Hello wine lovers and happy wine Wednesday! I am up in the Okanagan again this week for three days of B.C. VQA panels.

I took the Hope-Princeton route this time and the scenery was dynamic and lovely. Yesterday, I set out to discover and take in some wineries that I hadn’t yet visited. I had an excellent afternoon indeed.

Case in point, Tightrope Winery.  I was told about this relatively new winery from a fellow panelist so I headed up to the Naramata Bench to go exploring.  I was greeted by the lovely Janice in the tasting room.  I loved the building, the clean lines of the label, the interior design of the tasting room – it was welcoming and interesting at the same time. Janice led me through a flight and I was delighted with everything.  Then, I tasted the 2014 Pinot Gris and I had an ‘aha’ moment.  Finally, and it has been a long time coming, a Pinot Gris that I would purchase again and again.

In the glass, the wine is pale lemon in colour.  On the nose, a fantastic bouquet of ripe pear, peach, cantaloupe melon, apricot and apple…YUM.  On the palate, wow – just wow.  The flavours mirrored the nose with more with a focal point of Bartlett pear and apple with a great dusting of minerality.  The finish lingers for a nice time with notes of excellent Okanagan fruit.  There is some residual sugar in this that absolutely knocks it out of the park.  It is complex and balanced.  It is fruity yet elegant.  Hands down, a top contender for Pinot Gris in British Columbia. I know there are many Pinot Gris fans out there…this one, my friends, will not disappoint and may even convert some non-Pinot Gris fans.  I know that is saying a lot but believe me, she is a stunner.

Tightrope’s Pinot Gris is so excellent that I am including a ‘where to buy’ link for you because I know you will want to grab yourself a bottle of this delicious $20 wine.  Yes, $20 – perfect.  A GGG “Hell Yes’ with highest honours.  Lyndsay O’Rourke, winemaker, and her husband Graham are definitely here to stay. Their wall of awards speaks to their passion and effort thus far.

What a great day!

Enjoy!

XO

C