One tasty way to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday is to discover the charm of the Naramata Bench, just minutes from Penticton. Overlooking Okanagan Lake, the landscape is dotted with orchards, vineyards, and estate winery tasting rooms.
Of the 41 wineries, Moraine Estate winery is a real gem. As vice-president Jim Bagan explains, “Philosophically, our business plan involves not solely but mostly around high quality and tremendous value.”
“We have a winemaker, Jacqueline Kemp, born in New Zealand and trained there. She also did a couple of vintages in Burgundy making Montrachet. We’re blessed to have her. She’s a superstar! There are journalists all around here who’ve introduced her as one of the best, if not the best, winemakers, in this province,” says Bagan.
And the proof is in the wines Kemp produces at Moraine. “Currently our Riesling is the most awarded in the province, the only BC winery to win a Platinum in the Pacific Northwest Wine Fair, Gold in the Finger Lakes, and Best Varietal at the Okanagan Wine Festival. That’s not even our flagship wine,” Bagan proudly boasts.
The Moraine 2016 Riesling ($24.00), made from an Alsatian clone has a floral nose, and an intense lemon-lime, green apple, nectarine flavour with hints of ginger. Although it has some residual grape sugar to balance the crisp acidity, the acidity keeps the sweetness in balance. And there is a super-long and delicious finish!
Dare to pair this bold white next to some red curry chicken, spiced duck leg, or some stuffed pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon.
Bagan then describes his Moraine Pinot Noir ($27), “Our flagship wine is the 2015 Pinot Noir which a lot of the journalists think if we aren’t (number one), we’re certainly in the top three Pinot Noir producers in the province. Our style of wine is such that we stand out to people that understand wine, because we make old world style using state of the art equipment.”
“We brought two clones over from Burgundy, It’s a traditional Burgundian recipe and its distinctively French. We use really high quality French oak but we don’t ever overpower the fruit in the wine with oak. At the 2014 International Pinot Noir Challenge 1200 wineries submitted their Pinot Noirs, we won one of the three Double Golds awarded. And we were one of two wineries who won Gold in the Pinot Noir category at the Okanagan Wine Festival”
2015 was a hot summer and the Moraine Pinot Noir has more ripe fruit and presence than earlier vintages. The deep burgundian colour in the glass is a clue to its character. Its generous bouquet includes cherries and plums with a whiff of toasted oak.
Sipping it reveals a rich flavour of black cherries, cranberries, and plums with cloves and cinnamon. True to character, the Pinot possesses mild tannins and a seductive velvety texture. It is even more spectacular with apple smoked country spareribs and with barbecued sockeye with dill and tartar sauce.
If you can’t visit the winery soon, both Moraine wines are available at the Tsawassen Save-on Foods, the Village VQA store in Kitsilano, Swirl VQA in Yaletown, and the Sutton Place Hotel on Burrard. Or order a case by phoning Jim Bagan at 604-931-7062.
Eric Hanson is a retired Richmond educator and wine journalist
