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One more Time with TIME Wine

There are over 50 wineries near Penticton, but until July of last year, there hasn’t been a winery right in Penticton since Casabello closed shop in the 1980s.

There are over 50 wineries near Penticton, but until July of last year, there hasn’t been a winery right in Penticton since Casabello closed shop in the 1980s. A year ago, however, Harry McWatters has opened up TIME Winery and Kitchen at 361 Martin Street in downtown Penticton.

Inside is a huge tasting room as well as a bistro and lounge in the state-of-the-art winery.  Last week, I reviewed TIME 2018 Brut and 2018 Rosé. This week it’s two more of their whites, which are perfect companions for summer refreshment.

All of TIME’s wines are in painted bottles. As Graham Pierce told me on my visit in May, “Painted labels are more dramatic, but they’re also more expensive so you really need to be on your game as to ordering bottles.”

The TIME 2018 Meritage ($25) is a white blend similar to French white Bordeaux. Graham Pierce, Director of Winemaking, describes the blend further, “The Meritage is 62-per-cent Sauvignon Blanc and 38-per-cent Semillon. The Semillon goes into a puncheon of neutral wood just to round it out, give it more interest, more complexity, and more palate weight. Sauvignon is a really nice wine on its own but I think its made better by a little more Semillon.”

I enjoyed the Meritage’s floral bouquet that included some tree fruit. On the palate there was ripe pear, honeysuckle, and gooseberry with a dry finish. I found that the Meritage’s personality was full of life when the wine was chilled but not ice cold. It was delicious with mild Italian sausages in a spicy tomato red pepper sauce over pappardelle. The Meritage is available at the winery’s website: 2018 White Meritage

Another refreshing wine from TIME Estate Winery is their 2018 Riesling ($22.95). Last November, their 2017 Riesling won Top White Wine at Cornucopia at Whistler. More recently, the 2017 won a rare double honour of Best of Varietal and Best of Show at the 2019 Okanagan Spring Wine Festival. CEO Harry McWatters announced, “I have been to this festival since its inception. But to receive the first TIME Winery and Kitchen Best in Show Award is such an honour. I am so proud of our winemaking team of Graham Pierce, Nadine Allander, and Darren McWatters.” The Time 2017 Riesling is available at Ironwood’s Save-On VQA store. The 2018 Riesling can be ordered from the winery’s website: 2018 Riesling

Although the 2018 Riesling has just been released by the winery and has not yet won any honours, I believe that it will be a winner like the previous vintage. The 2018 is a well-balanced complex white with a bouquet of stone and tree fruit and along with citrus. It has Riesling’s classic acidity and minerality, which balances its ripe apple, peach, and baking spice flavours. All this and a lingering baked apple pie finish. It’s an Okanagan orchard in a glass!

Riesling is so versatile. This off-dry version is ideal as a summer sipper because of its delicious fruit personality. And its natural acidity means it is great with food. It will go with fish and seafood as well as salads, appetizers, and poultry including chicken and duck, plus pork, veal, and cheese. I recommend that you marinade some pork tenderloin in a Greek mixture and grill it on the barbecue. Then enjoy it with a glass of chilled TIME Riesling.

If a wine is not available at your wine local store, ask the manager to bring it in. Retailers are usually more than willing to order specific wines and vintages to make you a happy customer.

Sadly, Harry McWatters passed away last Tuesday. He will be missed but his legacy as the founding father of the BC wine industry will live on!

Eric Hanson is a retired science teacher and wine educator.