Savvy Wine Shoppers: Start Your Engines

Exciting online wine deals and steals are really happening.  They are not the typical, over-hyped discounted wines that have been offered over the last year or two.  It strikes me as a new beginning, a fresh start to Spring. 

The real deal door began to swing open around April 1st and by the day of the eclipse, it was no illusion, no April Fool’s prank.

 And the wines that signaled this change  were excellent, time-proven Cabernets, Pinot Noirs,  Chardonnays, a few imports and, well, many others. What was different was the appearance of so many authentic wines from real producers instead of made up private labels and brands. And often, new vintages, newly released wines, not leftovers.

Before getting to the reasons behind this development, let me lists those deals offered online  that caught my attention:

2021 Peju Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, regularly $70, offered at $26 

2021 Daou Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles $65 to $39.99

2018 Whitehall Lane Estate Cabernet, Napa Valley $90 to $59

2020 Beringer Vineyards Knights Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $32 to $23.99

2019 Handley Cellars Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, $37 to $19.

2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley $45 to $19.95

2022 Long Meadow Ranch Rose of Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley $32 to $12

2022 Caymus Vineyards, California Cabernet Sauvignon, $75 to $49

These are top names and the reason the last two are cited is to reinforce the fact that new vintages, not old stuff getting dusty in warehouses, are showing up as real deals! That’s a spanking brand new release from Caymus and I’ve not seen any Peju wine so deeply discounted until now. Clos du Val just released its new Cabernet Sauvignon vintage to an online retailer at 20%, not enough to make my list but good support for the trend.

Just now winespies.com announced a 30% off deal on an absolutely great California Chardonnay, one of the top 3-4 made and never ever discounted, until now. It is the 2021 Wayfarer ‘The Estate’ Fort Ross-Seaview Chardonnay 30% off. 

Then I’m seeing a few unknowns and  newbies to the Napa Cabernet scene resorting to the online discounters to help their launch. The garigiste.com site announced the sale of  Rockmere Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley from 2018 for $59.71 a bottle, with the winery price being $95.

So why now, you ask? Well, it has to do with supply and demand. Over the last several months, business stories have focused on the global surplus of wine, and here at home, both Napa and Washington State wine folks are trying to deal with the present surplus of wine and the need to start removing vineyards in big numbers for future stability. Talk about pulling up vines let’s you know this is not a blip.

Meanwhile, retailers are staring at big inventories in their stores and warehouses. I’ve noticed much more exciting offerings from vivino.com so far in 2024. This online site works directly with retailer partners across the country. Sales are slow in brick & mortar places across the country.

Who’s to blame? Well, the easy way out is to point fingers (the middle one?) at the Gen Zers.

Apparently, recent surveys indicate a lack of interest in wine. That’s a demographic representing 18% of the population and it is more interested in energy boosting drinks. Is “Liquid Death” an energy drink? Just asking. 

The brains behind Drizly analyzed the alcohol beverage market and came up with this conclusion: “When it comes to trying new bev alc brands, Drizly’s 2023 Consumer Trend Report found that pricing was the top factor that influences Gen Z “

The  high price of wine is a big deal these days. Recent surveys show that the average bottle price of a Napa Valley Cabernet is $108. An article in The Wall Street Journal  surveyed restaurants and came up with the belief that $25 is the new restaurant normal for a glass of wine. And, yes, the prices for many consumer items are now high. But wine is non-essential, a choice, not on the same level of importance as eggs and fuel. 

Driving the prices of wine up and Gen Zers away is that wine is perceived as a luxury enjoyed by those who equate price with quality. Snobs! Yes, those who buy what others can’t afford and those who associate inexpensive wine as “cheap stuff.” And the big corporations have not helped by their push to create so-called “luxury brands.” 

But right now it is the online wine retailers, the flash sale types, that are driving the discount wine deals.  A report from the Silicon Valley Bank made this observation:

“Wholesalers are full up, as far as they can go,”  which is making them “more picky” in what they buy from wine producers. Wholesalers “are more afraid of being stuck with inventory that they may have to discount.” 

It concluded with a prediction that “flash sales and increased discounts” are likely in the offing in the near future.”

5 Real Deal Dealers

That future is now. Flash sales, meaning limited time offerings are leading the way. For those  interested in checking out the best wine deals offered online, here are my top 5 best sites for non-snobbery, savvy shopping wine drinkers:

www.reversewinesnob.com  This site was finding super wines at great prices before the glut, and so far in 2024 has earned my top spot for its selection of wines from California and the Northwest. It works directly with small, family owned wineries. Begin here.

www.winespies.com  Off to a great month of April with exceptional finds such as the 2020 Caymus California Cabernet and the Wayfarer Chardonnay. Also, super price for a Flying Goat Pinot Noir. Special deals on Lake County Cabernets are frequent.

www.lastbottleswines.com

 Still the best flash sale site, and is keeping up by finding wines never offered before the glut. A great offer for Handley Cellars 2019 Pinot Noir at $19. It also has marathon wine sales, and recently offered dozens of wines as “under $26 deals and steals.”    

www.vivino.com 

These are the people who have a huge database and encourage subscribers to offer reviews, But its main strength is its partnerships with retailers around the country. Here I found the 2020 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet at 30% off. The new 2022 Caymus “California” Cabernet was first offered by vivino.

http://www.wtso.com

WTSO was one of the first, if not the first site for flash sales. It offers many wines, but I found it is a great resource for imports, especially Spanish and Italian wines. Here are three examples of excellent deals:

2021 Resalte Ribera del Duero Vendimia Seleccionada for $19.99 (50%)

2018 Famiglia Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva  DOCG $14.99

2019 Luca Bosio Barolo  $24.99

Navigating the Deeply Discounted Wine World

A banner announcing “All wines, 20% off, semi-annual Wine Sale” caught my eye as I drove quickly past the shopping mall. The next day, slowing down, I noticed the store was one of those discount food places.

Probably nothing but wines in dented cans, right?  So I kept driving. A few days later, no longer able to curb my curiosity, I stopped. And shopped. Like really shopped.

The sale was at a Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. The one I visited in Bermuda Dunes was a maze of wine with well over 100, maybe close to 200 wines on display. All in bottles ( no cans) and representing every wine country and many, many regions. Not surprisingly for a discount wine program, Argentina and Chile were well-represented, but Spain and Italy were not far behind. There were several Bordeaux along with the rest of France. California and Washington State had their own sections. One wall was lined with Chardonnay!

My first impression was “What the?”  Prices started at $3.99 a bottle, with $6.99 looking like the average. Many of the labels were familiar brands such as Ravenswood, Pedroncelli, St. Clement, Canoe Ridge, McBride Sisters, and Mercer Estates, to cite a few examples. A Rose from one of the most reliable French producers, Chapoutier, was priced at $3.99. There also was a $5.99 white from Quinta de Crasto, a high-end winery well-known to me which is in Portugal’s Douro Valley. 

Then I hit the motherlode with Pinot Noir from one of my long-time favorites, Sarah’s Vineyard in Santa Clara County. Normally selling for $35, there they were at $6.99.  That first visit saw me walk out with several bottles in addition to the Pinots, and I’ve visited other Grocery Outlets since then. 

I always try unfamiliar wines and while a few purchased were dogs woofing at me, the price range makes these explorations relatively painless.

But why are some wines so heavily discounted?  My best guess is poor marketing on the part of the producer, the sales team, the importer and/or wholesaler. A small winery may need the cellar space for the newest vintage, or it just may need cash flow by selling in quantity. Bigger producers may be discontinuing the product or the label. Whatever, the appeal of the Grocery Outlet is that it doesn’t advertise the way the typical Safeway/Abertson chains do. For a producer, importer,  and wholesaler, selling quickly and quietly has its appeal. 

Since most normal people have not been writing about wines and probably haven’t spent time in every major wine country and tasted literally thousands, for what it may be worth to you, I’m going to share my thoughts and shopping tips here. After that, if you are still with me, the conversation will shift to some background about Grocery Outlet which has almost as many stores as Trader Joe’s but it is less well known.

 Shopping Tips from a Wine Professional

1. Read the back label. The boring flipside with the mandatory details, not the artsy, colorful one with the brand.  For each wine that interests you, if you don’t recognize the brand, look at the back label for the name of the producer. Or the company that bottled it. Both are in the fine print.  Begin by learning the producer’s name is step #1.

2. The back label will also tell you the involvement of the producer/bottling company. For instance,”Produced & Bottled By” is a good sign indicating that the winery made most of the wine in the bottle, rather than buying it from another company. “Cellared By” is less reliable and

“Vinted & Bottled by” is pretty bogus. “Vinted” to me says the wine was bought ready-made and simply bottled.

3. Now to the wine’s origin. Check the place name, the appellation (where the grapes were grown) on the front label, such as Napa Valley or Columbia Valley with the home of the producer/bottler on the back.  If you are looking at a Cabernet from Columbia Valley but see on the back that it was bottled in Napa, Lodi, or Acampo, it is a brand owned by a major company  and the wine was trucked to a common bottling facility. The grapes may be grown in Napa or Sonoma, but If it says “Bottled in Modesto, CA,” the wine is, like Barefoot, one of dozens of brands owned by Gallo.

Yes, wines are transported in tanker trucks and in boats on their way to be bottled. You may  be shocked to know that many Sauvignon Blancs made in New Zealand are shipped literally to a bottling plant in California. Check that back label if in disbelief. 

4. How old is too old?  Making sense out of the vintage date and vintage information. The year, say, 2020, simply tells you when the grapes were harvested, not when the wine was bottled. Most wines are at their best when young, especially whites and Roses. But a 3 or 4 year old white is not necessarily over the hill. A Rose, despite its fragile drink soon image can often be enjoyable 2 or 3 years after the vintage. 

Red wines are more complicated and most are fairly safe up to 5 years after the vintage. My recent experiences involved two reds from 2013. The first, a Paso Robles, was clearly in decline, dull, lost its fruitiness  and a little fizzy. The other, a Syrah from the Sierra Nevada Foothills, was at its peak. It was also an excellent Syrah. And both, to keep us on topic, were priced at $6.99.

But my shopping guideline is to avoid whites and roses that are 5 years or older and stay away from most reds more than 10 years old. Whether offered online or in a wine store, any wine around 10 years of age makes me question where it has been during those years. Was it properly stored? Moved around? Somebody’s reject? Yes, best to avoid older wines.

5. Corks and screw caps become an issue when shopping for discounted wines.. Let’s face it, most wines are displayed standing up and a few end up in the sunniest part of the store. Corks may be traditional but they tend to dry out over time and don’t protect the wine. So you’re better off passing over old wines with corks.

6. If you use the vivino site and take photos of bottles, it is better to use google to learn more about the wine. Vivino doesn’t sell most of these wines so will offer minimal info. Go to google to see if the brand exists, and then look for it at wine.com or cellartracker for its history. If it has one which is a good thing.

7.If you taste new wines with others, don’t give the price paid ahead of time. Both newcomers and longtime wine drinkers have been brainwashed to think price equates to quality. The same people who go to Amazon for the cheapest available product, will be predisposed to not like a cheap bargain wine. 

Joe Dobbes: Veteran Winemaker Journeys Back to His Roots

Check out http://www.iterumwines.com for wine club info

And for my reviews: winereviewonline.com

At the Oregon Wine Experience’s awards ceremony last August, when accepting the Best of Show White Wine award for a 2021 Chardonnay, Blakeslee Vineyard’s owner first thanked everyone and then casually noted, “I didn’t make the wine. Joe Dobbes did.” That caught everyone’s attention. Joe who?  

Oh, that Joe. The veteran winemaker who also excels as a brand builder. The one behind “Wines by Joe,” a best selling brand found on many supermarket shelves which he developed simultaneously with his high-end Dobbes Family Estate Wines. He later added ”Jovino” as a label for Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris produced exclusively for restaurateurs. And later created a custom bottling facility in Dundee where he made wines for a dozen or more other wineries. Yes, that Joe.

After adding canned wines under the “Joe to Go” name, he guided his wine company on an upward course and it grew to become the third largest in Oregon by sales. As of  2018, he explained, “We owned 214 acres of vineyard and benefited from the work of more than 30 full-time, dedicated employees, as well as dozens of part-time and seasonal.” That success caught the attention of investors and in that year Bacchus Capital Management acquired 50% interest in 2018.

I met Joe and his wife, Patricia at that awards ceremony. After chatting briefly, he handed me his card which read “Founder, Proprietor & Winemaker” of Iterum Wines. “Iterum” roughly translates as “once more, afresh” and again, as in starting over again. 

A brand from him with no mention of “Joe” in the name is by itself newsworthy.  A few days later I began firing questions his way and I learned  that  to him “Iterum is all about getting back to my roots and being highly focused.” He is doing what he always wanted to do: getting dirty in the vineyards and focusing on high-end wines. 

There’s also a circle on the label to convey that Dobbes has come full circle with Iterum Wines and is back to where he began. 

His father was an amateur winemaker, and he grew up on the family’s large farm which included a vineyard planted in the early 1980s. In the mid-1980s, Dobbes apprenticed at Wiengut Erbhof Tesch, in the German Nahe region and in Burgundy first with Christope Roumier of Domaine G. Roumier and then with Dominique Lafon of Domaine des Comtes Lafon. Returning to Oregon, he worked with Elk Cove Vineyards, Ken Wright Cellars and others before becoming head winemaker at Willamette Valley Vineyards from 1996 to 2001. 

In 2002, he noted, “I started Wine By Joe with a small amount of money in my back pocket, a lot of experience and passion, and a sufficient ignorance of what I was up against.” 

Starting over in 2019, Joe, it is fair to assume, not only had much more money in his back pocket but also an impressive resume to show as a winemaker for 34 or so vintages. Also, along the way he worked with numerous vineyards within Oregon for both his own brands and for others. But he didn’t rush to start anew. When asked about his options then, he explained:

“I essentially took a two year winemaking sabbatical after the 2016 vintage and 34 overall vintages.  It was refreshing in a lot of ways, and allowed me to really think about who, and what I wanted to be in my next winemaking act.  I had started Dundee Mobile Bottlers in 2017; however, I never intended to give up on making wine. In 2018 we bought our 21 acre dream estate from which I had made wine from in previous years for previous owners, as well as for Dobbes Family Estate. I never intended to give up on making wine. It was only a matter of when. The when for Iterum Wines ended up being the 2019 vintage.”

The “dream estate”  is the Orchard House Estate located near Salem, the 21-acre Eola-Amity Hills property contained a vineyard started by Greg Cost. The first six acres of Pinot Noir were planted in 2000, followed by Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc plantings in 2016 and 2021. The vineyard now totals 11.98 acres. It was a “dream” for him because, he adds, “I made wine for the Cost family for several years starting in 2005, so I had a strong connection and understanding of the site. I then leased the vineyard through 2012 for Dobbes Family Estate.”

He bought it in 2018, and it came with clones 114 and 115 of Pinot Noir and clones 76 and 548 of Chardonnay.

With Dobbes Family, he was making 8 different Pinot Noirs, often from single vineyards, and now with Iterum, he has added a new twist to single vineyard bottlings: single clone wines from single vineyards. Part of that dream he mentioned about his vineyard was that for Chardonnay, “the two clones that I would have planted were 76 and 548, which was crazy,” Dobbes says. 

I threw out the question of how he ranked the various clones and his thoughts on the market for single clone Pinot and Chardonnay.

“When I think about all the years of working with many different clones, I would have to say that one of my favorite wines I have produced, and continue to produce from a particular vineyard is made from two of the original heritage clones that were planted here in Oregon – Pommard and Wadenswil. Every clone that I work with from any particular vineyard is always fermented separately. I will have enough fruit of each of these clones this year to bottle the clones separately.”

 And he continues, “My Orchard House Vineyard estate presents a wonderful opportunity to compare the red fruited 115 Pinot Noir to the blue fruited 114.  The single clone bottlings from the same vineyard source produced by the same hand off of the same land, is the ultimate opportunity to geek out. Our customers absolutely love this.”

On the subject of geeky opportunities, I noted that Joe was the first in Oregon to make a Viognier and a Grenache Blanc. More recently, he has joined with a small band of winemakers intent on making a case for Sauvignon Blanc. He is on record calling Sauvignon Blanc “a world class wine for Willamette Valley.”  So what’s behind that remark?

“Yes, indeed I have been quoted stating that I believe Sauvignon Blanc can be a world-class 

 wine from Oregon just as we are known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Sauvignon Blanc ranges from being low acid, low fruit and herbaceous to crisp, zesty and fresh and then of course there is Sancerre. 

I love the character in the richness of Sancerre and also appreciate the fresh zestiness of New Zealand. My first Sauvignon Blanc produced from the 2021 vintage under the Iterum brand was made with the advanced intention of a style that is a combination of both regions, but of course is and reflects Oregon.”

Iterum is indeed a fresh start for Joe. That first estate Sauvignon Blanc has yet to be released. But the winery is marketing a 2021 Sauvignon Blanc from the Oak Grove Vineyard, a vineyard he first worked with in 1989.  This Sauvignon is part of an “Old Friends” Collection of wines from vineyards he has worked with over the years. Currently, there are 4 different Pinots under this moniker.

But to return to single clone wines, he does not see them necessarily as a trend-setter because, he explains, “The single clonal bottlings from the same vineyard source is not something that everybody is able to do, and they also present additional sales work, so I think this is why you don’t see this very often.”

So what does he hope to accomplish and add to his resume through Iterum’s wines? 

“I think at this time it is difficult to be completely unique or a first in the industry. However, I will refer back to my goals, and objectives for Sauvignon Blanc, by helping the cause for Sauvignon Blanc from Oregon. My goals and objectives for Iterum are to produce world class, stylistic, delicious and highly regarded wines to the point where the brand is eventually considered to be the equivalent of a three star Michelin restaurant rating.”

Well, based on tasting the inaugural Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and the two single clone Pinot Noirs, I would say he is off to a great new beginning. 

Best July 4th Wine Sale

The clear cut winner for the best wine deals to celebrate July 4th is…

www.wine.com

Go to the”Best Deals” list. 

Along with the familiar names carried year round, wine.com

Added some impressive new wines.

My strong recommendations listed below are offered at 40-50% off. 

And if you put together a 12 bottle case, you get an additional 10%

The following wines are not only great deals but all are exceptional wines

At full price.

2022 Cline Cellars Mourvedre Rose Contra Costa County   $15.99

2021 Pali Wine Co Rose of Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara  $17.99

2017 Sur de los Andes Reserva Cabernet Franc, Argentina  $13.99

2020 Clos LaChance Monterey County Chardonnay 2020 $15.29

2019 Sarah’s Vineyard Madrone GSM, Santa Clara County $17.99

2019 Omen Element 79 Vineyard Syrah/Viognier El Dorado $20.69

End of February Wine Sale

Get ready to cherry pick a big wine sale featuring 150 wines at 40-50% price reductions

And $5 case shipping. 

Highlights: 150 wines up for sale

The website: vintagewineestates.com 

On Tuesday the 28th, Vintage Wine Estates will offer 150 wines from its portfolio of wineries. 

The collection ranges from top notch wineries like Owen Roe, Qupe, Kunde, Laetitia, Clos Pegase and several others that are fully functional real wineries.

And, yes, the portfolio includes your basic supermarket brands like cherry pie and layer cake.

VWE as the company likes to be called, has so far encouraged many of its wineries to function as they always have.

It added a new brand “Bar Dog” that may appeal to some of you.

And I do like to fun/pun it created with the brand, “If You See Kay.” 

Here are the wineries to look for in this sale:

Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and other reds from Red Willow Vineyard

Tamarack  Firehouse Red for $12

Qupe Grenache $18

Laetitia Pinot Noir

Kunde Zinfandel

B.R. Cohn Chardonnay, Cabernet

Delectus Napa Valley

Can’t  find anything you like? Well then, just If You See Kay it!

A Heads Up: Major Wine Sale Starts Tuesday

Vintage Wine Estates is running a serious sale with heavy (50-70%) discounts. 

While its portfolio of wineries runs the gamut, there are a few wineries you

might check out. You might pass on the Cherry Pie and Layer Cake, 

but there are some real fine brands represented.

Here are two examples of real deals:

Kunde Family Estate: the 2018 Zinfandel is on sale for $12.10 a bottle

Swanson Vineyards 2019 Pinot Grigio, San Benito $13.80 a bottle

Also, on Tuesday when the sales begins, see what is offered from these established wineries: 

Qupe, one of the most reliable Rhone wine producers 

Laetitia  is good for its cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

 Clos Pegase is one of Napa’s big names. Look for its Chardonnay

B.R. Cohn has a great Zinfandel from Moon Mountain and several Cabernets

Here’s where to begin:

www.vwecellarevent.com

Shipping is 1 cent for a case

You can thank me later

Black Friday & Red WinesThrough Cyber Monday

Red wines & Holiday Discounts: My Favorite Pairing

“Red Friday” was announced by wineexpress.com. 

That’s a cute way to offer a wide range of

Red wines from around the world.

A few are deeply discounted. 

Most are discounted 10% to 30%.

Several of the better deals are decent Bordeaux such as Château Le Grand Verdus and

Chateau Landreau. Not big names. But reliable and authentic.

Here’s one that is also hard to beat for less than $16:Elyse 2017 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Also offered are two of my fav reds reviewed at winereviewonline.com

2018 Marietta Cellars Christo Estate Red at $24.97

2019 Silk & Spice from Portugal ar $14.47

Both of these are excellent values.

Check out the extensive list of red wines at http://www.wineexpress.com

Direct from wineries:

Navarro Vineyards, one of the time proven, excellent family wineries, has a fantastic holiday offer.

Navarro’s six-bottle Black Friday Sampler is only available through Monday, November 29, or until the sampler is sold out. The six bottles of 2017 Méthode à l’Ancienne Pinot Noir in this sampler—three of them unfiltered—are being offered for $108.00, a savings of $108.00! There is a limit of one sampler per household; however, you can also add six bottles of any Navarro wine or non-alcoholic juice of your choice and the twelve bottles will qualify for One-Cent shipping.

Yes, you can buy this Pinot Noir at half-price:

2017 Navarro Pinot Noir, Méthode à l’Ancienne. Double Gold Medal. 93 points.

Half off case sale at Byington Vineyards:

Here’s the pitch:

NO GIMMICKS EVER! Wonderful Wines at INCREDIBLE PRICES!BARBERA Case: $329.94 vs. $659.88 (SAVE $329.94)CHARDONNAY Case: $197.94 vs. $395.88 (SAVE $197.94)BLANC DE BLANCS Case: $419.92 vs. $599.88 (SAVE $179.96)

The 2015 Chardonnay is from Alexander Valley and is a super deal at this case price.

Yes, there’s one little hitch: the sale is direct from the Los Altos winery, so must be picked up.

Testarossa Vineyards (not far from Byington) has a special holiday offer:

Black Friday

10% for non members and Ground Shipping Included

on orders of 3+ bottles

Testarossa is the best kept secret among Pinot Noir lovers and currently offers a full roster of site specific, special vineyard designated Pinots from fabled vineyards.

2. Check out the specials at Tank Garage Winery.

$1 Shipping All Weekend Long

Need to get your hands on cool wines from Tank Garage Winery? Whether you’re shopping gifts for the season or stocking your cellar for days to come, we’ve got you covered with $1 shipping on any order, all weekend long. No code is necessary, this rad deal applies automatically at checkout through midnight on Sunday,  November 28th.

tankgaragewinery.com

also, there’s this fun offer:

Black Friday Garage Giveaway!! 

‘Tis the season! Now through November 28th, enter once per day for a chance to win:

– (1) $250 Virtual Gift Card to Tank Garage Winery

-(4) Stemless Shatterproof Glasses

-(1) 750 mL Decanter

-(1) Fuck Off Gold Wine Key

-(1) Vinyl Record Coaster Set

The winner will be drawn on November 29th and will be contacted via email.

Looking ahead, http://www.wtso.com has a magnum marathon set for Monday, November 29, 8am-9pm Eastern time

Search this blog for my detailed review of wtso and its marathon sales.

Okanagan Valley Wines: Lakes, Glaciers & Deserts

 

Visiting Canada’s Okanagan Valley in British Columbia has been on my must-do list for years. Not for skiing, or hiking, biking, boating, backpacking…all of which make the region a tourist attraction. The reason was to check out the wines.

Canadian wine? Yep, and not Ice Wine. Although Canada may have been once known for Ice Wines, most are made today in Ontario. In British Columbia the wine business is growing rapidly and the Okanagan Valley is the hub, the epicenter of exciting new wines.

As a longtime wine writer, I’ve visited just about every wine region in Europe and South America and also both islands in New Zealand and every corner of the West Coast. Exploring new places, visiting overlooked regions, and discovering new and highly enjoyable wines are what come naturally to me as a wine writer.

So my remarks about Okanagan are not hyped up euphoria from a newbie influencer. Or from someone who was wined and dined and shown only what some PR person wanted to be seen.

It took a lot of planning to finally visit Okanagan and of course there were restrictions and social distancing protocols everywhere, but after an extended stay it became clear that Okanagan is an amazing place with dramatic lakes, mountains, and vineyard vistas and wines that can compete on the world stage. 

Check out Okanagan wines at www.winereviewonline.com for current ratings and for an earlier post.

5 Reasons why Okanagan Should be on Everyone’s Wish List

1. Okanagan is a major wine region with 10,000 acres of vineyards & 275 wineries
2. Okanagan grows all the classic European wine varieties from Cabernet to Viognier
3. The quality is high and the best wines are truly terroir-driven, due to diverse soil, climate, elevation 
4. It is an exciting young, fast growing wine region that jump started in 1990
5. Amazingly diverse with southern vineyards located in Canada’s only desert and the most northerly vineyards exposed to Arctic freezes.

Most wineries are small and family-owned, focusing on wines from their own vineyard which explains the widespread use of “Estate” in so many winery names.  Wine clubs are “the” thing for most, and quite a few wineries are also restaurants or bistros.  Sit-down tastings are usually by appointment, but it was amazing to see the tasting fees were around $10 for 4 or 5 wines. And that’s $10 Canadian which makes wine tasting fun.

Getting there from Vancouver required a 4+ hour drive over the steep mountain range to arrive at Kelowna, a bustling lakeside city that happens to be in the middle of the Okanagan Valley.  The lake is the Okanagan Lake, a deep one gouged out by glaciers that is 85 miles long and 3 miles wide.  Some 40 wineries are located just outside of Kelowna and neighboring West Kelowna.  As you drive around the steep hillsides noticing lava rocks here and there you sense the presence of Mt. Boucherie, a once active volcano.

While most wine regions claim to be unique in some way, the Okanagan Valley with its history of glaciers and volcanoes is unquestionably unusual, arguably unique.  Then factor in the location, the 49th parallel east of the mountains in British Columbia, and it is a kind of high desert made semi-arid as the mountains keep annual rainfall totals low.  

And this is BIG: When compared to Napa Valley, the Okanagan enjoys at least 2 extra hours of daylight from July through the harvest. That’s according to winemakers who add that the season is short as budbreak occurs much later. In other words, different from any other wine region.

During my visit in early September when the harvest was in full swing in California’s North Coast, Okanagan winemakers were wrapping up their final pre-harvest cleaning of tanks and barrels, anticipating harvest to be in full swing by the end of September.

Most wines are labeled “Okanagan Valley” as their origin, but within that area are over a dozen sub-regions. But within each sub-region, the growing conditions vary widely due to elevation, aspect, proximity to a lake, and soil types. 

 For instance, the east side of Lake Okanagan is much warmer than the west side of the Valley because it receives hot afternoon sun well into the evening. There can be ripening differences of as much as two weeks for the same variety at the same latitude depending on which side of the valley it is planted.

Kelowna and Penticton are the two major cities and sub-regions.  The Kelowna area stretching from Peachland to the north end of the Okanagan Valley has the coolest climate of the Okanagan. This makes it an area well suited to earlier ripening varieties. Tantalus won me over with its Chardonnays and neighbor Spearhead Vineyards is a bona fide Pinot Noir specialist. Pinot Noir dominates with 27% of the acreage while Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling together cover another 40%.  

Summerland, a lakeside village south of Peachland, is home base for two dozen wineries, including one of my favorites, Dirty Laundry. Evolve Cellars is another quality-minded winery.

Naramata Bench

Located at the southern end of the Lake, Penticton is a lively village and some 85 wineries are within a 20 minute drive. Many wineries can be found on the Naramata Bench as you travel along the eastern side of the lake from Penticton north to the tiny village of Naramata. Several, such as Da Silva, Hillside Winery and Popular Grove, are classy bistros with excellent food to go with the fine wine. The west-facing vineyards of Naramata Bench and Skaha Bench can ripen later ripening varieties in the warmer sites.  Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer are the most planted varieties there. 

With so many outstanding wineries along the route, you can easily spend 4-5 days exploring the Naramata Bench region, Skaha and Okanagan Falls. Best advice is to start with these seven:

Hillside Winery

Da Silva Vineyards

Poplar Grove

Bench 1775 Winery

Upper Bench Winery

Painted Rock

See Ya Later Ranch

Despite the incredible diversity of sites, a few generalizations hold up.  For instance, the east side of Lake Okanagan is much warmer than the west side of the Valley because it receives hot afternoon sun well into the evening. There can be ripening differences of as much as two weeks for the same variety at the same latitude depending on which side of the valley it is planted.

Similar patterns and wided diurnal temperature swings exist in other regions. In Lake Country way to the north, the vintages risk an occasional arctic freeze, while in the south close to the USA border, vineyards in Osoyoos and Oliver thrive in a hot, arid summer in Canada’s only desert. It may be a desert, but before vineyards were established,  Oliver was famous for its cherries and peach orchids. Impressive red wines, such as Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Bordeaux blends,  are being made by Church & State Vineyards, Burrowing Owl and Moon Cursor. The name of one nearby winery, Bordertown Winery, reminds you that the US border is only a few miles away.

One fascinating new-ish region is the hard to say Similkameen Valley. A little northwest of Osoyoos, this region now has 20 wineries located along the river. I didn’t get there, but two wineries making terrific wines are Orofino and Corcelettes Estate Winery. The 2019 Syrah from Corcelettes was a stunning, rich, and flavorful version.

Several winery names are intriguing, self-deprecating and a little irreverent. My first wine tasted was a Rose from Dirty Laundry Vineyard before moving on to See Ya Later Ranch Pinot Noir and then to Blasted Church with its Bordeaux blends:  “Holy Moly,” “Nothing Sacred,”and “Cross to Bear.”  My favorite was Blasted Church’s 2019 “Big Bang Theory,” a Merlot based mélange.  Another winery bottles a red named “Hot Flash.” Oh, and of course there’s a clothesline with laundry drying in front of Dirty Laundry.  

 

Next: My Top 20  Okanagan Wines

Spring Wine Deals

Now that we’ve adjusted to the Spring forward time, let’s check out the best deals on wines to celebrate springtime. Or March Madness. Or whatever!

www.cawineclub.com

The California wine club focuses on small family owned wineries and here are my top 4 choices from its current inventory. All greatly discounted.  It also offers $1 on case shipping and an extra 10% discount to March 31.

2020 Madrona Vineyards Barbera Rose, El Dorado $11.99

2018 Testarossa Pinot Noir Cuvee Los Gatos $17.99

2018 Testarossa Chardonnay, Cuvée Los Gatos $14.99

2013 Retzlaff Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley, $15.99

www.napacabs.com

Napacabs.com offers more than Napa Cabernets. It continues to amaze me. Check out its case specials for yourself. Here are the super deals this week:

2018 Mount  Veeder Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, Napa $26.97 per bottle for a three-bottle purchase.

2017 Aerena Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon, $19.98

www.winespies.com

Here are two hard to find wines at super savings. Yes, $55 is a heck of a deal for

one of Washinton’ s top producers. One could argue Andrew Will is #1. But for now,

better to act fast, argue later. And the Sauvignon will thrill fans of the varietal.

2015 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills Red, $55.00

2019 Jack Winery ‘Two Old Dogs’ Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc $19.00

www.wine.com

2014 Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva $19.97

You should also check out the “New Arrivals” section here. It includes many once “mailing list” exclusive wines, such as the full lineup of Kosta-Browne Pinots.

Another Mile High Club?

American Airlines’ announcement that it will sell wines through its Flagship Cellars program made the business news circuit. It must have been a slow day, as even CNN andFox Business picked it up as if it were a big deal. 

Well, this is neither big nor all that newsworthy. It is just another subscription box sales pitch. And no, a laid off flight attendant or crew member is not likely to personally deliver the wine to your door.

The Flagship Cellars Wine Program is powered by vinesse which has been in the wine subscription box business since 1993. 

Furthermore, for many years vinesse which is headquartered in Southern California,  has been fulfilling wine clubs for not only American Airlines but also for Delta and United Airlines before this announcement. Indeed, vinesse also goes by the name of American Cellars Wine Club.

The one real bit of news is that the quality level of wines in American’s Flagship Cellars is a big step up from vinesse’s usual selection. I regularly receive teaser offers from vinesse for 6 bottles for $29.99, but once you get past the teaser, the wines are not that exceptional nor are they bargains by any means. Vinesse also powered the NRA’s wine club. Make of that what you will.

The short list from American’s Flagship Cellars consists of real wines, not private brands. It offers Chardonnays from Trefethen and MacRostie and Truchard and a couple of good Oregon Pinot Noirs. There’s a Hall Merlot and the Jaboulet Beaume de Venise is quite unusual. Most  other reds are above average in quality. But the Champagnes are wonderful. Both Deutz and Moutard are among my all-time FAVS.

So the deal is if you subscribe, you get miles as well as wine. A three-bottle monthly subscription costs $100. 

If not a member, you can buy a case and it will ship free. And that’s my strong suggestion.

Go to http://www.vinesse.com/afc

If you see a favorite in the list at a reasonable price,  go for it and buy a case with free shipping.

However, this “news story” does raise a few questions.

 First, does anyone need miles this badly? Maybe these are the best wines served during some flights, but where are the wines being stored since the pandemic reduced flights and drinking during a flight?

Does American Airlines really have a sommelier leading a team that tastes 2000 wines a year? If so that’s not many wines and yes, I’d take the job without the team.

Finally, is pushing a wine club to unload wine really an innovative response to falling revenues? One business report said American estimated this program will add $40,000-$50,000 during the first quarter. Woopie!

If that’s the best you can do, why not donate the wines to some worthy cause or charity wine auction for first responders?

Not that would truly qualify as a breaking news story.