Okay, let's get right to it because there's a lot to cover in this week's wine column.
First of all, it's the Victoria Day long weekend -- a mini-holiday for us all to sip wine.
Tomorrow, Saturday, May 17, is International Pinot Grigio Day.
So, lots of Grigio and Gris bottle suggestions there for your long weekend enjoyment.
And, we also have duelling World Chardonnay Day on May 21 and International Chardonnay Day on May 22.
Let's start with International Pinot Grigio Day because it's just around the corner.
For the purposes of this column, I'm lumping together Pinot Grigios with Pinot Gris.
After all, they are both made from the same grayish-purple grape into a dry white wine.
The difference is that Pinot Grigio originated in northern Italy where the grapes are usually picked a little early to retain zesty acidity.
The result is a Pinot Grigio wine that usually has a light, lemon-first profile followed by some aromas and flavours of nectarine and almonds.
Pinot Gris' origins actually predate Pinot Grigio, with Gris becoming a standout in France's Alsace region.
Gris grapes are generally picked a bit later so the grapes depart their lushness to a wine that leads with aromas and flavours of pear, followed by lemon curd and maybe some honey or faint spice.
Those two styles are now reflected in what winemakers around the world call their wines -- Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris.
Here's a little cross section of bottles to give you a taste:
- Santa Margherita Valdadige 2023 Pinot Grigio ($20) from Italy
A prime light, refreshing, zippy Grigio example from northern Italy.
- Inniskillin 2024 Winemaker's Series Pinot Grigio ($16)
Inniskillin is in Oliver, but this Grigio blend is made with both Okanagan and international grapes.
As you likely know, the January 2024 sharp freeze that decimated the fall 2024 grape harvest in the Okanagan necessitated Okanagan wineries to source grapes and raw wines from other jurisdictions to make 2024 vintage wines under the 'Crafted in BC' grape replacement program.
- Kismet 2023 Pinot Grigio ($26) from Oliver
Made prior to the 2024 freeze of 2023 vintage Okanagan grapes and a double-gold medal winner at the All Canadian Wine Championships to boot.
- Noble Ridge 2024 Vilicus Pinot Grigio ($21)
Made by the Oliver winery with grapes from Washington state.
By the way, Vilicus is Noble Ridge's name for its grape replacement program meaning 'stewart or overseer of a farm'.
- Noble Ridge 2024 Vilicus Pinot Gris-Viognier ($21)
An interesting, yummy, little-seen blend.
- Roche 2024 Artist Series Pinot Gris ($27)
The Naramata Bench winery's take with grapes from Oregon's Dundee Hills.
- See Ya Later Ranch 2024 Pinot Gris ($20)
The winery in Okanagan Falls does it with Washington state grapes.
Yay, yay Chardonnay
Befitting its status as the world's most popular white wine, Chardonnay, of course, has competing days.
World Chardonnay Day is May 21 and is globally recognized.
International Chardonnay Day, created by California wine promoter Rick Bakas as a social media event, falls on the Thursday before the American Memorial Day long weekend.
This year that's May 22.
Since Canada's Victoria Day and the US Memorial Day happen around the same time there's a long weekend for both nationalities to commemorate Chardonnay.
Like most wine and grape varietals, Chardonnay originated in France -- the Burgundy region to be more precise.
There it tends to be lightly oaked with aromas and flavours of green apple and lime with a nice minerality from the limestone soils the grapes are grown in.
Elsewhere in the world, there are different soils and varying uses of oak barrels resulting in all styles of Chardonnay.
The following five Chards from local wineries, made of either Okanagan or Washington state grapes, tend to follow the French example with a light handed use of oak so pear, grilled pineapple and vanilla aromas and flavours can shine through.
- Clos du Soleil 2024 Chardonnay ($30)
From the Keremeos winery's Washington Series.
- Jackson-Triggs Reserve Winemaker's Series 2024 Chardonnay ($15)
Oliver winery, grapes from throughout the US Pacific Northwest.
- Evolve 2018 Brut Nature ($50)
A sophisticated Champagne-style sparkling from the Penticton winery from Okanagan grapes -- 50% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Blanc.
- Laughing Stock 2022 Chardonnay ($25) from the Naramata Bench
- Wild Goose 2024 Chardonnay ($18.25)
The winery in Okanagan Falls crafted this wine with grapes from Oregon.
Cheers to the long weekend!
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.
