Located between the southern Okanagan towns of Osoyoos and Oliver, in Canada’s only desert, Black Hills Estate Winery is aptly known for their remarkable wine. With more sunlight hours in key growing months, this part of the country has even more prime growing days than California’s renowned Napa Valley. With its high daytime heat during the summer months, and cool nights, this exceptional microclimate provides some of the best grape growing conditions in the world, resulting in impeccable wine.
New Releases
Black Hills recently released their 2020 Roussanne and their 2019 Ipso Facto (a wine club favourite) is set for release this March.
“The 2020 growing season got off to a slow start with a cool and damp spring and flowering period. However, a warm, dry summer allowed the vines to quickly make up for lost time,” Ross Wise, Black Hills Winemaker said. “The 2020 vintage of Roussanne has an alluring and complex nose, showing aromas of lemon curd and chamomile, along with subtle spice notes. This is a warming and silky full-bodied wine that can be enjoyed in its youth or tucked away in the cellar for three to five years.”
With almost two decades of experience in the wine industry, the winemaker and master of wine focuses on showcasing the fruit characteristics, bringing out its complex flavours and depth of aromas—rather than masking it with additional use of new oak barrels.
The 2019 Ipso Facto returns to its original blend: a Syrah dominant red blend with 53 per cent Syrah and 47 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon. Bursting with vibrant dark fruit flavours, the palate is rich and dense with smooth, silky tannins on the finish.
With more bottling planned in March, stay tuned on Black Hills social media channels for updates on when to expect new releases, or to join their wine club.
Club members get exclusive access to some of the Estate’s highly anticipated releases, such as first access to the renowned Nota Bene and Carménère. Members also receive free shipping on all club releases and orders of 12 bottles or more. Additionally, they receive new release wine discounts for 30 days after each wine’s release, VIP Cabana Portfolio Tastings for up to three guests annually, and possibly the most exciting of all, access to returning signature events, like the acclaimed Nota Bene Release Party. For a full list of wine club membership benefits, visit www.blackhillswinery.com/Wine-Club.
Wine Flights and Experiences
To taste some of Black Hills’ many varietals, visit their iconic Wine Experience Centre on Black Sage Road. Over the past decade, the chic Wine Experience Centre has come to be a landmark in the Southern Okanagan. Surrounded by Black Hills Estate vineyards, the property offers panoramic views of the valley, providing guests with the quintessential winery experience.
This year, Black Hills Estate Winery is bringing back their popular Sensory Wine Experience. This experience invites guests to smell various components of the wine using their Le Nez du Vin aroma kits, making it easier to identify the tasting notes in wine.
“The Sensory Experience is a really great way to expand your knowledge and understanding of wine in a fun and interactive way,” says Jesse Collins, Estate Manager. “By exposing your sense of smell to different aromas, you can learn to heighten your senses and start to pinpoint various tasting notes in the wine.”
To reserve your wine flight or for more information on the various experiences Black Hills Estate Winery offers, you can email tastingexperience@blackhillswinery.com or call 1-888-510-5537 to book a tasting.
Black Hills Estate Winery is at 4190 Black Sage Road in Oliver, BC, and is open seven days a week from 11 am to 5 pm, with last seated tastings starting at 4 pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged. For more information, please visit blackhillswinery.com or call 250-498-0666.