For owner and winemaker Walter Gehringer, the 2016 vintage was one that will produce amazing
aromatic wines. The Ehrenfelser, Gewürztraminer-Schönburger, and Sauvignon Blanc all exemplify this.
In the vineyards, the 2016 vintage was similar to the 2015, but was slightly earlier in its start. Late spring and early summer saw days with high temperatures followed by days with lower temperatures. “Even with the ups and downs,” explains Walter, “the momentum of the fruit didn’t slow down.” By the end of July, they were back on track with the 30-year average for heat units to that point. In his extensive experience with vintages in BC, 2016 was totally unique for Walter. In recent years, 2014 was a good vintage and 2015 had more texture with lower overall yields. 2016 will be a very fruit-forward vintage that will see a slightly larger volume of wine, but still producing wines of excellent quality and delicious bouquet.
2016 also saw Gehringer’s wines receive a total of 8 new Platinum Awards from the Platinum Judging, conducted by Wine Press Northwest magazine, where eligibility to enter is to have won a Gold medal at any of about 40 competitions worldwide. This included two Double-Platinum awards for the 2015 Dry Rock Unoaked Chardonnay and the 2015 Gewürztraminer-Schönburger, awards which are only given to a wine when the judges unanimously agree that a wine stands out as the best of the best in a category. If you are keeping score of their awards, this brings the total over 17 years to 64 medals, which further cements their position as the Platinum King of that competition.
Ehrenfelser 2016
Aromas of green apples, flowers, white peaches, and tangerines. The palate is a fruit salad of peaches and flowers, with a brisk mineral finish.
www.gehringerwines.ca
~Luke Whittall