The new Botegga Wine Studio opened in Cawston over the July 1st weekend. Winemaker, Daniel Bontorin, specializes in crafting rosé and small lot wines with grapes from the Okanagan that he feels display the highest potential for producing great wines.
Just under 4 acres of Garnacha Tinta (Grenache), Cabernet Franc and PinotNoir vines were planted in 2021 and are growing well with minimum winter damage.
Here are the wines Daniel and Kristine will pour in the new Cawston Tasting room.
Seven Directions Fruitvale Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Franc Rosé 2022 ($26)
Sourced from a single vineyard the Cabernet Franc rosé was sustainably farmed on the sun-drenched Fruitvale Ridge Vineyard, located in Osoyoos B.C. The soil for these 15-year-old vines has a main layer of larger rock and shale, followed by gravel, loam and some clay. Well rooted on 3309C stock and grafted with clone 331.
The 2022 season saw one of the coldest springs in many years, with late bud break and uneven vine growth. Heat domes in the summer, but mother nature gave us arguably the best October in recent memory to ripen the abundant crops.
Using minimalist low-intervention winemaking, these grapes were hand harvested on October 19, 2022, with 23.24 brix. The grapes were crushed immediately with no skin contact. Lightly pressed, and fermented at a cool temperature in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and aroma. Battonage in the tank was performed weekly during fermentation for added texture and mouthfeel.
Alcohol 13.5%, pH 3.37, TA 6.0 g/L, RS 1.2 g/L only 344 cases were produced.
The dry Rosé has a pale salmon pink hue with a youthful medium-intensity nose. The wine opens with wild strawberries and white peach aromas followed by sagebrush notes. The elegant, fruity and creamy palate compliments the excellent nose with flavours of more strawberry, red cherries, and blood orange zest with a hint of rhubarb and minerality all in a refreshingly silky package. This wine truly reflects the terroir of the Fruitvale Ridge Vineyard. 92 Points and a great value wine.
Seven Directions Tractor and Vines Pinot Noir Rosé 2022 ($28)
From a small parcel of 15-year-old vines in Summerland, 25% of this wine was fermented and aged in neutral French oak barrels, to bring texture, structure and complexity. The colour of this wine has never been as “Provence” as this year: very pale with a salmon hue.
The Pinot Noir juice had only two hours of skin contact, which helped preserve the freshness of the fruits.
Alcohol 13.0%, pH 3.40, TA 6.6 g/L, RS 2.5 g/L only 239 cases were produced.
A Provence-style Rosé “tour de force”! Delicate pale salmon hue. The wine opens with intense aromas of orange blossom, rose petals and jasmine. Flavours of wild strawberry, pink grapefruit and mandarin orange. A creamy, smooth and long flavourful finish. A perfectly balanced lush Rosé that leaves you screaming for more. 93 points. Stock up now as this wine sells out quickly every year.
K Little Vintners™ – My White 2018 ($22)
The white (mostly Gewürztraminer and a bit of Pinot Gris) is more Alsatian in style, smooth, lots of flavours but not over the top. Both grapes are from the Naramata Bench. It has 3 years of age in the bottle now and has gained richness, acidity integration and is still excellent and full of fruit.
Alcohol 12.9% / pH 3.24 / TA 6.2 / RS 4.9
A lovely clear, light straw-coloured white wine. The wine is a fruit-forward with floral and citrus blossom aromas. On the palate, ripe apple, Anjou pear, Meyer lemon and key lime, a rich textured mouthfeel and pleasant finish. A terrific little summer patio sipper. 89 Points
Please visit the Bottega Wine Studio to purchase these award-winning wines.
Previous Vintages
Here are the links to previous Bottega Wine Studio vintages – 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015 & 2016