Do you have a favourite winery?
Recently someone asked me this very question and I found it challenging to answer. For me there is not just one, singular winery that is my favourite, I have many favourites, and each for different reasons.
When I start thinking about my favourites though, one that quickly comes to mind is Whispering Horse Winery in Yarrow, BC. They are consistently producing beautiful, low intervention, quality wines made with passion and integrity.
This Saturday, November 26th Whispering Horse is releasing three new sparkling wines just in time for the holiday season. If you’ll be in the lower mainland this weekend, you will not regret making the trek out to Chilliwack to try these wines, I guarantee it!
One of my favourite collaborations this year was working with Whispering Horse to develop the tasting notes for the wines in their spring release. A couple of these wines are still available and you can find them online, or at the winery this Saturday.
For more details on this event, visit Whispering Horse Winery here.
2020 L’Acadie $22.95
Produced from estate grown L’Acadie Blanc planted on ancient alluvial soil. Grapes were hand harvested at 20.5 brix, gently destemmed and then crushed. The wine was aged in stainless steel for 12 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
A shy nose of blossoming trees, yellow grapefruit rind, pear, white peach and minerality. This is a dry, medium bodied wine with medium+ acidity. The palate offers yellow grapefruit and pineapple followed by a burst of lemon, grapefruit pith, green apples and thistle with salinity on the medium finish.
2021 Epicure $24.95
This wine is a blend of 85% Epicure and 15% L’Acadie Blanc. These estate grown grapes are from a 0.5 acre plot that was planted in 2012 on an ancient river bed. Grapes were hand harvested at 21.5 brix, gently destemmed and then crushed. The wine was aged in stainless steel for 6 months before being bottled unfiltered.
Aromas of peach pits, almonds, pink lady apples, yellow grapefruit rind, gooseberry and minerality. This is a dry, medium bodied wine with high acidity. The palate offers lemon, nectarine, yellow grapefruit, gooseberry and hints of thistle with a medium finish.
2021 La Crescent $26.95 (sold out at the winery)
This wine is a blend of 85% La Crescent and 15% L’Acadie. These estate grown grapes are from a 1-acre plot that was planted in 2018 on ancient alluvial soil. Grapes were hand harvested at 23.2 brix, gently destemmed and then crushed. The wine was aged in stainless steel for 6 months before being bottled unfined.
Aromas of tree blossoms, apricot, gala apple and pear. This is an off-dry, medium bodied wine, with medium+ acidity. The palate is floral to start, followed by notes of peach iced tea, pineapple and lemon with a medium+ finish.