“Vivacious” is a limited-run 2009 white wine from Van Westen, a winery based in Naramata, British Columbia. As of late, the winery has been at the forefront of white wine production. The name on the bottle tells all about this award-winning wine - which took the gold medal at this year's Northwest Coast Wine Summit. Wil explains the lively, fresh wine has intense pear, apple, and citrus notes, which make it a fantastic suitor for light, fresh foods – a pear and walnut salad with citrus dressing would be particularly delicious.
Second on the list: the 2010 8th Generation Vineyards' "Integrity", a Frizzante and a champion in Canada for staying to to this Italian-style wine. Travelling from beautiful Summerland, this wine is a careful compilation of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc. These 8th generation German winemakers are talented at their craft; this sparkling wine is fill with citrus and peach notes and absolutely effervescent on the palette. “You can pair sparkling wines with almost anything – just take a good wine and go for it – explore,” Wil explains, ”This one’s a crowd pleaser.” But if that leaves everything just a bit too broad, Wil recommends barbecued seafood and a juicy side of stuffed peppers.
Finally, his current favorite in vintage. The 2010 Joie Noble Rose is a well-known classic. More on the dry side, and rich with berries, this well-balanced wine from the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan Valley is a combination of Pinot Noir and Gamay. Compliment this iconic British Columbian wine with chicken or pork and a strawberry salad with a berry vinaigrette. Re-think pink and enjoy the wonderful varietals of wines that this beautiful province has to offer.
