregon. This year they have captured 9 medals plus another Superlative Award in the "Best of Type" for non-grape with the 2008 Crushed Innocence White Peach.

The All Canadian Wine Championships recognized 3 wines including a first Double Gold in that competition:

Double Gold - Impearfection Asian Pear 08
Gold - Cherysh Cherry rose 09
Bronze - Caught Apricot Mistelle 08

The Spring Okanagan Wine Festival "Best of Varietal Competition" continues to recognize Forbidden Fruit as a quality wine producer. Best of Varietal fruit wine - Plumiscuous Plum Mistelle 09 Finalist - Cherysh Cherry Rose 09

CLOS DU SOLEIL WINERY
Bottling of their ‘08 vintage took place in mid-March and the wines are resting gently until release. They will be offering 270 cases of our Clos du Soleil Red Meritage and 180 cases of Clos du Soleil White Meritage in September 2010.
The '08 vintage will be released under the names Signature for their premium red and Capella for the premium white, after the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, and a presence in our Northern night sky.
Signature is a blend of 52% Merlot, 26 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 9% Malbec – 18 months in 80% French and 20% American oak barriques. Capella is a blend of 95% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Semillon – fermented and aged in Stainless Steel Tank – with time in the bottle to further develop integrity.
Clos du Soleil extend a warm welcome to Jean-Felix Boulais and his partner, Melissa Fontaine, who will be joining the winery in June as the resident vineyard managers. Felix (he goes by Felix) and Melissa hail from Montreal in la belle province and have been working with other BC vineyards and wineries, before deciding to permanently settle in the Similkameen. They are very passionate about organic farming and grape growing and so the winery is very pleased to have them to champion their transition toward bio-dynamic viticulture.
ATTENTION ALL VISITORS TO THE OKANAGAN THIS SUMMER:Anyone on the lower mainland that visits the Okanagan should seriously book one of the dinners catered and prepared by Joy Road Catering which are held at God’s Mountain Estate out in the vineyard – what a dining experience with different Okanagan wineries pairing fine wines to fine food – a wonderful way to spend a summer evening in the S. Okanagan!

Church & State
are proud to announce that their new winery on the Coyote Bowl Vineyard in Oliver is now open! Currently they are open Saturday and Sunday, from 11 am - 4 pm, and 7 days a week starting in July. If you find yourself in the Okanagan [Oliver/Osoyoos], stop by for a tasting or glass of your favourite wine, while soaking in the expansive view of Okanagan Wine Country. They are located at 31120 87th St in Oliver, just off of Road 9 on the Black Sage Bench. We'll be posting photos soon on our website and on their Facebook Fan Page. If you haven't already, be sure to visit them on Facebook and Twitter at:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Church-State-Wines/302873159341?ref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChurchStateWine

Also, they will be launching a new website next week with a Winery Blog, video and photo uploads, and a few other surprises. So be sure to keep an eye on them at www.churchandstatewines.com

HELLO FROM OLIVER TWIST!
They have just released their long-awaited 2009 Viognier! This vintage is a dry wine (0), with delicate white floral and citrus aromas along with the tantalizing flavour of apricot, a whisper of citrus fruit and a hint of spice.

GOLDEN BEAVER WINERY FANS………. OLDER Vintage Wine now available in our wine shop. We have recently been making sure that our retailers all have only our new white label wine and so have been doing a few exchanges. So we have a variety of previously sold out wines available, in limited quantities., first come first serve. Great prices! Come in and have a look.... Some of your faves are probably here.... older Unoaked Merlots, Older Unoaked Pinot Noirs, Goldie's Passion, Viognier, Vidal, Late Harvests.... quite a grab bag.... we have one small shelf.... will be constantly changing the stock. If you have a particular favourite you may have to speak to me directly via phone, email or at the shop. Cheers! Stella Apparently for the Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival happening this coming weekend Golden Beaver had the pleasure of being featured…..check it all out on their facebook page: one of the events – wine fest films! It was a lot of fun filming this short little video; and we extend big thanks to the Rogue Gallery and wish Dan and Laura all the best in the competition. If filming a little commercial wasn’t enough excitement … during filming we actually had a visit by a real live bear, we have never seen one on our property before

Dee's previous reports


May 2010

March 2010