Nothing says “Summer on the patio” like an ice-cold BC White Wine blend.
“white blend” refers to any white wine that contains more than one white grape varietal in the final product.
There is a great diversity of taste profiles made by blending different white grapes and the price is less expensive than many single white varietals.
Several white varietals are used in BC blends, but Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Gewürztraminer are the most frequently used.
Here are 10 wines under $25 you can enjoy all the time.
River Stone Splash 2023 ($23.90)
The Splash blend is 37% Pinot Gris, 37% Gewürztraminer and 26% Viognier. Due to the lower 2023 yields, this blend has less Viognier than the previous vintage.
The grapes were hand-picked at peak ripeness, then destemmed and pressed after a short skin contact time. The juice was then allowed to settle before transferring to another stainless steel tank, where it was inoculated with yeast, starting the temperature-controlled fermentation. Each wine is fermented individually with select yeast strains. Following fermentation, the wines were racked off the lees several times over the next few months before blending, fining, filtering and bottling.
Alcohol 13.1% / pH 3.25 / TA 5.78/ RS 6.09
The blend has a lovely tropical fruit aroma. Flavours of passionfruit, guava, honeydew melon and grapefruit. It has a lovely textured mouthfeel with acidity and sugar in perfect balance. Make sure not to overchill so the tropical notes shine through. 90 Points
Moraine Cliffhanger White 2022 ($24.98)
The blend is 60% Pinot Gris and 40% 51% Gewürztraminer. Cold fermented in stainless steel to capture the varietal aromas. Aromas of peach, pear, lychee and orange blossoms intertwine with rich, nutty tones. The wine has a generous texture and an appealing spice on the long finish. 89 Points
Pair it with a curry dish or sip just as it is on the patio in the sunshine.
Gold Medal, All Canadian Wine Championship 2022
Noble Ridge Vilicus Series Pinot Gris / Viognier 2024 ($21)
The Pinot Gris is from Horse Heaven Hills and the Viognier from the Goose Gap vineyard.
ALC: 13.0% | pH: 3.35 | TA: 6.4 | Brix: 21.6 | RS: 9.0 g/L
This off-dry white blend marries the vibrant crispness of Pinot Gris with the lush floral notes of Viognier. Aromas of zesty lime, ripe nectarine, juicy pear, and delicate orchard blossom unfold. On the palate, lively acidity refreshes, giving way to subtle minerality, with hints of honey and bright citrus lingering. 90 Points
Winemaker’s CUT BOHO Beat ($24)
Vineyard – Chahal vineyard, 1,500 cases produced.
Harvest – hand-harvested 11.09. / 18.09 / 19.10.2019 at average 22.5 Brix, 5.1 tons per acre. Winemaking – a white blend of Riesling, Kerner, Viognier and Gewurztraminer. Cold soaked for 3 hours, wild and organic yeast ferment, some co-ferment, 100% stainless steel.
Technical Data – 3.3 pH|7.0 TA|12.5 % Alcohol|5.9 RS
Golden straw yellow colour with a green hue. There is a wide range of aromas – floral notes, green apple, white peach, Mandarin orange, key lime and warm spices.
The palate is medium-bodied and smooth, with a silky texture, ripe peach, pineapple and honey with a hint of floral and flint on the finish.
The perfect Summer Sipper. 89 Points
Intrigue Social White ($24.99)
The off-dry white blend contains 60% Riesling and 35% Gewurztraminer, 3% Muscat Canelli, 1.1% Kerner, 0.5% Chardonnay, 0.4% Ehrenfelser.
Alcohol 11.2 %| RS 19.5| pH 3.02 | TA 7.78
The classic summer sipper! A juicy citrus explosion of Key Lime, Meyer lemon, Granny Smith Apples and Anjou pear. Low alcohol for social drinking. Buy by the case for your patio Vin du Jour! 90 Points.
Suggested Food Pairings – charcuterie boards, seared scallops, grilled chicken dishes.
Dirty Laundry Hush White 2022 ($20.99)
This blend has quickly become a fan favourite and the second wine to join the Hush family. This wine is meant to be fun, interesting and flavourful. All portions are fermented separately and the final blend is carefully chosen; all grapes are sourced from the estate Summerland Vineyards. A balanced blend of Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc makes up this very approachable, easy-drinking wine.
12.5% Alcohol / pH 3.35 / TA 6.5 / RS 4.1
The light and fruity summer sipper has a lovely aroma of apricot, Meyer lemon, honeycomb and floral notes from the Gew.
What first greets your tongue is an exciting effervescence followed by flavours of Key lime, Anjou pear, honey and orchard fruit. The 2022 blend is a touch drier than the previous vintage. 90 Points.
The suggested food pairing is soft creamy cheese, oysters or cream-based pasta with fresh seafood.
Hester Creek Character White 2022 ($19.99)
Uplifted and fresh, the 2022 Character White was crafted from approximately 2/3 Pinot Gris and 1/3 Gewürztraminer. The grapes were hand-picked from three vineyards: the Pinot Gris came from Road 7 Vineyard and Vineyard Manager, Iqbal Gill’s, Road 8 property and the Gewürztraminer came from the historic Golden Mile Bench Estate as well as the Gill Vineyard on Road 8.
The grapes were sorted, destemmed and whole berry pressed prior to going through a cold settle and cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Following fermentation, the lots were blended to create an elegantly balanced white wine. After blending, the Character White is further aged in stainless for four months prior to bottling
12% Alcohol, pH 3.34 TA 7.03 g/L, RS 9 g/L.
Another terrific vintage of the Foundation Series Character White. The off-dry white blend has aromas of rose petals, citrus and honey. The crisp palate shows honeydew melon, pineapple, pear and ripe peach. 90 Points
Enjoy with friends and try with goat cheese baked oysters or spring onion and Gruyère tart.
Here is a link for other great-value white wines from Hester Creek.
Arrowleaf Field Collection ($22.10)
This wine is a blend of Auxerrois, Riesling and Gewürztraminer grown in Lake Country, BC. These Germanic/Alsatian grape varieties thrive in the cooler parts of the Okanagan and in many of the province’s emerging wine regions. They are widely planted in Lake Country and produce crisp, fragrant wines.
This white blend opens with ripe melon, quince and floral aromas, and is crisp and aromatic.
Flavours of green apple, white peach and grapefruit with a touch of salt on the finish. 90 Points
Ideal on its own, as an aperitif or alongside light, summer meals.
Gold Medal (92 Points) – 2023 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
Wild Goose Autumn Gold 2022 ($19.99)
Voted BC’s Most Popular White Wine, Autumn Gold is equal parts Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc.
This is a clean, crisp, white wine blend that carries aromas of orchard fruit, spiced apple and citrus. The soft and round palate will taste spices, candy ginger, and a hint of rose balanced with crisp acidity.
The amazing fruit makes it the perfect wine to have on the patio in the sun or when cooking a traditional feast of roasted big bird! 90 points.
Township 7 Provenance Series 7 Blanc 2022 ($24.97)
This popular white blend is made with handpicked grapes from the Naramata Bench estate
and long-time growers in the south Okanagan. The varietals were cool fermented separately at
13°C over approximately 21 days using specific yeast selections for each variety.
45% Riesling, 34% Viognier, 11% Pinot Gris, 7% Gewurztraminer, and 3% Chardonnay
Alcohol 13.0% pH | 3.48 | TA 6.0 g/l | RS 12 g/l | Vegan
The white blend has a vibrant aroma of stone fruit with floral notes. The off-dry white has intense flavours of ripe peach, Honeycrisp apple and Meyer lemon. The perfect balance of acidity and sweetness with a hint of minerality. 91 Points.