Naturally, as the sun shines and the weather warms we gravitate to crisp white and pale pink wines.
But, don't bypass reds for your spring and summer sipping.
The key is to choose light red wines that still satisfy the need for red and black fruit aromas and flavours, yet taste bright and fresh.
Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir are two such red varietals.
These red grapes are thin-skinned and delicate, so when made into wine there's less skin to make the resulting wine inky or tannic.
Therefore, a wine that's light red in colour and smooth and uplifted, even in its youth.
Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir are native to Burgundy in France, which is a cool-climate region where the grapes ripen slowly and are picked early to capture pleasing acidity and elegance.
Grown in other cool climate regions around the world, Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir grapes and the resulting wines are similarly bright and elevated.
Here are five stunning examples my wife, Kerry, and I test drove this week:
- La Crema 2022 Pinot Noir ($33) from California
Not all of California is hot.
In fact, Monterey, where the grapes for this La Crema come from, is cooled by the Pacific Ocean and produces wine with a nice juxtaposition of raspberry jam and pepper aromas and flavours.
We had it with Hawaiian pizza.
- Cambria Julia's Vineyard 2022 Pinot Noir ($51) from California
Again from a cooler spot in the state -- the Santa Maria Valley on the Central Coast just off the moderating Pacific.
It has a profile of cherry tart with fresh minerality, the ideal pairing for the mushroom risotto we had mid-week.
- Blue Grouse 2021 Pinot Noir ($39) from the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island
Another cool-climate wine region where Pinot thrives.
This example is classic cherry and vanilla, the right match for barbecued pork tenderloin.
- Blue Mountain Estate Cuvee 2022 Gamay Noir ($30) from Okanagan Falls
Grapes are picked early to maintain acidity and freshness.
Fruit forward with aromas and flavours of raspberry and Gamay's trademark spiciness.
An inspired pairing with grilled pepper steak.
- Joie Farm 2022 PTG ($30) from the Naramata Bench
The Okanagan Lake effect means Naramata isn't as hot as the rest of the South Okanagan, thus an incredible place to grow the Gamay Noir and Pinot Noir grapes that make this PTG.
PTG, by the way, stands for passe tout grain, the French term for the classic, but little known, Burgundy blend of Gamay and Pinot.
This one is juicy strawberry, thanks to the Pinot, and spicy, thanks to the Gamay.
Drink it with roast chicken, as we did.
Pig Out
Pig Out has porked out to a three day fiesta in Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country.
Previously a single event, Pig Out is now a long weekend of carnivore-and-wine delights.
The kick-off is the Pig Out Wine Dinner at The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry restaurant at Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos on Friday, May 3.
Chef Murray McDonald from the restaurant is curating a menu of pork terrine canapes, pork siu mai, smoked ham hock with yellow pea soup, pork belly, pork sausage and whole suckling pig.
Even the desserts are piggy -- maple bacon cheesecake and pecan bacon pie.
Wines from five Oliver Osoyoos wineries will be served at the dinner -- Gold Hill, Nk'Mip, Nostalgia, River Stone and Road 13.
Tickets are $109 at www.oliverosoyoos.com.
The Pig Out Festival continues on Saturday, May 4, surrounded by vineyard at Cellar Door & More at Jackson-Triggs and Inniskillin wineries, just north of Oliver.
Various food and wine stations will keep everyone sated and hydrated.
Tickets are also $109 at www.oliverosoyoos.com.
Round out the oinker of a weekend on Sunday, May 5 back at The Bear, The Fish, The Root and The Berry for the Big Porker Breakfast of pork sausages, molasses pork baked beans, eggs, grilled tomatoes and toast.
Tickets are $28 at www.bearfishrootberry.com/
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.
