We were really looking forward to attending the first Okanagan Wine Festivals Society (OWFS) event of the season. It was wonderful to see the support for the BC wine industry as we ramp back up on festivals in the Okanagan Valley.
The event featured premium wines from Indigenous World Winery, Kalala Organic Estate Winery, and Summerhill Pyramid Winery at the Hyatt Place Kelowna.
The event was attended by an enthusiastic crowd of over 60 BC wine lovers. The restaurant at Hyatt Place was the perfect setting and the ideal wine pairing menu.
Here are the tasting notes for the nine wines tasted.
Indigenous World Winery
Hee-Hee-Tel-Kin White Blend 2020
Hee-Hee-Tel-Kin is a blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Gewurztraminer.
The light nose is floral with hints of cantaloupe and honeysuckle, with an elegant balance of orange blossom, crab apple, apricot and ripe red peach on the palate. 90 points
Red Fox Rosé 2020
The Rosé is named after the Red Fox or in Okanagan Syilx: Xʷaylxʷ one of the many indigenous animals that we share our beautiful Okanagan Valley with. The wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir.
A delicate pink rosé shows intense aromas and flavours of raspberry, watermelon and a hint of rhubarb with a light mineral backbone. 90 Points
Single Vineyard Gamay Noir 2019
Aged 18 months in American oak. Aromas of red fruit and a hint of smoke. A thin to medium-bodied Gamay. On the palate, strawberry jam, cherry, red licorice, and lightly oaked. 90 points
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Cipes Blanc de Blanc 2012
100% organic Chardonnay grapes sourced from Okanagan Valley vineyards carefully chosen for low sugar and naturally high acidity. The whole cluster pressed with extended sur lie aging. Disgorged in small batches.
Beautiful food-friendly bubbles. A complex sparkling wine with notes of lemon, key lime, brioche, hazelnut and lime pith. Delicate creamy mousse, medium body, racy acidity (8.0 gm/L) and salty, mineral notes and a long, lingering finish. The 12-year-old wine has aged really well. 93 Points
Silver medal in Wine Align’s National Wine Awards of Canada 2021!
Ehrenfelser 2019
An off-dry aromatic white (Residual Sugar 19 g/L) A fruit explosion with notes of apricot, peach, pineapple, mango, lemon, and lychee. A lively wine, too sweet for me but I love the fruity fragrances. 90 Points
Reserve Barrel Red Wine
A masterful blend of organic Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zweigelt, Syrah, and Pinot Noir grapes from our reserve barrel program (vintages 2012-2015) were carefully chosen and blended to express the best of the Okanagan Valley’s ability to create rich, mouth-filling red wine.
An elegant, medium-bodied red with aromas of red plum, black cherry, cigar and licorice. Flavours of ripe cherry, fig, chocolate and baking spices. Firm, round tannins and refreshing acidity lead to a lengthy finish. 92 Points
Kalala Organic Estate Winery
Pinot Gris 2019
This is a remarkable and vibrant Pinot Gris. Aromas of honeydew melon, honey and mandarin orange. Flavours of lime, lemon, pineapple and white nectarine. Offers a refreshing twinkle of acidity, a saline-like minerality, and a weighty mouth-feel. 91 Points.
Harmony Red 2019
This red wine is a medium-bodied lightly oaked blend of Merlot, Zweigelt and Pinot Noir. Aromas of red fruit. Flavours of raspberry and cherry are balanced with warm spice flavours of cinnamon and cardamom. Perfect sipping red. 90 Points
Zweigelt 2019
Aromas of black fruit. On the palate, the wine is juicy and bright with black cherry and cassis flavour and a hint of white chocolate and vanilla from the Hungarian Oak. The natural acidity gives bite with soft tannins and lingering chocolate notes. 92 Points.
For more information on the Kalala Organic Estate Winery please see – Kalala Winery for more than Organic Ice Wine
Future OWFS Events
We are looking forward to the From Cellars to Classics— a new OWFS Signature Event in partnership with Okanagan ChamberFest to be held on May 12th. This event brings the natural pairing of wine and music together and features the very best of Canada’s classical chamber musicians.