Library Wines
2008 Zweigelt – BC VQA Fraser Valley
Don’t know Zweigelt? Here’s your chance to make a terrific discovery. First of all, say it like this: Ts-WHY-gelt, hard g. Named for the German grape scientist who first came up with the cross. It’s a hardy red grape, well suited to B.C.’s vineyard conditions and coming to fabulous fruition in the Paradiso Vineyards we source it from. All Fraser Valley grown and coddled, every step of the way.
This is a wine with spirited, bright fresh fruit; lots of nice spice and you’ll certainly find hints of cherry and raspberry all the way from nose to tip of the tongue to the rich and tingly finish. Sniff some more, you might encounter something sweet-spicy, like vanilla or mocha, even chocolate.
That’s a little agreeable astringency following your first sip all the way back and down which makes the wine great company for smoked meats, tenderloin with a spicy red-wine sauce (always a good kitchen trick to use the same wine in the sauce you’re going to be serving for dinner!). Then, keep it handy for aged Cheddar or spiced Gouda cheese before you get to dessert—and if that’s something with dark chocolate—open another bottle, see how it goes.
Price: $12.99
2008 Rose – BC VQA Fraser Valley
From Canada’s wonderful westernmost fruit basket comes our inspired blend of Zweigelt and Schoenberger harvested at the peak of perfection from our own vineyards. These are great grapes, originally from Germany, one red, one white, making a major name for themselves in B.C., full of rich fruit, expressive and vibrant with a serious zing-factor.
Take a deep sniff before you sip, there’s so much fruit here—raspberries and strawberries, cherries and even something lemony. As some winemaking colleagues of ours like to say about rosé: “it’s time to rethink pink”. Forget the candy floss aromas of white Zin, come here and taste real, fresh fruit with an appealing edge of good acidity.
Rosé has to be the perfect picnic wine when it’s time for the great outdoors. And then, come the cold weather, it makes a killer glühwein”, chockablock with spices and slices of fruit, maybe “fortified” with a good glug of brandy. Chilled or warm, it’s a great companion to light and casual meals, salads and omlettes and, of course, all and any desserts.
Price: $12.99
2006 Gamay Noir – BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Another one, red this time that our accountants keep saying we’ve priced too cheap. Oh well, enjoy. Gamay Noir was one of the previous winery’s signature wines; people simply keep asking for it. So what we’ve got left of it is going out the door, and fast. The Burgundy grape can reach some fancy heights of flavour in the Okanagan; it manages to be both soft and spicy, making it a great solo-sipper and after-dinner treat as well as a fine food wine.
There’s lots of earthiness here, typical of certain Gamays. You might find a hint of fresh shiitake mushrooms, or even truffles in the aroma mix. You will for sure find plenty of fruit with a nice edge of tartness. People tell us they get black pepper some times and the taste of first-of-the-season prune plums.
How about a little bowl of kalamata olives, sprinkled with orange zest? You’ll be surprised how well it goes with our Gamay. Saltimbocca will jump right on to the palate - those little “birds” of veal, rolled with sage and cooked in lemon juice really work with the fruitiness of the wine. And for dramatic contrast, try it with your mom’s raisin pie. We’re talking versatility here.