Great value reds from the Okanagan

With fall quickly approaching, our taste buds are beginning to transition, shifting from cravings for fruit and acid driven wines, to styles with more body and richness. As we veer away from summer salads and come into a season all about heart warming and comfort style food; we need wines that will also pair with these fares.

Here are five phenomenal red wines that drink well over their price tag and punch well above their weight in quality. Be forewarned, and expect some unusual varietals you may not be accustomed to seeing; sometimes we need to step outside of our comfort zones to find those truly special gems!



Ancient Hill 2015 Lazerus $15.95
Sourced from estate and organic fruit located in the north Okanagan - only 1.5 acres are planted to Lemberger, the varietal used in making this wine, also known as Blaufrankisch, an older European varietal not common to the Okanagan. Annual production varies between 100-400 cases, based on fruit quality. These vines are 13 years old, relatively youthful for the lifespan of a vine.

The 2015 vintage produced a lighter bodied, pinot noir style wine. The wine is held in stainless steel tanks for 12 months, with oak staves being added 6 weeks prior to bottling, to impart complexity. This assists in keeping the price down of the wine in a big way; oak staves are planks added to tank as opposed to housing the wine in oak barrels, which are vastly more expensive.



Summerhill 2016 Alive Red $22.99
Produced from exclusively organic fruit, hailing from the south Okanagan in Oliver and Osoyoos; this is a blend predominantly made up of Syrah, with merlot, cabernet franc and a splash of cabernet sauvignon. It is aged 8 months in neutral oak barrels; neutral meaning the barrels have been previously filled, so the impact and effects of the oak are less prevalent.

New oak is a lot more aggressive, which is why you hear this term often in wineries, many winemakers opting to use a mix of both new and neutral. It's meant to be a wine that is fruit forward, with balanced tannins, and bright acidity. This is a style of wine that can be enjoyed on its own, or paired with a wide array of foods.



The Hatch 2015 Ross 3.0 $19.99
Described as "sensual and exuberant," the predecessors to this recent incarnation were raging successes, and this latest release is no exception. Sourced from 100% pinot noir grapes from their Desert Valley vineyard in Oliver and aged two years in neutral oak barrels, this is pinot noir on steroids: robust, muscular, big, all the while remaining friendly, easy drinking and super approachable.

Think: weddings, BBQs, house parties, hot tubs, showers. This is a wine that fits into any situation, scenario or company. Get it while it lasts!



Volcanic Hills 2017 Gamay Noir $17.00
An often under appreciated and overlooked varietal; gamay is a powerhouse of flavour and versatility. Generally a light bodied style of red wine, it can be enjoyed chilled, too, making it great as a summer red as well.

This year's vintage shows a lot more depth, complexity and substance; the aging in a mix of French and American oak are likely responsible for this; imparting texture and depth. The 2017 shows a lot more savoury and herbal characteristics, making it a no brainer for food pairings.



Arrowleaf 2016 Zweigelt $23.00
Zweigelt is a hybrid varietal, a cross between Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent, with only a handful of Okanagan wineries working with and producing wines from this grape. These grapes are sourced from estate fruit in the north Okanagan, and then aged for 12 months in eastern European oak barrels, 20% of which were new.

This wine shows surprising complexity for its price point, with no shortage of floral, spice and red fruit characteristics, with a mild gamey character making it great for pairing with foods of a carnivorous intent.



Cheers!

Wine Print

Laura Milnes is a Kelowna native and local wine professional, operating her own wine and hospitality consulting company. Laura is WSET certified, and continually expands her wine knowledge through education, research and travel. You can find Laura hosting wine related pop up events, and consulting with wineries throughout the Okanagan with a focus on wine education and training. The rare time Laura is not reading about, or tasting wine, you can find her travelling with her partner, cooking or doing DIY projects for her home. To learn more about wine check out her Instagram page @silkandcoupe.