Good taste in our Neck of the Woods
Posted by admin on August 10, 2011 in News & Events
A new winery has been established in south Langley to compliment the three other wineries in the area. Within a 10minute drive, you can now visit top B.C. wineries that produce stellar wines.
Along with Domaine de Chaberton, Township 7 and Vista D’oro, Neck of the Woods (NOTW) adds another dimension that differs from the other three.
Owner Trent Blackwell told me recently that he envisions NOTW wines as being accessible by offering quality wines at everyday prices. Blackwell sources his grapes from growers in the Okanagan to augment the locally grown Fraser Valley grapes.
You can enjoy a truly 100-per-cent B.C. white or red wine ranging from $13 to a maximum of $19. This makes these wines affordable for everyday drinking and supports the growing Fraser Valley wine scene. The winery itself is state of the art and the vineyards have been groomed and upgraded since I last toured the location.
I recently visited their winery to taste the newest releases and enjoy the surrounding Pinot Noir vineyards.
The 2009 Pinot Gris, VQA Okanagan Valley is a refreshing zippy wine that displays citrus and orchard fruit. Wellbalanced with concentrated fruit, this is a good example of B.C. Gris at an affordable $16.
The 2010 Sauvignon Blanc VQA Okanagan Valley is a blend of New Zealand style and California style. It is not too acidic or grassy, but has a good balance of grapefruit, fresh herbs and a touch of melon. Try this wine with stuffed crabs, brown buttered scallops or steamed halibut with buerre blanc.
A rich B.C. Merlot for $17? Yes, the 2009 Merlot showcases smooth plum and stewed cherry flavours followed by a touch of smoke and cedar. No harsh edges, just waves of rich fruit supported by just the right amount of tannins. Bold enough to stand up to any barbecue meats on the grill.
One of the all-star duos in the wine world are blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The 2009 Cabernet Merlot draws a good balance between the rough edges of Cabernet Sauvignon and the smoothness of Merlot. Black fruit, cherry and fine tannins lead to an elegant finish. Well done for under $15.
Since bottled, Blackwell poured me a tank sample of their new blended white wine named Nosy Neighbour White. It was a refreshing and flavour-filled wine, slightly off-dry. I’m sure it will be a big hit at $13 a bottle this summer.
There are a few other Neck of the Woods offerings, but I’ll leave those for you to explore. After all, you should be a good neighbour and visit the winery soon. Why not make an afternoon of it and tour the other wineries in the area? You don’t have to drive to the Okanagan any more to sample some of the best wines the province has to offer.
.John Gerum is a wine instructor, writer and consultant with West Coast Wine Education. For information on upcoming wine tastings, workshops, classes and clubs, visit www.wcwed.com.
