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It was with a touch of nostalgia that I participated in Garagiste North this year.  The first time I attended this wine festival was at Kelowna’s Laurel Packinghouse in 2015, just as I was starting the BC Wine Trends blog.  That weekend I started friendships with some passionate BC winemakers that actively support my blogging efforts.  To name just a few, Rob Hammersley, Rob Westbury, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Schell, Daniel Bibby, Jay Drysdale and Mark Simpson.

This year’s event had strong participation from the Garagiste North winemakers.  As always the event was planned and executed perfectly by Jennifer and Terry at Wine Party.

20+ wineries! Anarchist Mountain Vineyard | Anthony Buchanan Wines | BC Wine Studio | Black Cloud Winery | Black Market Wine Co. | Bottega Wine Studio | Coolshanagh Winery | Dames Wine | Forgotten Hill Wine Co. | Giant Head Estate Winery | Lariana Cellars | Marionette Winery | MOCOJO Winery | Nagging Doubt Wines | Schell Wines | SKAHA Vineyard | Tall Tale Wines |vinAmité Cellars | Winemakers Cut…AND Kelowna’s hottest new beer & cider makers: Vice & Virtue Brewing and Truck ’59 Cidery!

Now to the Garagistes and their wines.

Anarchist Mountain Vineyard

Andrew Stone was pouring 2016 Elevation Chardonnay and 2016 Mayhem.  The Chardonnay is lightly oaked with tropical fruit notes and crisp acidity.  Mayhem is a Merlot/ Cabernet Franc (33% Cabernet Franc) blend. Lush red fruit with flavours of tobacco, pepper and leather.  Smooth tannins and a long finish.  Visit their website for more details.

Anthony Buchanan Wines

The wines being poured by Anthony included 2017 Wild Ferment Brut, 2017 Pinot Blanc Lawson and 2016 Pinot Noir Ashlyn.  Anthony crafts his wines at the Dessert Hills Winey.  The sparkling wine was 100% Pinot Blanc made in the frizzante style.  A really crisp quaffer.  The still Pinot Blanc was one of my favourite whites.   Subtle aromas of apple blossom and citrus with a full mouthfeel of green apples, a hint of minerality and a pleasant crisp acidic finish.  The Pinot Noir has classic aromas of cherry and violets.  On the palate, luscious raspberries, blackberries, red plum and earthy forest floor notes.  Check out the winery website for more details.

BC Wine Studio

Mark Simpson was in fine form pouring a great selection of his Siren’s Call brand.  I only had time to taste the newly released 2016 Syrah.   The Syrah is co-fermented with Viognier.  It is a big and bold red with aromas of black cherry, oak and spices. On the palate black cherry and plum with classic notes of white and black pepper. 

Black Cloud Winery

Great to see Bradley Cooper and Audralee Daum with their fabulous Pinot Noirs again.  Bradley and I may be on different ends of the political spectrum but that doesn’t stop on me from enjoying his fine pinots.  It was disappointing to hear that sourcing Pinot Noir for Black Cloud has become a problem and Bradley is concentrating on his wine consulting business going forward.  The 2015 Altostratus Pinot Noir is starting to hit its stride now.  Beautiful wine with nice concentration, my preferred pinot noir style.  Black fruit notes, flint, slight forest floor on the nose. Showing minerality and great balance on the palate. Even discernible tannin. Rich dark colour. 

Black Market Wine Co.

Rob and Michelle were pouring a large selection of Black Market Wine Co. wines.  I visited their new winery site later in the week and you can find information on the wines they were pouring here.

Bottega Wine Studio

Daniel Bontorin was pouring his 2016 Viognier and 2015 Merlot.  I was fortunate enough to try both wines just as they were released earlier this year.  Please see my earlier post for details.  I was glad to hear that Daniel was close to leasing space for a wine shop next year.

Coolshanagh Winery

Coolshanagh Winery had their Chardonnay available for tasting.  Coolshanagh translates as ‘a meeting place of friends.’  The Vineyard is a 10-acre site on the rustic north end of the Naramata Bench.  2015 Chardonnay is a Burgundian style wine with creamy ripe apple, citrus and well-balanced acidity.

Giant Head Estate Winery

Another excellent selection of wines from Giant Head Estate Winery – bubbly, two Pinot Noirs and Merlot.  All wines are made from their 100% Summerland estate grapes.  The 2015 Blanc de Noir is made with Pinot Noir grapes.  This dry, crisp sparkler shows a finesse of texture wrapped in green apple, preserved lemon and vanilla. It’s light and bright.  The 2015 Pinot Noir has classic flavours and aromas of cherry and spice with a hint of violets.  The 2015 Merlot is full-bodied with flavours of black fruit, tobacco, vanilla with a smoky finish.

Lariana Cellars

Dan & Carol Scott were pouring four wines – Viognier, Carmenere, Red Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon.  2017 Viognier – the fruit is sourced from Shady Lagoon Estate vineyard with the remainder from Red Brick vineyard on the east side of Osoyoos Lake.  White peach and red grapefruit aromas. with flavours citrus, apple and ripe peach.  2015 Carménère is from 100% estate fruit aged in oak for 15 months. The nose is a peppery mix of blackcurrant and blackberries with a vibrant herbaceous, grilled pepper undercurrent. The finish is rich, smoky and long.  This is a unique Okanagan wine.

Marionette Winery

Marionette Winery had 4 reds and a white available for tasting. The 2017 Riesling grapes are from the Ladyhawke Vineyards in Keremeos, BC.  Tart green apple, lime, pear and lemon with riesling’s characteristic zippiness.  Pulcinella 2014 named for the infamous Italian trickster marionette, Pulcinella is full of surprises. The grape Zweigelt, although Austrian by origin it achieves the fullness of a warmer climate red in a cool climate region. Black fruit with nuances of chocolate and plenty of spice.  Please see my earlier post for more details on Marionette Winery. 

MOCOJO Winery

Dianne was pouring the 2016 wines from MOCOJO Winery.  The owners are  Kon and Dianne Oh and they have 3 children. MOCOJO is their initials in birth order.  Their Vineyard was planted on the Naramata Bench over three decades ago.  A dry Viognier with aromas of jasmine and vanilla and flavours of mango, peach and apricot.  Malbec has black cherry and violet aromas.  On the palate smooth tannins and dark fruit. Merlot is bold with smoky espresso, blackberries and chocolate.   Please visit the winery website for more details.

Nagging Doubt

Good to see Rob Westbury again pouring his fine wines.  I was looking forward to trying his first 100% estate wine.  The 2017 Siegerrebe was just released on Friday.  Siegerrebe is a cross between Gewürztraminer and Madeleine Angevine.  Ripe peach, honeysuckle, apricot, with citrus notes. The reds were as BIG as ever!   For more details on the reds see my earlier post here.

Schell Wines

Our gracious host was tasting her new red blend.  

SKAHA Vineyard

Gerry was pouring a good selection of Skaha Vineyard wines that are handcrafted by Kraze Legz Winery.  2017 Pinot Blanc has flavours of pineapple, melon, ripe peach and a citrus acidity on the finish.  2014 Merlot is a very smooth red.  Rich layers of cherry, raspberry, strawberry and plum with cloves and tobacco on the finish.  2015 Cabernet Franc – dark jammy fruits, liquorice with a touch of spice.  Please visit the winery website for more details.

Winemaker’s Cut

Michal Mosny, the owner of Winemaker’s Cut, had two wines to try.   He was hoping to also have a Rosé, maybe next year!  The event was absent Rosé, as those Garagiste that make the lovely summer pink wine had SOLD OUT.  Again I was fortunate to already try these wines in the spring and you can find my review here.

My apologies to the Garagiste’s I was unable to visit.  So much wine,  so little time, but then there is always next year!