What the heck am I doing drinking in B.C.?
The availability of inexpensive wines from around the world is no new thing to us consumers in the UK. In fact never has one enjoyed such a choice and variety to quench one's thirst. Though, despite being able to sample wines from Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and South Africa (as well as Europe) not much is known about the wines of Canada.
Yes, Canada, the land of lumberjacks and maple syrup pancake stacks also turns its hand to producing wine, predominantly in British Columbia (western side), in the Okanagan valley.
On our recent trip to Canada, we took a trip to Gray Monks a vineyard, north of Kelowna, overlooking the Okanagan lake. The vineyard, established by a family with European roots in 1972, is a popular stop among the summer wine tours around the Okanagan. So, on a hot and sunny day, we joined the winery tour to learn more about the history and then sample the wines currently under production. It was just the right mix of brief yet informative: brief enough that you didn't pick up sunburn during the lecture on malolactic fermentation, informative enough that now I can explain that malolactic fermentation is a process used to make tart-tasting malic acid into softer tasting lactic acid.
The real beauty and attraction was the restaurant patio which makes every bit of use of the stunning location overlooking, as it does, the rows of vines tapering into lake and where we endured a sharing board resplendent with local charcuterie and cheese matched with homemade pickles and crusty bread. A glass of their fruity Pinot Blanc was a great accompaniment.
Pinot Blanc - tasting notes
Pale colour, like hay
Aroma of fruit, like pear
Lightly spice, very fruity
Finish - dry
(As a side note - Earlier in 2016, I attended the Wine and Spirit Education Trusts Level 1 programme delivered by certified WSET practitioner and Canadian Brit - Antoinette Milne. It was a fantastic introductory course which covered the international standard for taking tasting notes. Since the course I've been waiting for the opportunity to taste check some Canadian wines).
It was a wonderful afternoon although the sunshine evident in the picture above slowly faded as a rainstorm rolled in from across the valley. Dampened by the downpour we found shelter in the gift shop where we bought a bottle of Gray Monk Odyssey sparkling wine to bring home with us. It made sense to be able to toast a great find and some truly fine Canadian wine.
Tasting notes: bubbly wine = celebration time!
