The word about Sal D’Angelo’s wines continues to spread. D’Angelo Estate Winery’s Pinot Noir is now the house red wine at the Fairmont Lake Louise and Dolce Vita Rosso is offered on the dessert wine list. The latter is so popular that Sal will be bottling some of the 2013 vintage (“It’s just wonderful,” he says, a sentiment I can confirm after a barrel sampling last year) in larger 750ml bottles.
D’Angelo red wines from the 2011 vintage are all now released, and wines from the 2012 vintage have all received their VQA approval and are resting quietly in the bottle, awaiting Sal’s own seal of approval before their release.
Already proving to be popular is a first for Sal, a 100% Merlot varietal that sells for only $20. With only 200 cases made, customers should snap them up quickly. The 2011 Tempranillo, a rare BC treat, and the only one produced on Naramata Bench, includes 5 % Cab/Merlot and is priced at $25.
Sal says he is pleased with the results of his first ever white dessert wine, the 2015 Late Harvest Viognier, which was harvested at 29 brix on November 15th. With only 9 % alcohol, this German-style wine will be released in May or June.
The veteran winemaker describes the 2015 vintage as “beautiful”, adding that he is especially pleased that the grapes on his vineyard maintained their acid levels surprisingly well despite the long hot growing season. As for 2016? “Bring it on!” he grins.
~ Lorne Eckersley
(pictured:
Sal D’Angelo with his grandson, Luca)