Hester Creek Estate Winery has released two more wines from the new Columbia Valley Collection (CVC): Riesling and Rosé Noir. Before going to the wine information and tasting notes, here is the background on the 2024 harvest and the “crafted in BC” program.
2024 Harvest
“The 2024 vintage from Hester Creek was sourced from just south of the border in the Columbia Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). This AVA and its sub-AVAs were chosen for the proximity and similarities to the South Okanagan with respect to terroir, varietals and viticultural history.
We chose the vineyard blocks based on our quality standards and all the winemaking was done in-house by our winemaking team. Across the sub-AVAs, bud break began in late March with a cool spring. By July, temperatures climbed to above average and balanced out the Growing Degree Days. The season produced large grape clusters with small berry sizes, leading to great quality fruit for winemaking. Each cluster of grapes for Hester Creek was hand harvested, starting with our Sauvignon Blanc on September 2, and ending with Petit Verdot and Malbec on October 5. The grapes were brought to our crush pad in recyclable containers and hand sorted by our team before continuing the winemaking process.” Mark Hopley, Winemaker
Hester Creek CVC Rosé Noir 2024 (27.99)
Crafted using 100% Pinot Noir grapes farmed in the Ancient Lakes AVA, each cluster was hand-harvested and brought to Hester Creek’s crush pad in temperature-controlled trucks. Once here, the grapes were hand-sorted and left on the skins for three hours to extract the light, rose-gold hue. A combination of whole berry and whole cluster pressing was used to extract a clean juice.
It was then cold settled for two days, racked off the lees and inoculated. After 20 days of fermentation, the wine was racked and aged for four months in stainless steel tanks before being bottled on February 7, 2025.
Specs
- Alcohol: 11.7%
- Residual Sugar (RS): 0.66 g/L
- Titratable Acidity (TA): 7.64 g/L
- pH: 3.12
- Ageability: Drink now or cellar through 2028 for added complexity
Tasting Notes
Wow, another Provence-style Rosé that’s an absolute showstopper! This beauty dazzles with a vibrant orange-pink glow, like a Mediterranean sunset in a glass. It kicks off with a sassy burst of orange pith, juicy wild strawberries, and a flirtatious whisper of rose petals. On the palate, it’s a crisp, electrifying dance of wild strawberry, zesty pink grapefruit, and mandarin orange that pops with energy. The finish? Creamy, velvety, and gloriously long, leaving you craving another sip of this perfectly balanced, lush Rosé. A true crowd-pleaser that demands an encore! 91 points.
Pairing Suggestion
The perfect pairing for sushi or a bowl of steamed mussels.
Hester Creek CVC Riesling 2024 (C$24.99)
🍇 From sustainable Ancient Lakes AVA fruit – Sourced from the windswept slopes of the Ancient Lakes AVA in Washington’s Columbia Valley, this 100% Riesling was hand harvested on October 1, 2024, and whisked across the border in temperature-controlled trucks to Hester Creek’s state-of-the-art facility in Oliver, BC.
Once delivered, the fruit was hand-sorted and gently whole-berry pressed. The juice was cold settled for two days, racked off the lees, and then inoculated and fermented over 20 days. It was aged on light lees for five months in stainless steel before bottling on February 7, 2025.
Specs
- Alcohol: 12.2%
- Residual Sugar (RS): 3.5 g/L
- Titratable Acidity (TA): 7.58 g/L
- pH: 3.19
- Ageability: Drink now or cellar through 2028 for added complexity
Tasting Notes
A pristine, dry Riesling that bursts with bright green apple, white peach, and Meyer lemon aromas. On the palate, it delivers a taut line of citrus zest, stone fruit, and a stony mineral finish that lingers with racy acidity. This wine doesn’t whisper—it’s a clean, confident soprano with crystalline precision. 91 Points
Pairing Suggestion
A knockout match with Thai green curry, sushi rolls with pickled ginger, or a summery salad of grilled peaches, chèvre, and arugula. Its vibrant acidity and subtle sweetness make it a versatile partner at the table. Also pair with Gone Crackers Roasted Shallot and Herb crackers.
Please visit Hester Creek Estate Winery to purchase their current portfolio of BC wines. For information and Hester Creek Red wines, see – Hester Creek Releases 2023 Vintage plus a Fabulous 2022 Red