The first time I met Dan and Carol Scott and tasted Lariana Cellars wines were at Garagiste North in 2015. Just a brief visit to try the 2014 Viognier with notes of apricot and green apple and a 2012 red blend “TWELVE”(53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Syrah, 21% Merlot and 1% Carménère. Dark in colour with chocolate and spice flavours. At the time Lariana Cellars produced less than 1000 cases annually but the wines left an impression!
The second time was at 2018 Garagiste North. Dan and Carol Scott were pouring four wines – Viognier, Carmenere, their 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.
Lariana Cellars History
The Lariana Cellars story began decades ago with 10 acres of property on Osoyoos Lake, located at the southernmost tip of the Okanagan Valley. Originally known as Shady Lagoon Campsite, the lakeside remains an RV Park while the upper portion has changed from orchard to vineyard.
It wasn’t until 2007 that the promise of a shiny new tractor inspired Dan and Carol to replace their fruit trees with grapevines. The vineyard was planted under the advice and direction of one of the Okanagan’s most respected pioneer in grape growing, Richard Cleave.
Hot, dry days and cool, crisp nights, as well as the moderating effect of Osoyoos lake, create an ideal environment for producing deep, flavourful varieties such as Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carménère.
In 2012, after three years of selling their crop to local wineries, they decided to take the plunge and Lariana Cellars was born.
The winery’s name, Lariana, is a tribute to Carol’s parents, Larry and Anna, who nurtured her love of wine.
The Winemakers
The Lariana Cellars wines are made by Dan with the assistance of consultant Senka Tennant. Senka was the founding winemaker with Black Hills Estate Winery and is now the co-proprietor and winemaker at Terravista Vineyards.
You can read more about Senka’s background in a previous article on her Naramata winery Terravista Vineyards.
2019 Viognier Harvest
The 2019 growing season was an interesting one to say the least! After a beautiful, fairly smoke-free summer we experienced more than the usual amount of rainfall in September. Luckily, we had some dry, sunny days at the beginning of October to harvest our Viognier – it was turning that nice, golden colour, and ready to pick and press!
For the Viognier, we press the whole clusters instead of destemming and pressing the individual grapes. We love the delicate juice that results from this technique. Once the bunches go into the press we start the press cycles. We prefer slow pressing, as it is the gentlest way to get the juice. It makes for a long day though! Each press cycle takes around three hours.
After pressing, the juice was cooled and settled before being racked to our concrete egg, concrete oval, and one stainless steel tank. During fermentation we maintain a cooler temperature to preserve the aromatics and lovely flavours of this grape. We have used the concrete for the Viognier since our first vintage in 2012! We enjoy the texture and rich mouthfeel it gives the wine.
Dan Scott
The Wines
Lariana Viognier 2018 ($25.90)
As in previous vintages the fruit is sourced from Red Brick vineyard (east side of Osoyoos Lake) and the estate vineyard Shady Lagoon. 75% of the fermentation and aging happens in concrete with the remainder split between one French oak barrel and stainless.
Upon the first few swirls, whiffs of tangerine, honeysuckle and soft fruits waft out of the glass. The juicy core is further enhanced by lemony shortbread and honeyed peach cream with a dusting of ginger. Weighty, without being rich and fat, persists to the finish.
Paired with curry chicken thighs and Moroccan-spiced blood orange couscous.
Senka Tennant, winemaker
Lariana Carménère 2016 (SOLD OUT)
The 2016 growing season never reached extreme temperatures and with a long summer the wine achieved balance of sugar/phenolic without diminishing acidity.
Deep, well-defined nose focuses on blue fruit, black cherry, plum compote and a dusting of cacao. Flavours are further swathed by baking spices, more of the dark plum and rich mocha notes.
Duck breast with a rich plum sauce, any other game bird and chicken in the intricate mole sauce comes to mind.
Senka Tennant, winemaker
Lariana Sixteen ($44.90)
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Syrah, 9% Carménère
2016 vintage was all about balance of flavours and ripeness at harvest in all the blocks of the vineyards. Lariana 2016 blend achieves much more of the same.
Aromas of black crunchy fruits and sweet spice layered with cassis. Lip smacking flavours of dark plums wrapped in mocha notes with deep umami undertones follow. All this voluptuous fruitiness is supported by fine structure with suede-like texture delivering sweeping grip at the end.
Senka Tennant, winemaker
For the complete portfolio of Lariana Cellars wine please visit the winery website.