Well, thank goodness the weather snapped around from the rain we had earlier this week.
It means we'll have a sunny Labour Day with a high of 30C.
In other words, perfect conditions for the last long weekend of the summer.
Don't let the imminent return to routine after Labour Day get you down.
Rather, use this weekend to squeeze every last drop out of summer fun and every last drop out of your summer wine drinking.
That means wine on the patio, wine at a barbecue, picnic wine, boat wine and just-because wine.
With so many wine occasions to cover, here's a line up of nine exceptional and versatile Okanagan vintages that fit the bill.
- Tantalus 2022 Cabernet Franc ($32) from East Kelowna
Hello barbecued steaks pairing.
- Township 7 2023 7 Blanc ($25) from the Naramata Bench
Your weekend patio pounder.
- Road 13 Select Harvest Seventy-Four K 2021 ($26) from Oliver
You don't have to walk the 74 kilometres of vines at the winery to reward yourself with this bold and smooth red.
- Mission HIll 2022 Jagged Rock Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon ($42) from West Kelowna
This has become my wife, Kerry, and I's favourite white wine this summer for its fresh, yet textured, expression of a Bordeaux-style white blend.
- CedarCreek 2023 Kelowna South Slopes Platinum Pinot Noir Rose ($42)
It's not summer without premium pink.
- CedarCreek 2022 Estate Pinot Gris ($25)
There's always time for Pinot Gris, the most-grown white wine grape in BC.
- Blue Mountain 2023 Sauvignon Blanc ($26) from Okanagan Falls
The winery has perfected the 50-50 blend of Sauv from foudres (big barrels that add texture, not woodiness) and stainless-steel tanks (that maintain freshness).
- Blue Mountain 2023 Pinot Blanc ($26) from Okanagan Falls
An underappreciated varietal that also benefits from fermentation and aging in both foudre and stainless steel and neutral oak barrels (that again enhance texture and mouthfeel without any woodiness).
- Burrowing Owl 2020 Meritage ($53) from Oliver
A big barbecue red or standalone sipper after the sun goes down.
Stomp for everyone
For the first time, this year's Festival of the Grape will feature a kids' grape stomp.
That's right, teams of three littlins can get in on the action that was previously reserved for adults only.
The popular (and hilarious) Grape Stomp is part of the Festival of the Grape Sept. 22 in Oliver.
The $120 entry fee for a team of three stompers also includes general admission to the festival, which features live music, wine (for adults) and Kids Zone.
The stomp is run in heats with teams trying to produce as much juice as possible in three minutes with their bare feet from a barrel of grapes.
At the end of the day, the top teams go head-to-head in one final competition.
There are prizes for the most juice produced and best costumes -- so dress up.
For more information and to register check out:
https://www.oliverosoyoos.com/grape-stomp-festival-of-the-grape/
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at smacnaull@nowmediagroup.ca. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.
