Issue Number Six
Everyone knows that the Okanagan Valley is the place to be for BC wine, but there are a couple of smaller areas that also make some pretty decent wines. Right here on Vancouver Island there are some great producers making high quality and very interesting wines. Monday, April 13th I attended the Wine Islands tasting at the Laurel Point Inn. Showing their wares were 20 wineries, 2 distilleries, 2 ciderworks and a meadery. They all came together to show not only the quality but also the diversity of what Vancouver Island and surrounding Islands can produce. The wines that I am writing about today are in limited supply and won’t be in many stores. Some products will only be available from the winery so you can either contact the winery or myself and I can find which stores may stock these wines.
One of the first booths that I went to was Zanatta Winery and Vineyards. They are situated in the Cowichan Valley just south of Duncan and were pouring 4 different sparkling wines. My two favourites were the Zanatta Glenora Fantasia Brut ($27.95) and the Zanatta Allegria Brut ($28.95). The Fantasia is made from a little known grape named Cayuga and is a crisp dry style sparkling with refreshing flavours of green apples and pears. By the way, don’t go looking for other wines made from the Cayuga grape because you will not find any…unless you live in New York or possibly Quebec. The Allegria Brut ($28.95) has a pinkish hue to it and is more of a fruit forward style. Made from Pinot Noir this wine has beautiful flavours of raspberry, strawberry and blueberry. I found this wine to be very balanced with nice backbone. In total, Zanatta makes 5 different sparkling wines including a red version, so there should be something there to suit everybodies taste.
The Comox Valley now has its first winery. Beaufort Vineyard and Estate Winery are situated just north of Courtenay and are ready to show what they can do. The vineyards were only planted about 2 years ago so as of yet they are too young to produce wine quality grapes. Beaufort is making wine from grapes that they are purchasing from the Okanagan, Fraser and Cowichan valleys. They are currently making more than 10 different wines. My favourite of the day was the Beaufort Gewürztraminer, 2008 ($17.95). It showed a great aromatic nose with rose petal and lychee leading the charge. The palate was fruit forward and slightly spicy with enough acidity to balance out the fruit. My other favourite was simply named Beaufort Black, 2007 ($17.96 375ml). Chocolate cake is calling for this dessert wine made from mostly Blackberries with some Black Currents thrown in to balance it out. Rich and sweet berry flavours with a hint of oak. There were many fruit wines at the tasting but this one was definitely one of the best. I can’t wait to try the Beaufort wines when they start using some of their own grapes.
I’ve been a fan of Morning Bay Vineyard and Estate Winery for quite a while now. Situated on Pender Island, they are growing their own grapes as well as importing grapes from top quality vineyard sites in the Okanagan. At the tasting I really enjoyed their Morning Bay Chiaretto, 2007 ($18.90) which is a Rosé wine made from Pinot Noir and Marechal Foch. Slightly off-dry with an abundance of strawberry and sweet raspberry flavours. The sun has finally made an appearance and this is the perfect wine for picnic in the park. They also showed their Morning Bay Reserve Merlot, 2005 ($43.99). The grapes for this wine come from the Inkameep vineyard in the south Okanagan. This wine is big and rich with flavours of plum and cassis with a little cocoa and liquorice, loads of ripe berry with big yet smooth tannins and lively acidity. I rank this wine amongst the best red wines produced in BC.
Venturi Schulze Vineyards was there as well. They make another great island sparkling wine, Venturi Schulze Brut Naturel, 2006 ($32.10). It’s a deliciously dry sparkling wine made from a blend of 3 cool climate grapes with crisp citrus and green apple notes and lively, bracing acidity. It’s also sealed with a crown cap just like last issues Prosecco. Venturi Schulze Brandenburg No. 3, 2006 ($35.60 375ml) is unlike any other that you’ll ever find as it is made in a very different way. The Madeleine Sylvaner grapes are pressed and then the juice is gently simmered over an open fire to concentrate the sugar, acidity and flavours. After a year of fermentation the wine is then finished in new oak barrels. This is just a brief overview and I encourage you to check out their website for more detail on this extra special wine. This dessert wine has unique characteristics. Sweet and slightly smokey with a definitive caramel taste and a light flavour of coffee. Versatility is a great feature of the Brandenburg. Crème brulée, lighter cheeses, nuts, apple pie, etc. It’s one that you can definitely have a little fun with. Oh yeah, the Brandenburg is quite possibly my favourite dessert wine…that I can readily afford.
Mead is great, great, great, (add a few more greats) granddaddy of all fermented beverages. This is the oldest form of alcohol and dates back to the stone ages. The drink of choice for our “Not Wine” of this issue is fermented honey in a bottle and is being produced here on the island. Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery produce top quality mead just outside of Victoria, in Sooke. Now, mead can come in many different styles, colours and flavours so I won’t go too in depth right now. I like the Tugwell Creek Kickass Current Melomel, 2006 ($29.95) made with wildflower honey, black currents with a touch of oak aging. Full bodied and robust, with vibrant cassis flavours and a rich mouth feel. Tugwell Creek Wassail Gold Sack Mead, 2006 ($26.95 375ml) is a dessert style of mead. Extra premium honey and less water with fermentation in oak barrels creating a richer and thicker style of mead with a sweet and complex palate. Pair it with your dessert or drink it as dessert. This is a cool one to bring to a dinner party as it really sparks conversation.
Last week’s Pinot Gris/Grigio wine tasting went well. We’ll do the next one in early May with the theme grape being Syrah/Shiraz. It’s another one of those grapes that has obtained two names. I’ll let you know the exact date very soon.
Cheers until next time,
Josh
www.beaufortwines.ca
www.venturischulze.com
www.tugwellcreekfarm.com