Have you tried wines from Noble Ridge yet? If not, you have been missing out like I was. This year Noble Ridge celebrates their 20th vintage and, as I recently discovered, over the last two decades they have become very good at their craft.
To commemorate this special occasion, Noble Ridge has planned several events throughout the summer, including Vine Dining July 14th, August 11th and Sept 9th. For a full list of events and details click here.
Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery is located in Okanagan Falls and is owned by Jim and Leslie D’Andreas. Jim and Leslie met in Kingston, Ontario, while attending Queen’s University.
In the early 1980’s they moved to Calgary, Alberta, where they had a busy life, raising three children while Jim was working as a litigator and Leslie was working in hospital administration.
In 1998 they packed up their family and embarked on a three month vacation in Europe not knowing that their life was about to change. They returned from their adventures inspired and knowing that what they wanted to do next in life was own and operate a winery.
Jim and Leslie considered properties in both France and the Niagara region before settling on a property in the Okanagan Valley. In 2001 the D’Andreas purchased 3.5 acres of vines in Okanagan Falls.
The existing vines were planted in 1986 and the D’Andreas added to this planting. In 2003 the vineyard produced their first vintage which consisted of 40 cases of Pinot Noir and 500 cases of Meritage. Today Noble Ridge has 24-acres under vine and they produce approximately 7500 cases per year.
The winemaker at Noble Ridge is Benoît Gauthier and he has been with the winery since 2011. Benoît was born in Northern Québec and he studied chemistry at Université de Sherbrooke. He spent time travelling throughout Europe and North America, but it was in California that he fell in love with wine, and decided that he was going to apply his chemistry degree as a winemaker. When Benoît started at Noble Ridge he brought with him international winemaking and viticulture experience and his wines have since earned the winery numerous awards and accolades.
*These wines were opened for this photoshoot, then vacuum sealed and opened the following day for tasting notes, thus I feel that the Reserve Pinot Noir and Reserve Meritage would benefit from some time in a decanter prior to enjoyment.
2022 Rosé $24.99
This Rosé is 100% Merlot from Oliver, BC. The grapes were destemmed and crushed after two hours of skin contact. Only free run juice was used, undergoing cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks. 460 cases were made.
Aromas of Maynards Swedish Berries, lilies, pink grapefruit rind, red cherries and rhubarb. This is a dry Rosé, medium in body with medium+ acidity. The palate also offers notes of Maynards Swedish Berries and lilies, joined by gala apples, ripe strawberries with cream and red cherry candies with a medium+ finish.
2019 Reserve Pinot Noir $34.99
This wine is made from Pinot Noir sourced from the home vineyard in Okanagan Falls. The grapes were destemmed, crushed and cold soaked for five days prior to fermentation. The wine spent 14 months aging in French oak barrels (10% new). 376 cases were made.
I thoroughly enjoyed every drop of this fuller-style Pinot Noir. Aromas of blackcurrant, dried cherries, leather, black plum, blackberry, vanilla, cedar and clove. This Pinot Noir is dry and medium in body with medium acidity and medium- tannins. The palate offers juicy, ripe fruit balanced by savoury elements. Notes of cherry, black plum, pomegranate, vanilla, tobacco, thyme and black olive tapenade with a long finish.
2020 Reserve Meritage $42.99
The grapes for this red blend were selected from the home vineyard in Okanagan Falls. It is composed of 74% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec. The grapes were destemmed before crushing and fermentation. The wine was aged for 14 months in oak barrels (70% French oak and 30% American oak; 27% new).
Lifted floral and pepper aromas followed by black cherry, black plum, blackberry, dried blackcurrant, vanilla and mocha. This is a dry, full bodied wine with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannins. The palate offers ripe and juicy fruit: wild blueberries, black cherries, black plum, blackberries, vanilla and clove with a long finish.