This week I resume my search for exciting summer wines. The journey for discovering fine wine is a lifetime pursuit filled with more joys than regrets. My first choice is one of those joyful turns in the fork in the road.
And that’s what it’s called: the 2016 Fork In The Road ($13.99). It’s one of the many labels of Mission Hill and it’s a white blend of Semillon, Chardonnay, and Viognier.
The bouquet has jasmine and quince and the flavour is rich in pineapple, melon, along with more jasmine and orange. The Semillon adds viscosity and acid, the Chardonnay more body and tropical fruit and the Viognier perfume and citrus.
The Fork is a juicy and refreshing drink on one of these “dog days of summer.” Perfect with squid stir fried with spicy salt and pepper or scallops seared in sesame oil, dashi and soya sauce.
Also tasty is the 2014 Figaro ($20.78) by Terravista Vineyards on the Naramata Bench overlooking Lake Okanagan. Terravista’s owners, Bob and Senka Tennant, founded Black Hills, which became a mecca for lovers Nota Bene and Alibi.
In 2007 the Tennants sold that winery and moved north to establish Terravista which focuses on white wines using varieties popular in Spain, Portugal, and southern France.
You don’t have to love Mozart opera to enjoy their Figaro. It's an Okanagan fruit salad in the glass with juicy peach, apricot and tangerine flavours and a medium body with elegance.
I normally avoid white wines that are older than two years as the acidity drops and the wine becomes “flat. But after almost four years, the Figaro still has a good level of acidity keeping it alive and refreshing.
Enjoy this Figaro in a bottle with recipes from the Terravista website (www.terravistavineyards.com/pairings/) such as Figaro lasagna with salmon and mascarpone, Thai halibut chowder, and terroir chicken (I would add a splash of piri-piri sauce to add some drama to the chicken).
Finally, let’s head west to Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley. The Averill Creek Vineyards 2015 Somenos Rosé($18.55) is made from 100 per cent Pinot Noir and its reddish orange appearance indicates this is a roséwith lots of character. I enjoyed the summer aromas and flavours of cranberries, strawberries, sour cherries, along with rose petals and cream.
The Averill Creek is slightly tart and dry which means it is ideal as a food wine whether its charcuterie, poultry, seafood or cheese. Never before have we had so many delicious rosés available in our stores and this one is definitely a mighty fine one to enjoy.
All three of today’s wines are available at grocery VQA stores and in select private liquor outlets.
Eric Hanson is a veteran Richmond wine educator whose favourite wine is the next one he uncorks.
Ehanson0705@gmail.com
