There's nothing like the first.
In this case, it's the initial wines of the 2022 vintage from Hester Creek Estate Winery in Oliver.
A jolt of excitement always accompanies the debut taste of a new vintage because it tells the story of the season the grapes were grown and harvested and how the winemaker turned them into lip-smacking wines.
"The 2022 growing season at Hester Creek will be remembered as one of the most challenging, yet productive years," said winemaker Mark Hopley.
"Due to cooler-than-expected spring temperatures and more rain than is typical of the South Okanagan, the season was off to a late start. With summer temperatures rising and lasting into the autumn, the lengthened season led to longer hang times for the fruit (on the vines) as they developed more delicate aromas and more concentrated flavours."
Bottom line, it resulted in fresh, crisp and fruit-forward whites and roses you'll want to get at right away as well as sip through the spring and summer.
Such attributes also make these wines stunning stand-alone drinks on the patio, but also ideal matches for cheese, charcuterie and meals ranging from fish and salads to barbecued chicken and pizza.
Hester Creek's first four releases of the 2022 vintage are affordable and quaffable -- Pinot Gris ($19), Old Vine Pinot Blanc ($20), Rose of Cabernet Franc ($18) and Character White ($18), a zippy blend of Pinot Gris and exotic Gewurztraminer.
The wines are for sale at the shop at the winery, online at HesterCreek.com and at the wine departments of Save-On Foods grocery stores.
The 2022 Old Vine Trebbiano ($25) will be released March 8.
In past years, I've declared the Trebbiano my favourite Okanagan white wine and the 2022 does it again.
I love that Hester Creek is the only Okanagan winery to make this Italian varietal and that it tastes like a little slice of Northern Italy with its distinctive aromas and flavours of white grapefruit, fuzzy peach and hazelnut.
I first tasted and fell for the Trebbiano years ago while sitting on the patio of Hester Creek's Terrafina restaurant eating its signature, scrumptious potato-and-truffle pizza.
By the way, that pizza is still on the menu.
And speaking of Terrafina, it is now open daily for dinner, 5 to 8 pm, and for lunch Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm.
Starting this week, the wine shop and tasting room is also open daily, 10 am to 5 pm.
Wine and blueberries?
Two of BC's most important agricultural products -- wine and blueberries -- are collaborating.
Winegrowers of BC and the BC Blueberry Council have partnered in a cross-promotion featuring delish food made with blueberries paired with distinctive wines.
Kelowna-based award-winning cookbook author Jennifer Schell (The BC Wine Lover's Cookbook and The Butcher, The Baker, The Wine & Cheese Maker) worked on the project to come up with recipes and suggested wine matches.
For instance, pork tacos with blueberry pineapple salsa with an elegantly oaked Chardonnay such as the 2021 Sallows Road Chard from Kelowna's Nagging Doubt Winery.
Or, how about a blueberry turkey burger with the 2021 Corcelettes Pinot Noir from the Similkameen?
And, soba noodle salad with blueberries and a nice glass of 2021 white aromatic blend Chanson D'Amour from Vin Amite Cellars in Oliver.
For dessert, BC blueberry limoncello tiramisu with sweet wines such as the Quails' Gate Optima Late Harvest (West Kelowna), Bench 1775 Viognier Icewine (Naramata Bench) or Mission Hill Reserve Late Harvest Vidal (West Kelowna).
Check out the recipes and wine pairings at:
https://winebc.com/our-wines/wine-food-pairing/perfect-pairing-recipes/
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.
