They are marvelous, magnificent, majestic, monumental, matchless, major-league, mondo and magnanimous.
They, of course, are m-m-m-magnums of wine.
Yes, wine in a super-sized, 1.5-litre bottle, which trumps the standard 750-ml any day of the week.
Showing up with a magnum to any occasion is a power move.
It instantly impresses people.
It's bougie.
It's a conversation starter.
It's two bottles in one.
It's generous, it's flashy.
It's a crowd-pleaser.
It's the ultimate 'go-big-or-go-home' gesture.
A magnum proves you mean business when it comes to pleasure.
Sure, you can turn up with a standard 750ml bottle of wine, but super-size to 1.5-litres and you're a vinous hero.
All these facts make a magnum ideal for anything you have planned this BC Day long weekend.
Buy one and take it to any event you're invited to -- barbecue, picnic, family reunion, camping, backyard party, baby shower, wedding, divorce, dog's birthday party or the opening of an envelope, for that matter.
Or, buy one and horde it at home for just you and your significant other or you and your family.
This line up of seven magnums is tried and true.
My wife, Kerry, and I put our 1.5-litre busting skills to the test to devour these magnums over our daughter, Grace's, 21st birthday and two dinner parties.
- Nothing makes a celebration more fun than magnums of bubbly.
So, for our daughter's birthday a 1.5-litre bottle of Henkell Troken Dry from Germany was sabred.
At $34, this magnum is affordable and an excellent value when you have a thirsty crowd, such as the one at a birthday party.
The Henkell actually over-delivers for the price with a fresh profile of apple, lemon and fresh-baked bread and a preponderance of fine, long-lasting bubbles.
Haywire Pink Bub 2022 ($70) from Summerland also made an appearance in magnum.
It's an elegant sparkling rose that's actually made of two white grapes (Pinot Auxerrois and Chardonnay), but it gets its pink hue from a splash of red wine.
- When the bubbly ran out, we turned to the magnum of Hardy's Stamp of Australia Riesling Gewurztraminer ($26) to fill glasses at Grace's party.
This off-dry crowd pleaser has aromas and flavours of lime and lychee fruit and is a good match for socializing, salad, creamy pasta or curry.
- Over two dinner parties of six friends each, it's not difficult to make four magnums disappear.
When the Salmon Wellington was served the magnum of Blasted Church 2022 Syrah Rose ($35) from Okanagan Falls was busted open for those that wanted pink and the magnum of Township 7 Provenance Series 2019 Merlot ($72) from the Naramata Bench was uncorked for those that desired red.
- When the filet mignon steaks were barbecued, the big guns came out -- a magnum of 2020 McWatters Collection Meritage ($110) from Penticton and the 1.5-litre bottle of Poplar Grove 2015 Legacy ($148) from the Naramata Bench.
Both are bold, but smooth, Bordeaux-style reds with blackberry, plum and dark chocolate profiles that perfectly complemented the grilled beef.
Silver Star Wine Festival
The revamped, four-day Silver Star Wine Festival kicks off Thursday, Aug. 10 as a way to bring together wine lovers, foodies, mountain bikers, hikers and sightseers.
All summer long, the alpine resort near Vernon has been offering gondola rides, mountain biking, hiking and shopping, dining and overnight stays.
Adding a wine festival to the mix adds yet another element to the high-elevation fun.
On Thursday, the wine-and-art launch is at Gallery Odin.
Next Friday, there's a seminar and two wine-paired dinners.
Saturday, Aug. 12 is the big day with three seminars, artisan market and the signature outdoor Walk-About Tasting in the village centre where 24 wineries are pouring samples set to live music.
Tickets: $96.
Sunday's the wrap up with brunch and a concert.
Check out www.destinationsilverstar.com for more information, to purchase tickets and book other activities and accommodation.
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.
