We visited SpearHead winery for the first time during a FabFive Wineries weekend to support the Kelowna food banks. The BC Wines they were pouring included: Pinot Gris, a lightly oaked Chardonnay, a Bordeaux blend and the reason why we came was to try the Pinot Noir.
The winery makes about 3,500 cases of wine each year of which 2/3 is Pinot Noir. The original vineyard was planted in 2008. In 2014 an additional five acres of Pinot Noir were planted. SpearHead now grows four different Dijon clones.
Grant Stanley – Winemaker & General Manager
Grant Stanley is a dual citizen of Canada and New Zealand; the latter is where he began his career working in the vineyards of Marlborough. Equipped with winery internships and diplomas in viticulture and winemaking from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology he moved to the North Island where he became a willing and humble slave to the high priests of Pinot Noir in Martinborough.
His A-type personality soon led him to become compulsive, obsessive and devoted to Pinot Noir. In 2003, after 15 vintages with prestigious wineries in New Zealand and Oregon’s Willamette valley he was attracted to the incredible potential for growing and making high-quality Pinot Noir in the Okanagan Valley. Since moving to the Okanagan Valley Grant has become well known for his winemaking style and his dedication to the improvement of growing and making Pinot Noir. His continuous collaboration with fellow winemakers and viticulturists helps drive this initiative. If you can’t find him in the vineyard or winery, he will most likely be on a tennis court.
2019 Harvest
“Without a doubt the moderate heat extending throughout the season has brought about grape ripeness without any sun burning or threat of over-ripeness. The yields have been similar to what we’ve seen in the past as well. We had a lot of small berries and good pulp to skin ratio which is perfect for making Pinot Noir. I’m really looking forward to the Pinot Noirs in this vintage.”
Grant Stanley
SpearHead Wines
SpierHead Pinot Gris 2014 Golden Retreat Vineyard
The Pinot Gris was exceptional with a total acidity level of 8.0 and residual sugar of only 4.3. The wine is great with food and we finished a bottle that night with garlic prawns and rice. The Bordeaux blend went really well with the chocolate truffles they were serving and the Pinot Noir was excellent. They had a deal on the Pinot Gris we couldn’t resist so picked up three bottles plus a bottle of the Pinot Noir Cuvee.
The wine begins with an appealing aroma that mingles hints of herbs with citrus and apple. On the palate, there are flavours of melon and apple. The wine, fermented and aged in stainless steel, has a good weight. This is an extremely crisp wine. The grapes come from the Golden Retreat vineyard near Summerland. The gentle whole cluster pressing and low-temperature fermentation preserve the fresh orchard fruit flavours.
SpierHead Pinot Noir 2014.
This entry-level pinot is smooth with plum and perfumed flowers carrying to a supple palate of cassis, cherry-vanilla jam, chocolate and mocha. The 10 months in French oak is evident in the wood spiced finish, but any edges are all but swallowed up by the fruit. This medium-bodied Burgundy-style Pinot Noir is a great BC Wine value.
Here is the link to the latest SpearHead releases.
To see the complete portfolio of SpearHead wines please visit the winery website.
