We previously visited the Grizzli Winery in 2016. Here is the link to the previous article. The winery has now been open for just over 3 years. This time we returned to the winery for a tour of the extensive winemaking facilities and to taste the expanded portfolio of premium BC Wines.
Winemaking Facilities
The size of the Grizzli operation is truly impressive. In terms of volume, it is in the top three or four wineries in the Okanagan. The winery has two state-of-the-art Scharfenberger Europress for table and ice wine production.
The fermentation area can handle 450,000 litres of wine with an expansion planned to double this size.
Here is a picture of the barrel room with lots of room for expansion.
The bottling line is fully automatic high-speed GAI equipment that can process 1,800 bottles per hour.
Art Exhibit
The Grizzli tasting room also displays Okanagan Vineyard paintings by Louise Lambert of Wine Country Studios. The paintings include Vineyard Veils, a painting commissioned by Grizzli. This work depicts the Icewine grapes covered in protective netting – a truly Canadian winter scene.
Each month on a Saturday, Grizzli hosts a Creative Art Series workshop where participants first enjoy a wine tasting and then proceed to complete their own artwork with the assistance of Louise Lambert. The price of the workshop includes all the brushes, paints and canvases.
White Wine
Grizzli Riesling 2017
10.2 % Alcohol, Residual Sugar 20.8, Total Acidity 8.7
This Riesling is a semi-sweet wine. Aromas of red and green apples. Flavours of BC Spartan red apples, honeydew melon and honey with a hint of minerality. The medium sweetness is well-balanced by acid levels. The wine pairs well with Asian food and crispy fish tacos.
Grizzli Voignier 2017
10 % Alcohol, Residual Sugar 29.84, Total Acidity 6.7
The Viognier is a sweet wine that greets you with a wonderfully floral nose including rose petals. On the palate, ripe nectarines, pear, peach, hazelnut, lychee, violet, and a hint of cardamom. The wine pairs well with creamy pasta and baked fishes.
Grizzli Muscat 2015
9.3% alcohol. The grapes come from the Fraser Valley vineyard. This Muscat features a lovely floral nose of mandarin orange peel, lemon, jasmine and thyme. On the palate, grapefruit and pear with a hint of lemongrass with well-balanced acidity and residual sugar. This wine pairs well with spicy cuisine and soft cheeses.
Red Wines
Grizzli Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Alcohol 13.7%, pH 3.85, RS 2.9g/L, TA 5.7 g/L
A medium-bodied wine with notes of black cherry, dried fig, caramel and spices. On the palate black cherries, cocoa and now that the wine has aged 18 months from our last tasting, the tannins have mellowed substantially. The wine received a Gold Medal at the 2018 BC Best of Varietal Wine Awards.
Paired perfectly with NZ grass-fed steak, fried onions and caesar salad.
Grizzli Merlot 2014
Alcohol 14.2%, pH 3.8, RS 3.9 g/L, TA 5.6 g/L ($31.32).
A full-bodied Merlot, deep in colour with aromas of red plum and blackberry. On the palate black fruit, vanilla and dark chocolate. The tannins are smooth and this wine will age well. The wine was subjected to a minimum of oak ageing and has a minimum sulphite content. Suggested pairings are New York strip steak, BBQ pork and roast duck.
Grizzli Meritage 2014
Alcohol 14.1%, pH 4.24, RS 0.5 g/L, TA 5.85 g/L
An excellent Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Full-bodied and inky in colour, with earthy notes of leather, liquorice and black cherries with nuances of vanilla. It also had a mysterious herbaceous aroma hiding in the background. Complex, deep and interesting. One suggested pairing is baked portabella mushrooms.
Grizzli Cabernet Franc 2014
Alcohol 14.9%, pH 4.08, RS 2.5 g/L, TA 4.8 g/L
The grapes were sourced from an outstanding Osoyoos vineyard. Medium-bodied Cabernet Franc bursting with classic aromas of cedar and tobacco, cocoa, plum and blackberry. The palate is full of warm spices, dark chocolate and tobacco. The finish is long, mouth-filling and warm with fine fruit character and ripe tannins.
The bottle is etched with real gold and silver, making the Special Reserve Cabernet Franc a great addition to your collection. Cellar 3-5 years for an exceptionally balanced wine. The wine received a Gold Medal at the 2018 BC Best of Varietal Wine Awards.
The Fruit Wines
Grizzli Raspberry Wine 2014
Bright ruby red with an intense aroma of raspberries and honey. Made from premium organic Fraser Valley raspberries. Sweet on the first sip and finishes with a lingering tartness. The fruit wine is processed by the sister winery Lulu Island Winery in Richmond, BC.
The wine is also a perfect base for Sangria or with ice cream or cheesecake.
Grizzli Blueberry Wine 2016
The wine is made from a special species of Fraser Valley blueberries with smaller berry size and more intense taste. Blueberries with the highest antioxidant concentration. The wine has a brilliant blue colour and fruity aroma.
The Ice Wines
Grizzli Sauvignon Blanc Icewine 2013
This wine was awarded Best in Category and Best in Class at the 2018 Pacific Rim International Wine Competition.
Amy Mullally, CS & WSET Diploma, provided the following tasting notes “Rich, heady jasmine, dried apricot and honey ooze from the glass. A beautiful bouquet of dried thyme, marjoram, and heather fill the senses. Lavender, citrus blossom, and dried orange peel hang in balance to rich, salted toffee and roasted cashew notes. The mouth coating texture is smooth as silk, showing preserved lemon and lavender honey. This is one of those wines that can make a good dinner party unforgettable. This is a very serious and special wine that is delicious now and will continue to improve through time.”
Grizzli Merlot Red Icewine 2013
Harvested at -14 ºC, beautiful red colour with flavours of cherries and dried red fruits. To further enhance these flavours, enjoy the Merlot Icewine with dark chocolate desserts or iced and standalone.
For more information on Grizzli Winery Ice Wines please see Grizzli Winery for Ice Wine.
Please visit the Grizzli Winery website for their complete portfolio of premium BC Wines.
Note: The original article was updated to include the expanded white wine portfolio in October, 2019