We have a new program in our store that has been running for a couple of months. Every month we will have on our shelves four British Columbia wines that are not common to us. These will be wines that are a special purchase and once sold we may not see them again.
This month we have four white wines perfectly suited for warmer summer sipping. I enjoyed every one of them and served chilled were terrific way to enjoy the warn evenings.
Sperling Vineyards
The Market White
123560
Though the Sperling winery was established as recent as 2008 the Italian family roots date back to the late 1800s in Kelowna.
The great granddaughter of Giovanni and Rosa Cusozo with 25 years of international wine making experience has established this winery on old family vineyards.
This is how the Sperling Vineyards 2010 The Market White (124560) arrived on our shelves.
A blend of Pinot Blanc, Bacchus, and a little of Perle, an aromatic grape varietal from Germany, round out this light, slightly sweet white wine. Fresh Macintosh apple skins dominate the aromas with pear and a slight fragrance of lime are present on the nose.
In the mouth you at first feel a touch of sweet then tree fruits with a nice crispy finish. They describe this wine as being a lunch wine and I would agree especially served with a fresh garden salad.
For $16 a bottle it's a wine with uniqueness to it.
Pinot Gris
Switchback Vineyards Haywire
147009
With history only going back a few years and one of B.C's newest wineries, is the Haywire Vineyard.
Owners Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie purchased a Summerland orchard in 2005 and replaced the tree fruits with grape vines.
The Haywire 2010 Pinot Gris (147009) is only the second vintage. What first struck me about this pale gold wine were the aromas of flint or stone. The mineral quality was followed by sweet
apple and peach.
On the palate those stony flavours are the first thing you notice with sweet tree fruits showing
themselves around mid way through.
While this wine isn't sweet the acidity is soft and creamy but still leaving your mouth feeling fresh.
At $19.99 a bottle you might want to serve this with salmon or soft creamy cheeses.
Riesling
Wild Goose Vineyards
414730
In 1990 the Kruger family released its first wine under the label Wild Goose Vineyards. With vineyards in and around Okanagan Falls its popularity and accolades have grown.
The style of the 2011 Wild Goose Riesling (414730) reminded me a lot of the wines from the French Alsace region. It's has a little bit of the German style Riesling with a French twist.
The colour is light straw and has aromas of green apple, pear and a sweet honey floral hint.
While this wine has a touch of sweetness it is well balanced with a mouth-watering freshness.
Those apple and pear aromas are also present on the palate but with the addition of sweeter fruits like apricot and peach.
For $16.99 a bottle this is one you should try especially if you're a fan of Alsatian wines like myself.
This is a versatile wine that will easily pair with things such as spicy Thai salad, grilled pork or a fruit salad.
Joie Farm
Noble Blend
882027
If Alsatian wines are appealing to you then the Joie 2011 Noble Blend (882027) is a good one to try. This wine is a blend of those noble and aromatic grapes that make the wines of Germany and Frances, Alsace region.
These include Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Auxerrois and Schoenberger. This wine is very aromatic with spice and lychee, green crisp apple, soft ripe peach and apricot aromas.
Even the colour is a softer or warm golden colour with lemon highlights and is very telling of what you'll feel on the palate.
From tropical to tree fruits this wine is full and rich with hints of sweetness to a finish that is crisp.
The layers of flavours will accompany many food styles from spicy to soft and creamy. For $23.90 a bottle I think this is an occasion wine when you'd like to impress you guests.
Al Spoklie is a product consultant at the B.C. Signature Liquor Store, Pine Centre. The bracketed numbers are the product codes for the B.C. liquor stores.
