This is the first wine I have tasted from Gneiss (pronounced “nice”) Wines, an Okanagan winery located in the District Wine Village in Oliver. The winery sits adjacent to the McIntry bluff. The massive Gneiss rock in the vineyard creates the ideal soil characteristics and heat retention after sunset.
Gneiss is coarse to medium-grained banded metamorphic rock formed from igneous or sedimentary rocks during regional metamorphism. Rich in feldspars and quartz, gneisses also contain mica minerals and aluminous or ferromagnesian silicates.
The Gneiss Wines Team
Gneiss Wines provided the following background information.
“Michael Daley and Josie (Tyabji) grew up in Kelowna, and from farm work, their personal foray working in the Wine Industry began over 30 years ago as part of their South Okanagan Oliver family winery, one of the first VQA wineries in BC.
In 1986 Mike and Josie’s family recognized that premium wines were the future of the wine industry and replanted the Dark Horse vineyard at the site to a number of new vinifera varieties resulting in some of the first Cabernet Sauvignon in the Okanagan released as a high-end small lot single varietal wine in 1993.
In 1996, the first Estate winery in Canada – Inniskillin- acquired the property as their premium Okanagan site. Mike moved over to the Jackson Triggs winery, while Josie took on planting out the Osoyoos Lake Bench vineyards, along with other premium VQA projects throughout the company and within the industry.
It was during that time that Michael and Josie, working with the team in 2006, delivered the first “best in the world” red wine, SunRock Shiraz, at the IWSC in London, putting Canada on the map as a world-class red wine producer for the first time in our history.
A lifetime passion for winemaking drives the crafting of our small lot wines at Gneiss from South Okanagan vineyards.
The family tradition continues with the 3rd generation of wine, with daughter Christine Daley joining the Gneiss wine business and family friend Kayla Sahara.
Craig Welsman was Born and Raised in Penticton. Craig’s grandfather, Evans Lougheed, owned Casabello, one of the original wineries in Penticton in the 1970s and 80s. In his younger years, Craig would go to the winery to unofficially participate in the crush and watch the grapes come into the cellars. Craig has been actively pursuing options for reentering the wine industry and continues on the family tradition. The District Wine Village presented this opportunity, and having friends who were involved looked like a great way to participate.”
The Wines
Gneiss Wines Viognier 2021($29.99)
13% Alcohol / RS 1.8 gm/L. The Viognier is from an Oliver vineyard and the wine was aged in 75% stainless steel and 25% French oak barrels.
The Viognier burst forth with a floral aroma of jasmine and lychee. The medium-bodied wine has a well-rounded creamy mouthfeel with bright acidity and apricot, nectarine, honeydew melon and citrus flavours. Ripe, bold and lively, this wine compliments various dinner options and occasions. 91 Points
Gneiss Wines Pinot Noir 2021 ($45)
The grapes are from the Keith Vineyard in the Naramata Bench sub-GI. 95% Pinot Noir and 5% Syrah. Hand-picked, partially foot-pressed and stem-fermented, the wine was barrel-aged in French Oak (30% new oak) for 18 months. Only 14 barrels were produced.
At 13.7% alcohol, this is a medium-bodied pinot noir. Aromas of black cherry, raspberry and vanilla with earthy notes. Elegant flavours of black cherry and baking spices with a touch of the forest floor. Velvety smooth tannins and a long finish. This is a pinot that will definitely improve with age. 92 Points
Please go to the Gneiss Wine Website to order these premium BC wines.