You can’t truthfully say you’ve tasted the best of Okanagan wine until you’ve tasted a truly Okanagan take on the king of wine: the Red Bordeaux. No wine tasting is complete without good friends at a garden table in the sun, within earshot of a babbling river, surrounded by lush vineyards and a couple of lazy winery dogs. You haven’t discovered the Wine Capital of Canada until you’ve discovered Oliver’s hidden gem: River Stone Winery.
River Stone is the kind of place one can very easily (even inadvertently) spend an entire day soaking up the last rays of sun. But no tasting here is complete without sampling the River Stone’s two distinctive Bordeaux blends, and learning about the complexity of these classic French-style wines and their surprising diversity. While Oliver may be home to many wineries, it’s the small, artisanal wineries like these that earn it the moniker of Canada’s Wine Capital.
Think all Bordeaux are the same? Think again!
2015 Stones Throw: A Gold Medalist at both the Pacific North West and the National Wine Awards of Canada, this take on the Bordeaux blend greets you with a soft minerality accompanied with subtle notes of blackberries, dark cherry and plum, with just a hint of vanilla and mocha lingering on the palate. It is balanced, with both mild acidity and silky smooth tannins.
2014 Corner Stone: Showcasing all five of the Bordeaux varietals, this heavy red is uniquely blended with a Cabernet dominance, giving it a distinctively bold medley of berries, chocolate and coffee, set against a body of soft tannins that round off the finish. It is a truly Okanagan take on this French classic.