One of the novel things about living in the Okanagan is the opportunity to take a wine tasting detour on the way home. After a cloudy and rainy weekend, when the sun finally came out it was a perfect time to visit wineries as they just started to pour the newly released vintages.
This detour was to Volcanic Hills Estate Winery, where Julie Masi was pouring a selection of wines from their considerable portfolio. We tasted the Rosé, Gamay Noir, Magna Red Blend and the Pinot Noir and also had the opportunity to talk to consulting winemaker Daniel Bontorin.
Winery History
Since the 1960s, it was Sarwan Gidda’s dream to grow grapes that would produce world-class wines. This all began when his father, Mehtab Gidda, came to Canada from a small town in East Punjab, India. Having just $5 in his pocket and not a single word of English in his vocabulary, the dream of a better life began in 1958, when he settled in the Land of Wonder – the Okanagan Valley. They were the first and only Indo-Canadian family in West Kelowna for 15 years. The family purchased their first property in 1963 and soon after was the largest apple farmer in West Kelowna. In 1978, Sarwan and wife Sudarshana started a new venture, growing grapes.
In May 2010, the children fulfilled their father’s dream of establishing Volcanic Hills Estate Winery which borders Mt. Boucherie winery. Today, the winery and vineyards are managed by Bobby Gidda.
The home block vineyard is located on the SE slope of Mount Boucherie, a 60 million-year-old dormant volcano. This site is home to the wine shop and winery production facility. Here the self rooted grapes thrive in the sandy loam, clay and limestone soils that are rich with mineral deposits and volcanic rock.
Volcanic Hills was voted “Best New Winery” in 2011 and was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence for their very first Rosé. They currently produce around 11,000 cases of wine annually.
Their winemaking philosophy is to craft BC wine with minimal interference and low-impact techniques and to showcase varietal characteristics through sustainable grape-growing.
The Wine Consultant – Daniel Bontorin
Daniel’s Italian heritage fostered a natural and intuitive understanding of wine. In 2000 he graduated top 5 in the winery assistant program through Okanagan University College. Over the next four years, he developed his winemaking expertise under the guidance Eric Von Krosigk and with some of the most notable BC wineries including Tinhorn Creek, Hester Creek, Pentage, Domain Combret, Fairview Cellars and Hillside Estate.
Daniel made the Lieutenant Governor’s award-winning Gamay Noir Rosé for Volcanic Hills and continues to produce their Rosé. The inspiration for the Seven Directions (his own label) Rosé comes from France. The Pinot Noir Rosé is partially fermented in new French oak. The organic Pinot Noir is grown by Kalala Vineyard. For more information on the latest vintages see Bottega Wine Studio: Seven Directions & K Little 2020 Releases.
Volcanic Hills Wine Tasting
From the afternoon’s tasting, our favourite BC wines were:
Volcanic Hills Rosé 2018 ($20.60)
Vineyard Notes
This Rose is a blend of 60% Gamay Noir from the Scharf Road vineyards, 22% Pinot Noir, 8% Viognier, 7% Chardonnay, and 3% Gewurztraminer. The Gamay Noir vines were originally planted in 1990 with additional plantings in 1992.
The grapes were once used for the premium Gamay, however mother nature had different ideas when a family of bears moved in on the Scharf Road property. After Winnie the Pooh decided to eat most of the crop one October, the decision was made to pick the Gamay earlier before it was sweet enough for the bears, yet perfect for Rose! 100% Stainless Steel fermentation of both free run and pressed juice, blended post-fermentation.
Tasting Notes
Alcohol 13.7% pH3.23 RS 5.6 TA 7.4
Light ruby red in colour and bursting with aromas of strawberry, cherry, pink grapefruit, floral with hints of spice. The palate is a juicy blend of strawberry and cherry, with ripe cranberry, pomegranate and spice that linger on the finish. The vibrant lime acidity balance The fruitiness of the palate. This off-dry Rose is bright and clean and has Super, Sexy, Summer Sipper written all over it. Serve at 10-14 C. Best consumed within 3 years of vintage.
Food Pairing
A great brunch, lunch and picnic wine. Try with pork, shrimp salad tossed in raspberry vinaigrette, prosciutto with melon, goat cheese, antipasto, charcuterie, Tandoori and Thai chicken.
Volcanic Hills Gamay Noir 2018 ($20.60)
Ruby red in colour with aromas and flavours of cherry, plum, hints of soft spice, pepper and a touch of oak. Light bodied with 4 months in 30% new American oak and 70% in neutral French oak, soft tannins with medium acidity – the finish is fresh and bright.
Volcanic Hills Magma Red 2017 ($23.09)
This is a blend of 34% Zweigelt, 24% Pinot Noir, 23% Merlot, 14% Marechal Foch, and 5% Cab Franc. The wine is fruity, with aromas of plum, boysenberry, butterscotch earthiness with a little touch of pepper, spice and vanilla. On the palate, it’s bursting with dark cherry and plum with just a touch of black pepper on the finish.
Volcanic Hills Magma White 2017 ($19.09)
Light straw in colour, this is one dry wine that is brimming with ripe fruit character reminiscent of the warmth of an Okanagan Sunset.
On the nose aromas of poached peaches, pears, and white flowers waft out of the glass. On the medium-bodied palate, enjoy flavours of apricot, pineapple, lychee, and mandarin slices with a hint of ginger and lingering minerality.
Serve at 9 – 12 C and best consumed within 1- 3 years of vintage.
Silver Medal at the 2019 All Canadian Wine Championship.
If you are a white blend enthusiasts here is a link to other great value wines – Top 10 BC White Wine Blends under $20.
For the current portfolio of Volcanic Hills Estate wines please visit the winery website.