Interlude, Dual Citizen, Here & There, Invisible Line, Proyecto Terruno, Field & Flight, Vilicus, Washington Edition and Cascadia.
The names for wines made by Okanagan wineries of grapes from Washington state, Oregon and California run the gamut from straightforward and geographical to quirky and clever.
When a brutal cold snap in January 2024 damaged buds and grapevines it led to a negligible harvest in the fall of 2024.
So, Okanagan wineries looked south to buy grapes and juice to make 2024 vintage 'Crafted in BC' wines.
Of course, these wines need to be labelled differently, after all, while they are made by Okanagan wineries, the fruit is foreign.
Thus, the preponderance of new names beside winery names we're familiar with.
For example, the aforementioned Dual Citizen wines come from SpearHead in Kelowna, Here & There from Fort Berens in Lillooet, Invisible Line from Maverick in Oliver, Proyecto Terruño (Spanish for 'terroir project' because Terravista on the Naramata found Spanish varietals from Washington state and California), Field & Flight from Quails' Gate in West Kelowna, Vilicus (Latin for 'tenant farmer') from Noble Ridge in Oliver, Washington Edition from Le Vieux Pin in Oliver and Cascadia from Poplar Grove on the Naramata Bench, Corcelettes in the Similkameen and Stoneboat in Oliver.
That latest is Interlude from Township 7 on the Naramata Bench.
'Interlude' is a reference to 2024 vintage white and rose wines made of Washington state and California grapes being an interruption or break from the norm of Okanagan wineries making wine from Okanagan grapes.
With all the name talk finished, let's taste some wine.
- Township 7 Interlude 2024 Sauvignon Blanc ($27)
Made with Washington state grapes from Wahluke Slope and resulting in a wine with a plush peach-pineapple-lemon profile.
- Township 7 Interlude 2024 Pinot Gris ($27)
While the grapes come from Washington state's Lake Chelan, this is classic Okanagan-style Gris with aromas and flavours of crunchy pear and delicate honey.
- Township 7 Interlude 2024 Rose ($30)
Pinot Noir grapes from cool-climate Sonoma, California make this pink a winner with the quintessential Rose profile of strawberries and cream.
- Township 7 Interlude 2024 Chardonnay ($28)
Again, grapes from cool-climate Sonoma are utilized for a Chard that's elegantly oaked so the green apple, lemon and mineral aromas and flavours can shine through.
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space. Reach him at [email protected].
