The BC wine industry certainly doesn’t suffer from stagnation! Every year more wineries come on stream creating a dynamic and evolving wine culture. The centre of the wine industry is the Okanagan Valley with 186 wineries, which is 65 per cent of B.C.’s total.
On September 8, Valley Commons Winery was launched. It’s located in the new District Wine Village (DWV), the first of its kind in Canada and features 13 wineries, a brewery, and a restaurant. Situated near Oliver, the Wine Village is home to small craft producers who can operate their businesses without having to invest in locations of their own.
Among the wineries are some familiar faces like Nk’Mip, Eau Vivre, and TIME as well as several exciting new faces like Valley Commons whose motto is “Where we gather.”
Kyla Richey and Rudy Verhoeff, former members of the Canada’s Women’s and Men’s National Volleyball Teams have turned their dream of owning a business into a reality; people would come together, enjoy delicious wine and food in an informal natural setting. Being part of DWV is an ideal situation as it is a community composed not only of the workers at the wineries, brewery, and restaurant, but also the many tourists and visitors who come to enjoy a glass of wine, craft beer, and good food.
During the construction of Valley Commons, Mark Simpson of BC Wine Studio produced the first vintage. Beginning with the 2021 vintage, wines will be made by winemaker Bill Adams and consultant Pascal Madevon.
Currently, the 2020 vintage is being offered for tasting and purchase at the winery. They include Harvest Table White, Pinot Gris, Rosé, Cabernet Franc, and Garden Society Red.
Of the Valley Commons Wines I sampled, the 2020 Harvest Table White ($25; 90 points) and the 2018 Cabernet Franc ($35; 91 points) really stood out.
The Harvest Table White is a blend of 56-per-cent Muscat, 22-per-cent Viognier, and 22-per-cent Chardonnay grown in the South Okanagan. I normally find Muscat to be overpowering, but the other two grapes in the blend temper it. The white blend
has a medium gold colour and its nose is generous with floral and exotic scents as well as tree fruit and citrus.
With a medium body, there’s an appealing blend of flavours: lychee and roses, apple, quince, and orange, well balanced with the crisp acidity and ending on a dry fruity finish. The Harvest Table White paired well with sushi and Halloumi cleansing the palate of the wasabi and the salty cheese.
The 2018 Valley Commons 2018 Cabernet Franc ($35) is a very dark red hinting at its rich character. The aroma is generous with ripe red and black fruit and a kiss of oak, thanks to 20 months aging in French oak barrels.
On the palate there a medium heavy body, tasting unfiltered but with smooth tannins. There are fresh ripe flavours of raspberries boysenberries, and black cherries with a good acid fruit balance.
The Cab Franc was delicious with Chinese braised beef and prawns. It could also be successfully paired with duck or four-cheese pizza. Check out https://valleycommons.ca/ for ordering wines as well as the advantage of joining their wine club. Valley Commons Winery is open Wednesday through Monday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
