The boutique winery is ideally located on the Black Sage Bench famous for premium BC wine. It is situated on 24-acres of some of the finest vineyards in the South Okanagan and is located between Black Hills Estate and Burrowing Owl wineries. The Toor family owns Desert Hills Estate Winery.
The winery, which opened in 2003, has won many awards for outstanding BC Wine. The awards include a two-time recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for excellence in winemaking and the winner of Canada’s Best Red Wine.
The Vineyards
Three Boys Vineyard
The vineyard was planted in 1996 and now makes up the 25-acre home vineyard site for Desert Hills Estate Winery. The east-west orientation and famous sandy soil provide for maximum sun exposure and great drainage.
Eagle’s Nest Vineyard
Eagle’s Nest was established in 2006 and acquired by the Toor brothers a year later. The 15 acres contain Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
Sage Brush Vineyard
Sage Brush Vineyard was planted in 2007 with 19 acres of Bordeaux varietals.
Sira’s Vineyard
The vineyard was purchased in 1988, was planted with Vitis Vinifera in 1994. Just north of Osoyoos, it provides consistently beautiful fruit.
Black Sage Bistro
After becoming a renowned winery in the Okanagan Valley, Desert Hills Estate Winery decided it was time to expand its offering to include a restaurant that could complement the award-winning wines they were producing. That year the Toor family, owners of Desert Hills Estate Winery, decided it was time to start construction on an outdoor kitchen next to the winery with a beautiful patio overlooking its 24-acre estate vineyard2.
Construction was completed in May 2018 and the Black Sage Bistro was born. Serving modern Indian food with a French and Italian influence, the Black Sage Bistro has a dish for anyone and everyone. Whether you are seeking a big Indian curry dinner with house-made naan or just a couple of snacks to have with a bottle of wine while you enjoy the view, the Black Sage Bistro has the dish for you.
The Wines
Desert Hills Chardonnay 2020 ($24.90)
Aromatic, complex and clean, this wine offers primary fruit notes of crisp golden russet apples and ripe bose pear skin, all complimented with a delicate vanilla bean and toast note.
Desert Hills Syrah 2016 ($36.90)
Planted in 1996, the Three Boys Vineyard Syrah are possibly the oldest Syrah vines in the South Okanagan. The rows have an east-west orientation allowing for great sun exposure and our famous sandy vineyard offers deep soils with excellent drainage. Viticulture practices such as shoot thinning, green harvest (cluster thinning) and leaf removal all help promote flavour concentration and purity of fruit. Cluster selection and vine spacing led to a fruit count of approximately 2.7 tons per acre.
Two clones 99 and 100 were hand-harvested and kept cool prior to being processed at the winery. Clone 99 was destemmed and lightly crushed into an open-top fermenter and clone 100 was destemmed only (whole berry) into a tank. Gentle punch downs and pump-overs daily in the cellar until the wine had completed fermentation. Barrel-aged for 22 months in 85% French Oak, 20% new and 15% American Oak, 5% new, prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Savoury aromas of white and black pepper, smoked meat, and dried herbs followed by ripe blackberry/blueberry compote, tobacco and spice. Rich chocolate and vanilla bean round out the silky tannins on the finish.
Silver Medal winner at the 2020 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards.
Desert Hills Cactus Red 2020 ($20.90)
A blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 15% Syrah.
Both Vineyards are on the Black Sage Bench, where the east-west orientation allows for great sun exposure, and the famous sandy soil allows for excellent drainage. Leaf thinning throughout the season improved the already good sun exposure and provided excellent ventilation in the fruit zone. Fruit selection and vine spacing led to a fruit count of approximately 3.1 tons per acre.
All grapes were hand-harvested and sorted before de-stemmed whole berry to our open-top fermenting tanks, where they were cold-soaked for five days with twice daily pump-overs. Fermentation at a consistent 26 degrees with gentle cap management to preserve the integrity of the fruit.
Textured and ready to drink this wine brings forth ripe berry flavours and savoury spices in a supple and juicy mid-palate. A fun and cheerful wine and excellent value at $20!
Desert Hills Cabernet Franc 2018 ($29.90)
The grapes are from the Sagebrush Vineyard. Almost ripe raspberries and crisp cranberries, intermingle with green pepper, opening up to smooth dark chocolate and black cherries, all held up by a subtle oak tannin structure.
For the complete portfolio of BC wine please visit the Desert Hills Estate Winery site here.
Sources
- Winery and Vineyard information, photos and tasting notes courtesy of Desert Hills Estate Winery.
- Destination Osoyoos – Black Sage Bistro