Last Friday, July 12, Time Winery and Kitchen celebrated its first anniversary. CEO Harry McWatters has been in the wine business longer than anyone else in Canada. He founded one of the first estate wineries, Sumac Ridge, had the first winery restaurant in Canada, produced the first B.C. sparkling wine (Stellar’s Jay) and helped the B.C. wine industry meet high standards for quality and transparency with the VQA system.
This B.C. wine pioneer doesn’t believe in retirement. McWatters recently revitalized the Pen Mar movie theatre in downtown Penticton by transforming it into a state-of-the-art winery. The TIME Winery and Kitchen also offers a spacious tasting bar, lounge, bistro, and an intimate outdoor patio for guests to enjoy.
To celebrate the inaugural year, the public and the media were invited to a free Open House to enjoy a toast and a taste. McWatters was the first in Canada to make premium bottle fermented sparkling wine, so it’s no surprise he is launching TIME Winery 2018 Brut ($34.99.)
The Brut is Director of Winemaking Graham Pierce’s first-ever sparkling wine. It's made by the Charmat or cuvée clos method, which is how Prosecco is made. The wine, a blend of 55 per cent Pinot Noir and 45 per cent Chardonnay is mixed in a stainless steel pressure tank together with sugar and yeast. The sugar is converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide, which adds the sparkle. Then the wine is bottled.
The result is a very refreshing sparkler with a creamy pale orange colour and fine persistent bubbles. It reveals a bouquet of citrus, strawberries and rhubarb, plus bread dough. These characteristics are also present in the flavour, which is bone dry with enough acidity to balance the fruit. With this and a lengthy finish, the TIME Brut is an elegant wine to toast special occasions or to enjoy with food. Oysters on the half-shell, seared scallops in a wasabi cream sauce, or tuna poke anyone?
Another timely wine for summer is the refreshing and flavourful TIME 2018 Rosé ($22.99). It’s produced from Syrah grapes sourced at the Silver Barrel Vineyard overlooking Skaha Lake.
“We’re seeing phenomenal growth in rosés. It’s seasonal but it’s not as seasonal as people think. We’re selling it year round. It goes well with turkey at Christmas,” McWatters revealed.
There’s a strawberry pink colour to admire, along with the rose petal, mango, grapefruit, and strawberry personality. And there’s juicy acidity to balance the fruit, a hint of earthiness for interest, and a dry finish. TIME rosé is perfect for chilling out, sipping, and enjoying with all sorts of food.
Chill in the fridge but allow it to warm for 15 minutes before serving to allow the bouquet and flavour to open up.
TIME Brut is available at encorevineyards.ca/product/TIME-2018-Brut and will soon be for sale at VQA stores province-wide. The TIME rosé, which was awarded a Gold Medal for the Best Rosé at this year’s Spring Okanagan Wine Festival is available on-line at and at VQA wine stores including Ironwood.
