As a riesling fan, I love that we can say BC wine country has a great handle on the grape. There are so many wineries that make the grape shine, from Tantalus and Summerhill in Kelowna to JoieFarm in Naramata to Oliver’s Road 13 Vineyards. Lately though, there’s been a particular Okanagan riesling that has been top of mind.
CedarCreek’s 2013 Block 3 Riesling ($24.95 winery direct; a couple bucks more here in town) has been, simply put, charming the hell outta me lately. First off, it exudes its Kelowna terroir, chock-a-block with minerality and Okanagan summer fruit. It’s what most would refer to as off-dry, but pleeease don’t let my honesty on the matter make you think it’s a sweet wine. It ain’t. The acid soars throughout, and it’s bright as mid-day sunshine. Winemaker Darryl Brooker has made this bottling an expression of its particular vineyard block, and my favourite part is that it’s a mere 8.8 per cent alcohol. I’m thinkin’ this is a drink-by-the-pint wonder for hot August nights.
Lookin’ to boost up your wine credentials? For those in the wine trade with a few years under their belt, the Court of Master Sommeliers are hitting town at the end of September for only the second time ever to offer the first couple levels of their curriculum. Head on over to WineCollege.ca to check out what they have going on. The possibilities are endless once you start on the track with these guys, anyone who’s seen the movie Somm can attest. The flick’s on Netflix right now, and an enjoyable view whether you’re in the trade or a keen enthusiast.
How charming and civilised it is to hit up our local farmers markets and sample a little spirit, beer and wine, right? Recently at my local Mount Pleasant Farmers Market, I recently tried the Similkameen Valley’s Robin Ridge Winery Pinot Noir, and then toddled over to R&B Brewing’s table to refresh myself with a couple of their ales. This addition to our local farmers’ markets seems to be well received and I encourage readers to sip samples and then go ahead and purchase favourites so we can support this initiative.
Finally, I’ve been pretty stoked to be part of My Wine Canada over the last month and a half. Over at the website you can order wines from British Columbia, Ontario, or Nova Scotian wineries from anywhere in Canada! It’s been a fun exploration of wines that we don’t often see in our market, plus you can read about the wide world of Canadian wine over on the Wine log section, where myself and a few other Canadian wine folks offer the scoop on local fare.
