WOW! What else can you say about the vision and execution of proprietor/winemaker George Hanson’s vision for a gorgeous cave cum special event venue at Seven Stones Winery. The 3,400 square foot cave has been elegantly finished (including Bose sound system) and water feature, incorporating both a consumer-friendly space and barrel-aging cellar. Its inaugural event (limited to 30 guests; cost $60.00) will be a vertical tasting “Seven Years of Seven Stones Meritage” on October 6.
Lots of big reds await you at this Cawston jewel just 30 minutes drive south of Penticton. The 2008 Meritage ($32.00) won a Silver medal at the 2010 Northwest Wine Summit. A beautifully complex wine with notes of currant, plum and coffee – it shows its 17 months in French oak with a long supple finish. Another Silver medalist from that competition is the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($35.00) with similar aging. Complex aromas and flavours of black currant, tobacco and licorice define this stunning, yet elegant, wine which garnered a 93 point rating by John Schreiner and Silver at the 2012 All Canadian Wine Championships. For Merlot lovers, try the 2010 Row 128 Merlot for soft, lush flavours of plum, cherry and chocolate with a lingering finish – drinking very nicely now.
Planted in 2000/2001, the vineyards are producing mature fruit, expressing great varietal character. This year all production will be crushed and vinified on site, allowing Seven Stones to benefit from this maturity to produce greater quantities of high quality wines from the upcoming harvest. I’ll drink to that!
~ Allison Fader