As April showers give way to the Merry Month of May, it’s time to celebrate the season of rebirth and new beginnings with a trio of attractive wines. The 2013 Royal Old Vines Chenin Blanc ($14) from South Africa’s Western Cape is a light, refreshing white that was made for springtime.
Chenin blanc’s home is in France’s Loire Valley where it makes wonderful wines, both dry and sweet. Nowadays, however, South Africa makes more chenin blanc than the French.
The chenin blanc is a charming wine that will impress both novice and sophisticated wine drinkers. If you like sauvignon blanc or pinot gris, you will enjoy it. It has a gentle floral aroma that reminds me of walking through a blossom-filled orchard after a gentle rain.
The flavour has instant appeal: a crisp fruitiness with a hint of vibrant sunshine. I loved the sweet mango taste with a touch of honey and the tangy acidity, a sweet and sour character that ends on a dry note.
Enjoy the chenin blanc on the patio after an afternoon of gardening, or serve it with grilled sockeye sprinkled with Moroccan spice.
Next is Hester Creek 2014 Rosé Cabernet Franc ($20) from the Okanagan. Normally cabernet franc is a red, dry table wine and this Oliver winery makes a delicious one. By fermenting the wine on the skins for a short period of time, you have a more refreshing rosé, lighter in body and in colour than its heavier, more serious red cousin.
The rosé’s colour is stunning! Most rosés are orange or pink, but the Hester Creek is a gorgeous burgundy. The cab franc’s flavour has strawberries and cherries with a creamy texture and a natural sweetness. It went well with the beef and jalapeno burgers I cooked.
My final recommendation is another B.C. wine, the Mt. Boucherie 2012 Gamay Noir Family Reserve ($20). Mt. Boucherie is named after the extinct volcano in West Kelowna where the winery is located, although the grapes come from the Similkameen Valley.
Traditionally, Gamay is the grape of Beaujolais which is famous for its juicy, fresh character. The grapes have thin skins which avoids the heavy tannins that give big reds structure and bitterness. Along with a beautiful burgundy hue, the Mt. Boucherie enjoys a bouquet of cherry, coffee, and cracked black pepper. The flavour is full of ripe, red fruit like currants and cherries, and a good grinding of pepper. And true to form, this gamay noir has silky tannins that would please the most hesitant red wine drinker.
And when sipped with Oka cheese after the meal, the wine’s fruitiness gets kicked up a notch or two!
The B.C. wines are available at Sip Wines and the chenin blanc at government shops.
Eric Hanson is a local, retired teacher and wine educator.
