How the bubbles get into that bottle of Champagne

Welcome to bottle2glass a blog about what I love...... Wine

Champagne is not only for that special occasion! It can be enjoyed for everyday accomplishments; you name it and I am sure it deserves a glass or two of Champagne. Why not open a bottle and enjoy before dinner with friends. I am guessing it is the price that is making you open it only for that "Special Occasion or Celebration".  Like a new birth, 30 years of marriage, or winning the Grand Prix!! Well Technically at the Grand Prix they get sprayed with the champagne... what a waste of a fine beverage!!

Champagne can only come from the region in France with the same name. It must be produced using the "traditional method" (Méthose Champenoise) from which the bubbles occur. There are eight varietals that are permitted in the production of this wine. The most common varietals that are used are Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. All grapes will be harvested by hand so they will not be damaged before they are pressed. Once harvested they are rushed to the press.

Here is what it takes to make a bottle of Champagne. So the next time you open that bottle you will be able to reflect on how they got those tiny fine bubbles into that fine glass of Champagne.

Pressing -  As soon as the grapes are brought into the pressing room they will be pressed. A basket press will often be used of which will extract the juice slowly. Two pressings will take place with the first called "Cuvee" which is considered high quality juice. The second is called the "taillies (or tails)  which is of a lesser quality. To confuse things more there are regulations to the volume of juice from each pressing that can be included in the final product. Here is an example, if 100 hectoliters of Champagne was to be produced, the regulations state that 80 hectoliters would need to be "cuvee” press and 20 hectoliters would need to be "tailles" or from the second press.

First Fermentation – This fermentation is key, since it is quick and warm. The idea is to produce a neutral wine that is high in acidity. A neutral wine could interfere with the flavor and autolytic development that will occur mostly in the secondary fermentation and ageing process. The high acidity will give it acidic structure to engage the second fermentation and extend the lees.  The first fermentation usually takes place in large temperature controlled stainless steel vats.

Blending (assemblage) – This is what sets Champagne apart from other wine producing regions. This process is an art in itself where the blender wants to achieve consistency in the wine they produce. Put his signature on the style of the champagne. To help achieve consistency each year a proportion of the production may be stored as a reserve wine for use in future blends. So maintaining a stock of wine to blend can add to the cost of the bottle. As they need to hold back some of what they produce. If “vintage” is stated on the bottle of Champagne, 100 percent of the base wine has to come from that year. (The date will usually be stamped into the bottle)

Did I lose you yet? Well hang in there we still have few steps.

Second Fermentation – Now that the “champagne house” has completed the blend. It is now time for a small proportion of sugar, yeast and a clarifying agent (also known as liqueur de triage) to be added. This will get the second fermentation and the bubbles started.  The bottle is then closed with a temporary seal, which is usually a crown cork. (Looks like a beer bottle cap). The bottles are then laid horizontally in stacks to rest. During this time the yeast works on the sugar which creates the following – second fermentation, alcohol, and CO2 . As the wine ferments the gas is unable to escape and will dissolve into the wine creating BUBBLES!

Lees Aging – Simply put this is where the wine begins aging in the bottle. The wine interacts with the dead yeast cells (lees) and this will contribute to the wines flavor.  Usually the flavor characteristics you find in Champagne like yeast, toast, biscuit, bread  and roasted nuts.  This process lasts between four to five years or even longer. The longer the wine spends on its lees the finer the quality. Non-vintage Champagne has to be a minimum of 15 months and vintage Champagne at least three years. This is the law!

Riddling - This process involves moving the bottle from the horizontal position to vertical (upside-down). This process is also known as ‘remuage”. This will help get all the deposits to the neck. This is all done over time and slowly so the champagne is not disrupted.  This process can be done in one of two ways by hand or by machine. By hand it will take several months and can be expensive. The most popular and commonly used process is by machine (gyro palette).  Once all the bottles are standing on there necks the wine ages for a while longer. Also known as sur pointe.

Disgorgement – Now that the wine has rested and the sediment is on the inside of the crown cork. It is now time to remove the sediment and the dead yeast. The necks are dipped in a brine solution to freeze the sediment and dead yeast. The crown cap is removed at which time the plug is ejected with the sediment, dead yeast and a small amount of wine. This is a fast process and is usually done by automation.

Dosage – This is where the wine that was lost during disgorgement is topped up with a cane sugar solution, known as liqueur d’expedition.  The amount used will determine the sweetness level. Also known as “dosage”.  Here is a list of how some Champagne’s can be finished: 
Brut Nature/Brut Zero = bone dry (most sparkling wines are naturally very dry); Extra Brut = Very dry; Brut = very dry - dry; Extra-Sec/Extra Dry = off-dry to medium-dry; Sec/Trocken = medium to dry; 

Demi-Sec/Semi-Dulce = Sweet; Doux/Sweet = Luscious

Re-Corking  - Believe it or not we are almost at the end! Now that the dosage is complete it is time to add the final touches. The cork is added with a wire “muzzle” to secure the cork.  Depending on the producer the wine will either sit a few months (or years) to allow the liqueur d’expediton to blend into the wine. Some producers will give the wine a vigorous shake to blend the liqueur d’expedition and then rest the wine for a few weeks or months. FINALLY the bottle is dressed with the foil around the neck and shipped to a shop near you!

Now that you have an idea of what has to go into making a bottle of Champagne! The next time you pick up a bottle hopefully the sticker shock will not be as bad. 

Here is a list of some Champagne and Sparkling wines I have had the pleasure to enjoy!
The three I have listed below are made by using the traditional method (Méthose Champenoise).

Pol Roger – Champagne Brut 1999

This was one fine Champagne! Nose – Popcorn, burnt toast, butter and yeast; Palate – some stone fruit, little smoke, toast with a nice smooth finish with very fine bubbles! The sign of a great wine.
This can most likely be found at a BCLS (BC Liquor Store). The price on this one is steep at $95.00. Worth the price as long as you are not going to spray it at someone for winning a race!

Segura Viudas - Heredad Brut Reserve

I reviewed this Cava back in November 2012. In Spain they use the following grapes Macabeu, Parellada, and Xarel-lo. Some producers are also now using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This wine is very good and a reasonably priced wine. You may be able to find it at most BCLS for $33.99. 

Paul Zinck Cremant d'Alsace

Here is another example of a Sparkling wine made in the "Traditional Method" without the high price. In making the Cremant d'Aslace the following grape varietals are permitted - Rielsing, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc Pinot Noir and Auxerrois (this grape is grown extensively in Alsace). Nose - pear with citrus (lemon and grapefruit) and a hint of apple; Palate - biscuit, pear, citrus with fine bubbles. Another good Sparkling wine made in the "traditional Method" for $23.99. Check out the BCLS web site to find a store that carries this one.

I listed  bottles of Sparkling wine and Champagnes I have tried above. The list does not stop here as there are many other options for sparkling wine; Prosecco is an affordable option. Here is one you can try Ogio Prosecco which can be found at Marquis Wines; German Sekt can be an easy drinking choice. If your stuck give BC Sparkling wine a try. Blue Mountain Brut Gold Label I have tried this one over the summer at the winery. This one may be found in a private store or order from the winery.

If you find a Sparkling wine or Champagne that you enjoyed leave me a note I love trying WINE!

Ciao for now!

Touring Wineries in the Okanagan Part 3 of 3 - Similkameen Valley and Okanagan Falls

Welcome to bottle2glass a blog about what I love...... Wine

Welcome to part 3 of 3. In Part 1 I shared the three wine areas we discovered. Part 2, I let you know about some of the wines I tasted from Naramata Bench and in Part 3 I will focus on Similkameen Valley and Okanagan Falls wine's.

Similkameen Valley

The Similkameen Valley is about a 35 minute drive from Naramata. The drive to the Similkameen Valley has some amazing terrain and scenery. This area is made up of farm land, fruit farms and wineries. The area when we visited was dry, hot and almost desert like.

Similkameen Valley Winery

Orofino Vineyard

This was a winery I discovered one day visiting a BC VQA store. They just received a shipment of Pinot Gris of which I had to buy. The Pinot Gris is the one reason they were the first on the list of the Similkameen wineries. The wine was so good I had to check out more.

Orofino Moscato Frizzante 2012

Glad I stopped in at the winery. You will not be able to find this Frizzante in your local BCLS or speciality wine store. The aroma of this wine had all the characteristics of Moscato - ripe peaches, citrus and a slight floral note; Palate - juicy peach, citrus (orange) with delicate bubbles and a light body. A wine to have with friends on the patio or enjoy before dinner.

Clos du Soleil Winery
This winery is known as a "artisan winery" producing some very good small lot wines. So you need to be quick to find the popular ones. You may be able to find some of their wines at Everything Wine or in a BC VQA store.

Clos du Soleil Rose´
How could we not pass up an award winning Rosé.  Made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. This Rosé had aromas of sweet raspberry, and a hint of cranberry; Palate - cherry, strawberry, and some citrus with a little sweetness on the finish. Here is another Rose´ I wish purchased more than one.

Seven Stones 

This winery is on the way out of Cawston on your way to Osoyoos. "Seven Stones comes from the legend of the seven individual rock formations throughout the Similkameen Valley known as the Seven Stones" - Seven Stones Winery. There are some picnic tables on the grounds where you can enjoy your picnic lunch,  plus enjoy the view of the winery and surrounding hills.  Makesure you put this winery on your list of places to stop. If you do stop in ask about the wine cave wish I knew about it before I went. Looks like another visit will need to be planned.

Speaking Rock Cabernet Sauvignon  2009

Another award winner! This wine is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged in new French oak barrels for 17 months. The aroma of this wine instantly brought back my wife's memory of her grandfather smoking his pipe. It also had aromas of chocolate and some coffee; Palate - blackberry, coffee and coco with firm tannins and a long finish. Unfortunately they are out of this wine at the winery. 

Some Wines of Similkameen Valley

Okanagan Falls

This wine area is located at the south end of Skaha Lake. Most of the wineries are on the North side of the road. The one question I kept asking is where are the falls? Only to find out that the falls are no longer around, only a series of rapids now exist. The falls were not the reason for our visit! The wineries were what we were there to discover. I must say discover we did!  Click on this link Okanagan Falls Wineries  to get a map.

Stags Hollow 
This winery had a beautiful view of the hills that surround it. It was well worth the drive to discover this  winery. 

Stag's Hollow Renaissance Merlot 2010
This wine was wonderful, when we tasted this wine it had smoke, coffee and cherry aroma; the palate similar to the aroma with mocha, earth, and cherry with great tannins and a long finish to enjoy. They may carry Stag's Hollow Hertiage Block at your local BCLS. If you do find a wine from this winery give it a try. All the wines we tried were very good.

Noble Ridge
I was very impressed with this winery; when we drove up the driveway we were surrounded by vines and rolling hills. The next item that impressed me was the offering of a cheese plate (for a charge) to enjoy on the patio just outside the tasting room with a glass of wine of course.   I also had the chance to meet one of the owners who was behind the counter helping out her team.

Noble Ridge Pinot Noir 2010
A great Pinot Noir from the Okanagan with aromas of cherry and vanilla; Palate - black currant, earth, vanilla with great tannins and a long finish. This wine is going to drink even better in a few years. Glad I purchased more than one bottle. 

Blue Mountain Winery
Another beautiful drive to another great winery. Driving up to the winery you see mountains in the distance. On the drive to the winery I made a quick stop for my wife to get out and take photos. At one point she mentioned that the mountains in the background should be on their label. Well to our pleasant surprise Blue Mountain has changed their label to reflect this beautiful view. Well I must say great minds think a like. (The photo below is the old label)

Blue Mountain Chardonnay 2010
Glad we went to this winery when we did. They had very limited supply of wines since they sell out very quickly. This Chardonnay had aroma's of citrus, lemon, vanilla; Palate - citrus, butter with a crisp juicy finish. I will be purchasing this one again if I can find it.

Meyer Family Vineyard
This was a great recommendation from the owners of Benchmark Bed and Breakfast. Glad we made the stop. The host made it a fun tasting by matching the wine with different items. Chardonnay with Truffle oil popcorn anyone! After our tasting we sat on their deck with a glass of 2011 Micro Cuviee Chardonnay and enjoyed the scenery and each others company.

Meyer's Chardonnay 2012
A nice wine with great aromas of citrus, pineapple, and some floral. On the palate it had the same tropical fruit, vanilla and a fresh finish.

Reimer Vineyard Pinot Noir  2011
Here is another great wine from Meyers Vineyard. Aroma - Cherry, earth and vanilla; Palate - red fruit, oak, spice and a nice long finish. A wine that I will hold for a little longer to let it develop in the bottle.


Painted Rock
This winery is a hidden gem in the sense it was a little tricky to find. Keep an eye out for the signs and makesure you stop in.  The tasting room for now is temporary until the new one is build. Which is located up the hill. I had a chance to have a look at it and I must say I cannot wait to visit again next year.

Painted Rock Syrah
I am glad I picked up this gem of a wine. One to hold for 2 - 3 years and let the wine develop a little further. Aroma - dark fruit, fresh cracked black pepper, and a hint of leather; Palate - earth, fig and tobacco with firm tannins and a nice long finish. This one you may be able to pick up a BC Liquor Store. This wine has a higher price point but it is worth the extra dollars.

If you are interested in the wines or wineries listed in Part 2 and 3. There are a few ways to try the wine or winery - (1) Join one of the winery wine clubs. But before you do that makesure you enjoy the wine (2) Look for them at a VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) Store (3) Check out the speciality wine stores that are located around BC Liberty Wine Merchants, Marquis Wine Cellars, and also Everything Wines
and (4) Tour wine regions in BC and enjoy the wines of this province!

Looking forward to hearing back from you on the wines I mentioned or any wines you have tried.
In case you missed the link to the photos of our wine country tour click on link. Photos of Naramata, Similkameen and OK Falls


Ciao for now!

Touring Wineries in the Okanagan Part 2 of 3 - Naramata

Welcome to bottle2glass a blog about what I love...... Wine

Hope you enjoyed Part 1.  In Part 2 I will talk more about the wines of Naramata that tasted. Let me say I purchased a lot bottles in a very short week.

Naramata has many great wineries and choosing them was difficult. My plan was to stay with the small  boutique wineries plus wines you will not typically find in the BCLS. We plan to return to rediscover the ones we visited and visit some that we missed.

A view of a Naramata Vineyard

Here is a list of some of the wineries and the wines that we discovered.

Black Widow Winery - This winery is small and family run. The production is just over 1500 cases. They grow 5 different varieties on there 7.25 acres. This winery is a must visit when in the Naramata.

Black Widow Winery - Syrah Rose´ 2012 
Remembering the day's of Baby Duck is probably your first thought of Rose´. Well let me tell you this wine is far from those days! I believe Rose´ is making a come back. This Rose´ from Black Widow was wonderful. We should have purchased more than we did.  Aroma - bright strawberry and raspberry. Palate - same as the aroma fresh field strawberry, just picked raspberries with a slight hint of sweetness.  If interested in purchasing you will need to contact winery. But be quick before they are all gone.

D'Angelo Estate Winery - This winery was just off the Kettle Valley Trail with fantastic views of the lake. A family owned winery with some great wines. The owner was very passionate about what he does. This comes through in the wine that we tasted.

Setta Coppa Unfiltered 2007
This wine was made in the "Bordeaux" style from 5 varieties. I purchased this wine for the aroma and palate. Aroma - black fruit, spice and caramel; Palate - very similar to the aroma with black fruit, very earthy and a hint of caramel with a long finish. Can be purchased from the Winery

Hillside Winery and Bistro - This Winery is just off the Kettle Valley Trail. A fantastic place to stop for a leisurely lunch and sample some of their great wines. (They also serve dinner)

2012 Muscat Ottonel
We arrived at the winery just in time as they discovered a few extra cases of this previously sold out wine. SO naturally I picked up a couple of bottles. I am now thinking I should have bought more. Aroma - citrus, floral with a hint of nutmeg spice; Palate - citrus, spice and minerality with a nice finish. This wine was made for summer!

2009 Old Vines Gamay Noir
This is one of those wines you want to share over dinner with friends and fresh caught Barbecued Salmon. Aroma - Red berries and pepper; Palate - red berries, earthiness and with a very nice finish.

La Frenz Winery
Glad we picked this winery, besides all the awards they received the wine is wonderful.  Here are some of the awards they received this year;  All Canadian Wine Championships: 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon - Double Gold and Best Cabernet over $25; 2011 Reserve Chardonnay - Gold; 2011 Reserve Pinot Noir - Gold. These are only a few of the awards, check out the link to their winery and see the bigger list.

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
Rockyfeller VYD
This is a classic Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas of mocha, coffee, and earthiness. Palate -  dark chocolate, dark fruit and a nice long finish. If you see this one out there pick it up and give it a try. 

Nichol Vineyard - This winery is located just down the road from Benchmark Bed and Breakfast. If you like to discover an up and coming winery this is the one to add to your list.

Syrah 2010 
When we tried the Syrah we were told the terrior of Nichol Vineyard is great for Syrah. When you taste this wine you will find out why. They started planting this variety (Syrah) in 1989. Now talk about "Gnarly vines". Aroma - big dark fruit, with some dark chocolate; Palate - dark fruit, dark chocolate with smooth tannins. This is a wine I can either enjoy now or wait a few years. You may be able to find this wine at a speciality wine store. If you do find it give it a try!

Ruby Blues - This is a fun winery which is located across the street from Red Rooster. We discovered that the owner of this winery use to own Red Rooster.

Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine was a pleasure to drink! It was a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. Wish I bought more of it. Aroma - Black fruit, Tobacco, and earth; On the Palate same as aroma with black fruit, tobacco, great tannins and a long finish. This wine is available only through their web site. 

Poplar Grove Winery
When you first drive up to the winery you will think this is not a boutique winery! They have invested a lot of dollars into making it what it is today. We had a great dinner at the "Vanilla Pod" located inside the tasting room. The restaurant serves great food with a great selection of local wines. What a fantastic dinner experience, especially when we got to chat with the vineyard managers.

Poplar Grove CSM
This wine is only offered at the winery or through their wine club. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot (CSM). Aroma - black currant, vanilla and black pepper; Palate - Blackberry, Coco with strong tannins, and a nice long finish. Need to join their wine club to get this wine or visit the winery.

Poplar Grove - Legacy 2007
This wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine spent 21 months in French oak barrels. Aroma - Cedar, leather, spice and cocoa; Palate - Coffee, black cherry and dark chocolate with a great finish. 

Some wines of Naramata - Nichol, D'Angelo Estate Winery, Black Widow Winery, La Frenz Winery,  Poplar Grove, Marichel  Vineyard and Hillsdie Estate

You may find some of the wineries in the BC Liquor Store but not necessarily the wine I have mentioned above. Your best bet to find one of the wines above is a BC VQA Store they carry a good selection of both BC wines and BC wineries. So give BC wines a try and enjoy.

If you have a winery that you have visited or a BC Wine you have enjoyed please let me know by sending me a comment.

Ciao for now!

The Bordeaux's have come and gone!

Welcome to bottle2glass a blog about what I love..... WINE!!

The day has arrived and the day has gone!

The day I am referring to was September 28th. This was the day the 2010 Bordeaux's were released in 22 Signature BC Liquor Stores. You could not miss the advertising that was posted in all the BCL Store's (see below for a sample).  I have read so much about the 2010 vintage that I could not pass by the brochure. There were some interesting Bordeaux wines that were reasonably priced.

The 2010 vintage had the weather that great wines scream to have; wet winter and spring, hot dry summer and in the fall warm days and cool evenings.  Robert Parker argues that 2010, like 2009 and 2005 may be the “three greatest Bordeaux vintages I have tasted in my career.”  This is great news for me since I have a few bottles from each vintage.

I remember last year when the 2009 Bordeaux's were released. I drove past a Signature BC Liquor Store where the line up was over a hundred deep. I said to myself back then I cannot see myself standing in line to pick up a bottle of wine! Fast forward to 2013.....

The day arrived;  It was early, cold, and wet. I was thinking do I really want to go this early, I will be the only one there.  Should I just crawl back into my toasty warm bed. The thoughts lasted all of 2 seconds.

I arrived at 5:30 a.m. and the parking lot was full. Found a parking spot on the west side of the building.  Grabbed my KOBO, Chair, umbrella and computer and hunkered down in line for a long early morning. Did I mention I was number 45. I was surprised to see so many people with tables, books, games, and blankets. I was even more surprised to find out that the first person arrived at 10 a.m. the previous day, and even more people arrive at 2:30 p.m.  I have heard stories that people get there early but 10 a.m.?  Really!!

I met many people in the line. Some are there to collect, some are there to buy great wine, and some are there to buy for their children. I over heard some people talking about buying 10 - 12. I thought this was bottles. I was wrong! This was how many CASES they were going to buy.

Line up at 6:00a.m.

The BCLS did a great job making people comfortable by having the line under tents and providing warmers.  This really helped on such a wet and cold morning. I must say that the line up was very organized and everyone there was very friendly and polite. I had the chance to talk to many people and share different stories. One gentleman there had a hobby wine farm that was 1.5 acres. He produces 700 litres and he keeps it for himself. This was his second year of standing in line at 5:00a.m. He had his plan and the wines he wanted to buy. He learned from last year to have more than 4 wines on the list and have a plan. 

They served us food, coffee, and tea. The food consisted of Fresh pork buns, cinnamon rolls, muffins, lemon tarts, fresh fruit (banana's and orange's), assorted juice, coffee, and assorted tea. The fresh pork buns were very tasty! There was no limit on what you could drink or eat. Heck you did not even have to stand in line. I observed one car pull up,  at which time I was thinking to myself nice Porsche, out jumps this lady. The lady walks over to the food while the driver tours the parking lot, she grabs 4 bananas, 3 oranges, a few pork buns, and some juice to wash it down. The Porsche pulls up, she jumps in and they drive off.  This gives a whole new meaning to grab and go.

The food Table

As time tick's by people are now starting to grab the shopping carts. These are the small black carts that you find at the liquor store.  Some people have 1 cart but most have two to four carts. Not sure how they can move them around inside. The line is getting very crowded with these carts, bumping into people. You hear alot of "Sorry". I guess they couldn't wait to get them at the door. 

Only 1/2 an hour to go before the doors open. People do not want to leave the line or even go to the bathroom. (yes they even had port-a-potties). People are getting pretty excited. Me especially,  not knowing what to expect. I have been checking and re-checking my list, memorizing the store map in order to find my wines quickly. The store is laid out in sections. For example 131 - 149 these numbers match the numbered wine in the brochure. Again very organized. 

Time has arrived, doors are opened and off we go! They let in 40 people at a time I was part of the second wave. To my surprise they asked us for a number, of which none of us received.  The only number was the ones they were giving out for limited orders. Limited orders are the wines that you can pre-order starting at 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning. After letting the security guard know I'm with him! The person in front of me who pre-ordered, I was on my way. Entering the store it was mayhem, people everywhere, people running around looking for the number that corresponds to their wine. Not a peaceful Saturday! Off I run to the back of the store to grab my wine only to find my first selection was sold out. This was 8 minutes after they opened the door. I asked the staff member where I could find item 149, she said someone took all 12 cases. They had a lot of staff on this day letting you know where the number is placed. I learned fast that you do not stand around. If it is gone move to your next pick or miss out on that one too.  Luckily I found my next three selections so off to the register I go to purchase my treasures. I must say waiting to purchase my wines I saw alot of people buying multiple CASES.  One person had six another eight. People had moving carts that were loaded with cases of wine. I was glad to have my eight, that is bottles not cases. When I returned to my car there were still over a hundred people in line waiting.

Crowds in the store

I must say that this was quite the experience. Would I do it again next year?  ABSOLUTELY!
But first it all depends on the vintage. If the vintage is as great as 2005, 2009 or 2010 I will be in line adding the 2011 to my collection. I only have two wishes,  the first, that they give out numbers to everyone that stands in line. I observed some people showing up at 9:00 a.m to meet their friend that was number three or four in line. These same people I also observed with 5 cases of wine each. My second wish - limit the number of wine that people can purchase. Make it 2 - 3 cases for each number. This would give more people a chance to purchase the inexpensive priced Bordeaux. The wines priced $25 - $40 were the very first to be sold out by 10a.m.

Here are the wines I was Lucky to pick up

Chateau Rahoul, Graves
Chateau Lilian Ladouys, St-Estephe
Sarget de Gruaud Larose, St-Julien

Have a peek at some of the wines that were offered this year. Click on link to view brouchure
2010 Bordeaux Brochure

Feel free to leave a comment.

Ciao for now!

Touring Wineries in the Okanagan Part 1 of 3

Welcome to bottle2glass a blog about what I love...... Wine

What a week! My wife and I started in Naramata, then headed south to the Similkameen Valley and ended the week in Okanagan Falls. We toured and tasted over 15 wineries, plus what goes well with wine? Cheese so we threw in 2 cheeseries!

We decided to keep home base close to where we were tasting, we had our trail bikes, and wanted the option to ride to some of the wineries if we felt up to it.  We stayed at two great, but very different Bed and Breakfasts.

Benchmark Bed and Breakfast is located on the north bench with fantastic views of the lake, surrounding hills and vineyards. They are very close to some great wineries, with one just down the road. At Benchmark there are four suites to choose from, we had the Emerald Room which was a beautifully appointed suite; very clean and comfortable.  There is a pool and hot tub with an incredible view. The owners Steve and Gail were great host and very accommodating; they really made a point of making sure that we enjoyed everything that Naramata had to offer.  Our breakfast each morning was delicious!! starting with a knock on our door at 9:00a.m. letting us know that the fresh baked muffins and croissants were ready; then came the yogurt with fresh local berries and fruit; and then the main breakfast course. See photo below (we are not photographers) but let me say that the breakfast each morning was outstanding. The B and B is also very close to the KVR (Kettle Valley Railway) about a mile up the road. So if you're up for a hike or bike early in the morning this is a great way to start the day before breakfast; you may even have enough time to make it up to one of the famous tunnels, just be back by 9 a.m, you don't want to miss breakfast. The Benchmark Bed and Breakfast also has bikes and helmets for "hire".  If you are tired after a long day of touring and want to stay put, you can use Benchmark's outdoor barbecue. You will find everything you need including cutlery and plates in your room tucked into a picnic basket.

1st Breakfast Main Benchmark

2nd Breakfast Main at Benchmark

The second place we stayed was Gods Mountain Estate Bed and Breakfast which is located in Okanagan Falls (OK Falls). This Bed and Breakfast was quite different;  first it was much bigger with 14 rooms, and filled with the owners many antiques and items they have picked up along their travels; making for a very eclectic atmosphere.  There are endless places to sit around the property both outside and inside the main house. The owner Sarah was very pleasant, and each morning would give a run down of events that were happening that day.  The buffet breakfast  had alot of selection from muffins to an egg dish (changed daily) and fresh fruit. You can chose a big hardy breakfast or a light breakfast, your choice. I went with the big hardy breakfast enough to fill me up for the wineries we were going to tour. Gods Mountain Estate Bed and Breakfast gives you full use of their full kitchen and BBQ's. Plus the use of cutlery, glassware and cooking utensils. Which is a plus if you want to hang out around the grounds for the evening, and enjoy the fantastic views of Skaha Lake.

Our 10 Mile Dinner we made at God's Mountain

Both B & B's were great!  We loved chatting with the other guests at Benchmark, and exchanging stories of our wine tasting tours; Steve and Gail treated all their guest's like you would a good friend.  God's Mountain was bigger, so we did not make the same connections with the other guests or the owner, but loved the eclectic feel of the place.

When visiting wine country how do you decide what wineries to choose? I planned to visit the small boutique wineries that specialize in single vineyard, small lot releases. I wanted to be able to find one or two of thier wines in a VQA Store or Speciality wine store. I found that these wineries produce some great wines, they are small operations (usually family run) with big hearts and lots of passion for what they do.

Some suggestions before you head out on your tour of the wineries: Keep perfume/cologne at home;  have a designated driver;  eat before you head out (big breakfast); drink water between wineries; have a plan and limit number of wineries to 4 - 5 per day. I have heard people touring over fifteen in one day! Now, talk about marathon tasting!

Our first stop of the tour was The Naramata Bench. There are plenty of wineries to stop at in this great pocket of wine country. We started out on our bikes from Benchmark B&B and rode the KVR (Kettle Valley Railroad) into Penticton.  To plan our route we stopped in at Penticton's Visitor/Wine Information Centre which is located on the corner of Eckhardt Avenue and Highway 97.  We picked up maps and brochures of the local wineries plus you can also purchase local wines here. What I liked best about their wine store was the large selection of wine which was all in alphabetical order (by winery).

On the bike ride back we made three side trips to the following wineries D'Angelo's, Clean Slate and Hillside Winery and Bistro; they were all located just off the KVR. D'Angleo's is a family run operation with 8 acres of planted vines. Here we met the owner who was pouring and explaining his wines plus what wine would be ready in the very near future. He is very passionate of what he does and produces. Next on the trail was Clean Slate Winery which is a small winery with some crisp white wines. Also located at the winery is Poplar Grove Cheese, this cheese can be found in a few locations in the Okanagon area. Last stop on our bikes was Hillside Winery and Bistro, this 40 acre vineyard is growing some great varieties Gewurztraminer, Muscat Ottonel, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec just to name a few. After a great lunch with great views on their patio, we enjoyed the tasting of some fine wines in there tasting room.

Some Wines of the Naramata Bench

Mid week took us to the wineries of the Similkameen Valley. There are some fine wineries and wines coming out of this area. If you have not been here you are missing a hidden gem. On the map that I had there were 9 different wineries listed, which made it difficult to choose; I forsee another trip in the future to this area. The three I picked were Orofino, Clos du Soleil Winery and Seven Stones Winery.   I discovered Orofino at the BC VQA store in Edgemont Village and purchased a bottle of which I was hooked from there. SO I had to add them to my plan. You can read more about this winery in "Macleans - Wine Of Canada May 2013" issue. Next winery was Clos du Soleil, they make their wine in the "Bordeaux style". The rose´ plus a few of their other wines have won some awards.  I must say I am glad I picked up a bottle of their rose´. On the way out of the Similkmeen Valley we stopped at Seven Stones Winery where they grow a few varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and a few more. The wines at all three locations were very good, worth the stop and purchase.

My Choice of Similkmeen Wines

The end of the week and final stop of the tour was Okanagan Fall's. This area is located on the southern end of Skaha Lake. We kept asking ourselves where are the falls? But needless to say we did not spend too much time looking. I was focused on the area wineries. This area has some great wineries and another gem of a spot to put on your stop. Okanagan Falls has 9 wineries of which we visited 5. With my designated driver and plan in hand we started out early 10 a.m. and first stop was Noble Ridge. This winery is a beautiful spot with some great wine. The day we were there they were selling cheese and fruit plates to enjoy at there picnic tables. I was surprised at the tasting by meeting one of the owners who was behind the counter working and pouring with her team. Next winery, Stag's Hollow  had some great wines and very knowledgable staff . At Winery number three, the Meyer Family Vineyards was a fun stop;  they paired wine with different items such as popcorn and licorice. This was also a perfect spot to enjoy our lunch with a glass of 2011 Micro Cuvee Chardonnay. Heading North along McLean Creek Road you will find Blue Mountain Estate Winery (not on "Heart of Wine Country Map") they produce some great crisp white wines and sparkling wines made in the traditional Champagne method.

Some Okanagan Falls Wines

On our visit to Naramata we discouver these two fine cheeseries. Poplar Grove Cheese and Upper Bench Winery and Creamery.   Poplar Grove Cheese are handmade and pair well with wines of  Naramata. Click on the link to find a retailer that supplies the cheese near you. Another Cheesery we discovered was Upper Bench Winery and Creamery. The Cheese at this creamery are handmade with milk that is local (Sicamous BC) and they have 8 varities of cheese to chose. As you are sampling the cheese you should also try there wines.

Hope you enjoyed Part 1 of our tour. Part 2 will focus more on the wines I purchased with tasting notes for a few of the wines. Please feel free to click on Photos of Naramata, Similkameen and OK Falls to view photos of the areas we toured.

I'd love to read about some of the wineries you have enjoyed in this wine region.  Feel free to leave a comment.

Ciao for now!

What wines to enjoy for summer?

Welcome to bottle2glass a blog about what I love......Wine!

Now that we are well into summer and the heat is on!  Here is a list of varities that suit that summer heat. Plus a list of some wines I have enjoyed.

It is never too late to plan what wines you would like to enjoy when chilling out in the backyard or sharing a bottle or two with friends. I myself like to explore different varities but prefer the lighter wines when I am relaxing with a good book on my deck and something a little heavier for that backyard barbecue.

Here is a list of grape varieties to try too cool you down during those hot summer afternoons/evenings.

• Prosecco makes a great summer drink. It is light, dry, and affordable. To get the most enjoyment from this wine serve it chilled to bring out the best of its light crisp fresh flavours.
• Muscat is a versatile white wine which is grown around the world. Light, dry and low-alcohol and sweet. Great chilled!
• Rose is finally making a come back! Rose can be both still or sparkling and can range from dry to sweet. 
• Chenin Blanc a refreshing wine from South Africa
• Pinot Noir with aromas of strawberry and cherry what else says summer!
• Zinfandel screams invite me to your barbecue. This robust red pairs well with everything from grilled vegtables to a cowboy steak.
• Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc my go to wines for the summer.
• Tempranillo (Rioja) from Spain is light, refreshing and fruity. Try if chilled or mix it up in sangria's. 
•  Here are some Rioja's to try: Joven (young with little oak aging),  Crianza (aged for 2 years with at least 6 months in oak) or Reserva (aged for a minim of 3 years before release, of which one year must be in cask) 

Here is a list of wines I enjoyed sitting on the patio or at one of the many barbecues this summer.

Bisol Crede Brut Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene Superiore, DOCG
Visiting Family in Ontario we tried this prosecco which was very good. Aroma's of lemon, and green apple; Palate - was crisp, with a hint of bread, green apple and a great finish. If you can find this bottle give it a try. Enjoy it well chilled!

Hess Select Chardonnay

This was a good wine with a great price!  This wine had aroma's of citrus (lemon/lime), tropical fruit; Palate - lemon, tropical fruit, and medium body with great acidity. We enjoyed this wine with Barbecued salmon or you can enjoy on it's own. You will most likely find this wine in  your local BC Liqour Store  

Moscato - Woodridge by Robert Modavi - 2012
If you enjoy sweet wine then this is the one for you! Aroma - honey, sweet red apple, fresh flowers and orange zest; Palate - sweet juicy peach, honey with medium acidity. Serve this wine well chilled; can be enjoyed before dinner or with dessert.

El Paso - Monastrell 2010

A great priced wine from Spain that was very good. Aroma - Red fruit, blueberry and spice; Palate - spice with red fruit and a hint of earth, with a nice smooth finish. A good choice for a barbecue wine.
I found this wine at Marquis Wines which I had to buy. This will make a great everyday go to wine even after Barbecue season is over.

Duckitt Cabernet/Merlot
In one word AWESOME! One of the best wines I have tried from South Africa.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet (24%) and Merlot (76%). Nose - Black Fruit, plum, oak, chocolate; Palate - dark red fruit, forest floor with great acidity and a long finish. This wine was part of my monthly Marquis Wine Club package. I know I will be buying it again if I can find it. This made a great Barbecue wine.

Hope you enjoyed this post and please leave me a comment!

Ciao for now!!