Known for its award-winning sparkling wines, Evolve Sparkling House also crafts a small but exceptional range of still wines—expressions that capture the heart of the Okanagan in every sip. This collection features three distinctive expressions: the 2023 Small Lot Rosé, 2022 Grenache, and 2022 Pinot Noir. Each wine is made with care and intention, capturing the essence of its vineyard and varietal.
Evolve Small Lot Rosé 2023
Winemaking
Handpicked from a single site in Osoyoos, the Syrah grapes were whole-bunch pressed with no skin contact, resulting in a delicate hue and fresh fruit profile. Fermented in stainless steel over three weeks, the wine was bottled early to retain its brightness and express the terroir’s natural vibrancy.
Tech Specs
- Varietal: 100% Syrah
- Region: Okanagan Valley, BC
- Fermentation: Stainless steel, ~3 weeks
- Style: Dry, fresh, light-bodied
Tasting Notes
The 2023 Evolve Small Lot Rosé glows in the glass with a brilliant peach-skin hue, hinting at the freshness to come. Aromas of ripe strawberries, bramble leaf, and a twist of citrus zest rise delicately, opening further with a gentle swirl. On the palate, it’s crisp and lively yet softly textured, delivering juicy red fruit wrapped in a creamy, almost silky mouthfeel. A whisper of stem and spice adds intrigue, carrying through to a clean, lingering finish that begs for another sip. 90 Points
Pairing
A perfect match for grilled salmon, herbed chicken, or creamy cheeses. Also works beautifully with roasted beet salad or fresh summer vegetables.
Evolve Grenache 2022
Winemaking
Hand-harvested from the estate TIME Keepers Vineyard in Osoyoos, this Grenache was destemmed without crushing to preserve whole berries during fermentation. Gentle once-daily pump-overs encouraged carbonic maceration, boosting the wine’s vibrancy. After fermentation, it was softly pressed and aged for 15 months in neutral French oak, allowing pure fruit expression to shine.
Tech Specs
Vineyard: TIME Keepers Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.8% / TA: 5.8 g/L / pH: 3.61 / RS: 2.9 g/L
Oak: 15 months French oak, no new barrels
Tasting Notes
Vivid and expressive, the 2022 Evolve Grenache bursts with lifted aromas of red cherry, cranberry, and wild strawberry, accented by subtle floral notes and a touch of Mediterranean herb. The palate is a joyful interplay of juicy red fruit and bright acidity, framed by ultra-fine tannins that give it a supple, almost playful satiny texture. As it lingers, a gentle peppery spice emerges, adding depth and inviting another taste. This is Grenache in a lively, pure, and utterly charming form. 92 Points
Pairing
Try it with herb-crusted lamb, grilled pork tenderloin, or Mediterranean vegetable dishes like ratatouille.
More Grenache Wines
When we lived in Phoenix, my go-to Grenache was Spain’s bold Borsao Tres Picos—a sun-soaked powerhouse brimming with ripe blackberry, plum, and spicy oak. Tasting Evolve Grenache 2022 beside it reveals just how versatile this grape can be. Where Tres Picos is dense, warm, and opulent, Evolve offers a cooler-climate expression: dark roses, plush berries, red licorice, and a silky finish. Two continents, two styles—both proof that Grenache can be captivating in very different ways.
Evolve isn’t the only BC winery embracing Grenache. Stag’s Hollow crafts an elegant, small-lot single-varietal Grenache, while producers like Bartier Bros., Blasted Church, and Hester Creek showcase the grape in Rhône-inspired blends. Hester Creek’s GSM—a double gold-medal marriage of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre—has become a benchmark for the style in BC. You can read more about it in my full review here: Hester Creek Releases GSM.
Evolve Pinot Noir 2022
Winemaking
From a single site in Naramata, home to some of the Okanagan’s finest Pinot Noir plantings, this wine showcases the region’s unique terroir. The grapes were destemmed and fermented in open-top stainless steel tanks, using the labour-intensive délestage technique—draining the fermenting wine from the skins and gently returning it to promote fruitiness and complexity without excessive extraction. After fermentation, it was gently pressed and aged for 12 months in French oak (20% new). Only 200 cases were produced.
Tech Specs
Vineyard: Hayman Road
Alcohol: 13.1% / TA: 5.0 g/L pH: 3.72 / RS: 3.0 g/L
Oak: 12 months French oak, 20% new
Tasting Notes
Elegant and alluring, the 2022 Evolve Pinot Noir opens with a perfume of fresh red cherry, wild raspberry, and rose petals, intertwined with subtle notes of baking spice and forest floor. The medium-bodied Pinot Noir is silky and refined, with vibrant acidity carrying layers of juicy red fruit and a whisper of earthy complexity. The fine-grained tannins glide effortlessly into a long, graceful finish, leaving an impression of poise and precision that speaks to its limited production and meticulous craftsmanship. 92 Points
Pairing
Perfect with rack of lamb, roast duck, mushroom risotto, or cedar-planked salmon.
Final Thoughts
To purchase these Evolve wines, please visit timewines.ca/evolve-sparkling-house.
Evolve Sparkling House may have earned its fame with bubbles, but these still wines prove it’s no one-trick winery. The luminous Rosé, lively Grenache, and graceful Pinot Noir each offer a fresh lens on the Okanagan—wines to enjoy today or tuck away for a special moment. Quantities are limited, so if one catches your eye, don’t wait too long to make it yours.
For information on Evolve’s Sparkling wines, see Evolve Sparkling House: Award-Winning BC Bubbles.
Author Note:
This article was researched, written, and formatted by Julian Park, owner of BCWineTrends.com, with ChatGPT support to enhance structure, data integration, and editorial clarity.