Singletree was one of the first wineries I wrote on when I began writing about wines in 2017. A singletree is a wooden or metal bar used to balance the tow of a horse when pulling a vehicle. Used in the late 1800’s, the singletree made it possible for large areas of land to be cleared for farming.
Singletree Winery is owned by the Etsell family and farming has always been an integral part of life for them. Farming took a detour though when one of their son’s, Andrew Etsell, returned home from a summer internship at Mission Hill Winery, having fallen in love with wine. Back at his family’s farm in Mount Lehman (Abbotsford) he was successful in convincing his parents to share his dream of turning part of the farm into a vineyard. Andrew has since completed a diploma in horticulture at the University of the Fraser Valley and he has become a certified winemaker through the University of California, Davis.
Singletree Winery planted their first vines in 2010 and their tasting room opened in 2014. Their white varietals, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Siegerrebe, as well as their Pinot Noir, are grown on twelve acres in Mount Lehman and two acres near the Abbotsford Airport. The remainder of their red grape varietals are sourced from the Okanagan.
In 2018 the Etsell family purchased Ledlin Family Vineyards in Naramata, which made them the second winery in the province to have a location in both the Fraser Valley and the Okanagan. The acquisition of the second property brings them closer to the grapes that they source and it allows them to reach wine lovers in a different part of the province.
Andrew Etsell began making Singletree’s wines at the Okanagan Crush Pad under the mentorship of Matt Dumayne. Andrew is now solely in charge of Singletree’s winemaking, vineyard management and viticulture. Currently he is honing his own winemaking style, and if these current releases are any indication, he is headed in a good direction.
2018 Victory $20.77
Victory is made from Siegerrebe (see-geh-RAY-buh) that was grown in the Fraser Valley; in German, Siegerrebe means victory grape.
This charmat method, sparkling wine has floral aromas with notes of honey, lychee and melon. It is slightly off-dry with balancing, medium acidity and a pleasant, foamy mousse. The palate offers floral notes, honey, lychee and ripe cantaloupe with a medium finish.
Victory is a sparkling wine that can really pair with any occasion, such as brunch or even just sunshine and a patio. I chose to pair it with a delicious Basque Cheesecake.
A Basque Cheesecake is relatively easy to make. It does not have a crust and consists of a caramelized outside with a rich and creamy interior. It is said that the Basque Cheesecake was popularized in the 1990’s by a restaurant called La Viña in San Sebastian, Spain. I used a recipe from Bon Appétit and the recipe can be found here.
(The only change I made to this recipe was in the oven. At the end of the prescribed baking time, the outer edge of the cake was set and the middle was still jiggly, but the outside of the cake still had very little colour. I increased the oven temperature by fifty degrees. When I increase the temperature on my oven the convection fan kicks in, which resulted in perfect caramelization to the top and sides within about five minutes.)
2016 Harness $30.35
Harness is a blend of 35% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot from the Okanagan Valley. The grapes were hand harvested and the wines aged in barrels for 18 months prior to blending and bottling.
I wrote my tasting notes after this wine had been in the decanter for three hours, but it drinks pretty well as soon as you open it. There are aromas of cherry, black plum and blackcurrant, with a touch of green pepper and eucalyptus. This is a dry red wine that is medium+ in body, with medium+ acidity and medium tannins. The palate offers juicy, black cherries, blackcurrants, black plums, baking spice, vanilla and tobacco with a savory, lingering finish.
Harness would pair well with grilled meats from the BBQ this summer, but it also paired well with an assortment of cheeses including , Monetery Jack, Pecorino and Aged Gouda.
If you are in the lower mainland and missing a trip to the Okanagan this spring due to the new COVID travel restrictions, consider visiting one of the fantastic wineries in the Fraser Valley.
Singletree Abbotsford is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00-5:30. Enjoy a tasting and then grab your favorite bottle to enjoy in their charming and beautiful picnic area. Singletree also has an assortment of locally smoked meats, local cheeses and other seasonal selections available for purchase.
Singletree Naramata is currently closed for tastings, but open for curbside pickup by appointment.
Great piece! Thank you for the detail on the meaning of singletree. Cheers!