Wyn, Anthony, and Marion Lewis opened The Vibrant Vine Winery Tasting Room in 2010. You can find more background on the winery in this earlier post – The Vibrant Vine for Wine & 3-D Art
I was looking forward to tasting the new releases. The colourful bottles brighten up the day for any wine enthusiast, but first here is what is happening at The Vibrant Vine Winery over the holidays.
The Vibrant Vine Wine Shop for the holidays
“We are very thankful for our locals and those who came to visit us from across the country over the past year. We appreciate the support we received and continue to show our thanks by giving back to our community.
Customers who come to the winery will receive a complimentary tasting with a donation of non-perishable food items to the Central Okanagan Food Bank. For our animal-lovers, with every purchase of our 2019 Merlin’s Merlot a portion of our proceeds will be given to the BCSPCA. Now that the COVID-19 restrictions have increased to keep us safe over the holidays, The Vibrant Vine Winery is also offering free shipping to our customers across Alberta and British Columbia, on 12 or more bottles, along with free curbside pick-up for those who make a purchase in-store.
Give the gift of The Vibrant Vine this season by purchasing one of our gift boxes, gift baskets, case deals or even our unique 3-D artwork and clothing for your friends and family. A pair of 3-D glasses and a Christmas card is included in your order free of charge.”
Kayla Hastings, The Vibrant Vine Winery & Frequency Winery
What to look forward to with our Events, Lives Shows & Workshops
“We love hosting events here at The Vibrant Vine Winery! Everything from weddings & private events to live music on the lawn & creative art workshops.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, we were able to host 100+ safe, socially distanced live music events on our lawn this summer. This included our free-to-attend Vibes at the Vine every Saturday & Sunday afternoon and our ticketed, Keep Calm & Support Live Music Series on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
We are so fortunate to have such incredible musical talent right here in the Okanagan Valley – stay tuned for our summer 2021 line-up!”
Louise Alberg, Events Manager.
The Vibrant Vine 2020 Releases
The Vibrant Vine Gewurztraminer
Winemaker Notes
These grapes were whole clusters pressed separately. Once inside the bladder press, the fruit was gently and slowly pressed under low pressure. The juice was then transferred to stainless steel tanks to ferment separately. Fermentation temperatures ranged between 12-16 degrees to help release more floral and aromatic aromas. After fermentation was complete the wine was aged in stainless steel tanks to settle out and was chilled to 0 degrees for cold stabilization and treated with a bentonite fining to provide heat stability. The wine was then left in stainless steel vessels to age and mature.
Technical Notes: Alcohol 12.2 % | pH 3.34|TA 5.5 gm/L | RS 4.2 gm/L
Tasting Notes
Vibrant aromas of lychee, white peach and delicate white flowers. The off-dry wine has a light mouthfeel and refreshing flavours of passion fruit, key limes, guava and lychee. 92 Points
The Vibrant Vine Woops 2019 ($25)
Why is it called Woops?
Several years ago, when the winery was preparing the bottles, a staff member inadvertently put the slipcovers on upside down. The error was noticed during the run. The staff thought it looked good, this being quite edgy art, and did the entire run that way. When Wyn Lewis discovered what had happened, he reacted as one might expect and called the wine Woops?
Winemaker notes
Each variety of grape was whole-cluster-pressed separately. Once inside the bladder press the fruit was gently and slowly pressed under low pressure. Each variety was then transferred to stainless steel tanks to ferment separately. A combination of different yeast was used in the different tanks of grapes to enhance the natural fruitiness of the individual grape varieties. Fermentation temperature ranged from 12-18 degrees allowing the wine to slowly ferment and bring forward a
full range of fruity aromas and flavours.
After alcoholic fermentation was complete the wines chilled to -2 C for cold stabilization and treated with a bentonite fining to provide heat stability. The wine was then left in stainless steel vessels to age and mature, the final blending process started in February 2019, which allowed the different wines time to harmonize and settle before bottling in March 2019.
Technical Notes: Alcohol 11.2 % | pH 3.21|TA 6.2 gm/L | RS 9.8gm/L
Tasting Notes
A blend of seven white varieties lead by Riesling and Pinot Gris, finishes off-dry, in the style of a Mosel Riesling.
This popular white wine has intense tropical aromas and spicy floral notes. On the palate, there is a lively effervescence on the tongue with concentrated flavours of ripe apricot, Anjou pear, nectarine, green apple and Meyer lemon. 91 Points
The Vibrant Vine Rosé
Technical Notes: Alcohol 11.9 % | pH 3.11|TA 6.52 gm/L | RS 12.2 gm/L
The Vibrant Vine Rosé is a gorgeous salmon colour. The wine is made from a traditional balance of Alsatian grapes, Pinot Auxerrois and Gewurztraminer blushed with Merlot.
Floral aromas with peach and pear. Flavours of nectarines, ripe yellow peach and pink grapefruit. Medium acidity and a clean vibrant finish. 91 Points
The Rose paired well with sockeye salmon and fresh green salad.
The Vibrant Vine Merlin’s Merlot 2019
The grapes for the cool-climate Merlot are from Oliver.
Technical Notes: Alcohol 13% | pH 3.39|TA 6.15 gm/L | RS 1.9 gm/L
A medium-bodied Merlot with aromas of red cherries, plum and cedar. On the palate, ripe cherries, blackberry, dried fig, dark chocolate and tobacco leaf. Considering the Merlot is only a year old it has very smooth tannins and a long finish. 90 Points
Pairs well with hamburgers, slow-braised short ribs and Beetroot and Fennel Gratin.
Proceeds from the sale of every bottle are donated to the BCSPCA
To order these excellent BC Wines please visit The Vibrant Vine Winery website
Frequency Winery
Frequency is a place for artists to create positive vibrations that are infused into the wines.
If you are NETFLIX enthusiast you can find a great introduction to the winery in the following series Restaurants On The Edge, Season 1, Episode 7. Please check it out https://www.netflix.com/title/81016995?s=i&trkid=13747225
Founder Tony Lewis starts the Frequency segment at the 27 minute mark in the video.
The Frequency Winery 2020 Releases
Frequency Thank You White 2019
This is a dry super white that blends Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Chardonnay and Muscat.
Technical Notes: Alcohol 12.2% | pH 3.22|TA 5.8 gm/L | RS 1.2 gm/L
Floral citrus aromas with a hint of grass. Crisp flavours of lemon and tropical fruit. The wine has a full mouthfeel, balanced acidity and a medium finish. 89 Points.
Paired perfectly with Steelhead Trout and baked potatoes.
Frequency Thank You Red 2019
Technical Notes: Alcohol 12.2% | pH 3.78|TA 5.7 gm/L | RS 0.3 gm/L
A light-bodied ruby red wine with aromas and flavours of ripe raspberry, cranberry, pomegranate, red cherry with hints of soft fennel and cinnamon, rounded out with an earthy finish and silky smooth tannins. A classic Beaujolais style Gamay Noir. 90 Points
The Gamay Noir paired perfectly with butternut squash soup.
To order these excellent BC Wines please visit please visit the Frequency Winery Website