Noble Ridge Winery in Okanagan Falls is speaking my language.
The winery challenges you to drink sparkling wine anytime, not just on special occasions.
"Any time is the right time for some bubbly," said Jim D'Andrea, who owns Noble Ridge with his wife, Leslie.
"Sparkling wine isn't just for celebrations. Its effervescence and versatility elevate any moment. Whether brunch, dinner or just a sunny afternoon, its crisp flavour and lively bubbles enhance everyday experiences, making even the simplest moments feel special."
.jpg)
That means pop some sparking for Monday happy hour, Tuesday dinner, Wednesday on the boat, Thursday at a picnic, Friday with friends, Saturday with barbecue and Sunday brunch.
Or course, bubbles should continue to make an appearance at every milestone in your life from engagement parties, weddings, anniversaries and birthdays to births, baby showers, graduations, promotions and bon voyages.
Noble Ridge is on the everyday-sparkling bandwagon because it has a tradition of making exceptional bubbly and it wants to reach as wide an audience as possible.
It makes three sparkling wines -- all in the Champagne-style that strictly states the second fermentation that creates the bubbles happens in the bottle.
In keeping with the everyday-sparkling theme, my wife, Kerry, and I tested all three in everyday situations.
We drank a bottle of the 2018 The Pink One ($35) (100% Pinot Noir) on a Tuesday night with pizza.
The 2018 The One ($35) (a classic blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) was simply enjoyed as an after work-before dinner sipper on a Thursday.
The 2017 The One Grand Reserve ($50) (another blend of Chard and Pinot) was saved for a bit of a special occasion when my wife's sister visited from England.
Noble Ridge's bubbles have snagged such coveted titles as Canadian Sparkling Wine of the Year, gold medals at Effervescences du Monde and two Lieutenant Governor's Awards.
Another winery with a big sparkling program is Township 7, which has locations on the Naramata Bench and Langley.
Township 7 makes six sparklers under its Seven Stars series, all Champagne-style and all with names related to the stars.
So, it's apropo that one of the six is called Aurora after the Roman goddess who brought light to the heavens and earth.
The 2020 vintage is a Blanc de Noir (white sparkling wine from a red grape) in this case Pinot Noir.
The bubbly has a light copper hue as a result.
Hopping over to Fort Berens Winery in Lillooet, it released its first-ever sparkling wine this year -- the 2021 Blanc de Blanc ($35) --made of another first, 100% Chardonnay grapes from Lillooet.
If you'll remember, 2021 was the heat dome year and the temperature in Lillooet hit a scorching 48C.
The heatwave was early enough in the season that it didn't hurt the grapes and a cooldown and rain followed allowing the grapes to ripen to perfection for harvest on Aug. 30.
The resulting bubbly was made using the Champagne method and as a result has refreshing and complex aromas and flavours from peach and lemon to toasted almonds and fresh-baked bread.
Sparkling can also be made using the Prosecco method of creating the bubbles during second fermentation in a big stainless-steel tank.
So, now is the perfect time to tie into Aug. 13's National Prosecco Day.
It's fitting that Aug. 13 falls on a Tuesday so that you can quaff bubbles on a just-because weeknight.
Italy is the home of Prosecco, so we just have to include three Italian Proseccos in our recommendations.
Prosecco tends to be lighter and less complex than Champagne-style bubbly, so as a result leans to a fresh profile of cruncy pear, fuzzy peach and lemon with some floral undertones.
Bottega is the best-selling brand of Proseccos in the world
It's Gold DOC ($35) is instantly recognizable and resplendent in a metallic gold bottle -- perfect for bougie sipping at home or when you're out on the town.
The Il Vino de Poeti Rose ($21) is ideal when the mood calls for pink with a Prosecco twist of ripe strawberry and fresh-baked Italian pastry aromas and flavours.
Another well-known Italian wine brand is Ruffino, which makes a delightful Prosecco ($23), made, of course, in the Prosecco sub-region of the Veneto winemaking region in the northeast of the country..
We drank it on a hot night with a chicken Caesar salad.
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.
