We can’t let summer slip away without a tribute to some of our most favourite wines. These days of Summer followed by nights of Fall are some of the best times to enjoy your favourite glass of wine.
So many ways to enjoy Stag’s Hollow’s wines at this time of year. Brilliant reds with bbq, rosé on the patio, crisp whites to while away the afternoon, or just grab your fave and turn on the TV and enjoy!
Whatever your pleasure, be it pairing with a yummy dish or on it’s own this Summer/Fall transition season is ideal to enjoy our favourite wines whenever takes your fancy. Enjoy!
Albariño
Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls Sub-GI
100% Albariño
Tasting Notes
The nose shows vibrant notes of ripe stone fruit, lemon curd, pineapple, mango, grapefruit and honey. The stone fruit and citrus (particularly the peach, lemon & lime) notes carry through to the palate, which is generously rich and textural from the extended lees contact, but balanced by an abundance of mouth-watering acidity. The finish is refreshingly dry and mineral-driven, with lingering salinity.
Winemaker Notes
The goal with this wine was to build a richly textural wine that was true to its varietal character, but also complex and intruiging, and I think we achieved it. Interestingly, as this block has matured, we’ve found that the salinity that Albariño is so known for worldwide has become increasingly pronounced with each new vintage. This vintage of Albariño is possibly my favourite of ours to date. The aromatics are beautiful and more intense than ever, but it’s the tension and the beautifully balanced acidity that absolutely exemplify the 2022 vintage.
Production Notes
The fruit hand-picked and hand-sorted, destemmed, and lightly crushed before being pressed. A portion was racked after 12 hours of settling, into stainless steel barrels and French oak barriques (one new, one 3rd fill & two 4th fill). The remaining portion settled a further 24 hours and was transferred into 2 concrete tanks. These inoculated ferments were kept cool (12-14°C), monitored closely, and all were aged on their lees with frequent stirring to build texture. After 4 months, the lots were blended, stabilized, filtered and bottled.
Food Pairings
Classic: seafood (oysters, crab, prawns, shellfish, grilled white fish…you name it!), seafood pastas & risottos, light & creamy cheeses, goat’s cheese.
Adventurous: sushi & sashimi, ceviche, Vietnamese dishes, Thai dishes, Caribbean/Cajun dishes, pickled food.
Ageing Potential
Now and over the next 3+ years.
$26.00 at the winery and online
Renaissance Chardonnay
Vineyards & Geographical Indications Partridge Vineyard, Naramata Bench Sub-GI
Tasting Notes
Medium lemon in colour, with an expressive nose of ripe peach, lemon curd, almond paste, a hint of toast, and the faintest whisper of struck match. The layered complexity on the nose keeps you coming back for more, and finding new notes with each sniff. On the palate, it is at once restrained and mineral driven, yet rich and textural, with mouthwatering citrus and creaminess. Balanced and expressive; a Chardonnay that will continue to evolve in bottle.
Winemaker Notes
Our first Renaissance Chardonnay (or any Chardonnay, for that matter) in II years is a serious treat that we’re pretty excited about, to say the least! We finally got our hands on a spectacular block of Chardonnay, grown at the Partridge Vineyard on the Naramata Bench, and we were determined to do it justice in the cellar. We used the best barrels we could source, and set our sights on something textural and elegant, with just the right amount of oak, richness and acidity that would make all our in-house Chardonnay lovers proud. I think we nailed it.
Production Notes
A small lot of hand-picked and hand-sorted Chardonnay was destemmed and pressed into stainless steel to settle for 24 hours. From there, it was racked into a combonation of French oak (2 x 3rd-fill 500L puncheons & I x new 228L barrique) and stainless steel for fermentation with selected yeast strains. All lots underwent 100% malolactic fermentation with periodic lees stirring. It is set to be racked out of barrel after 9 months on lees, and blended in July 2022, with filtration and bottling to follow in August.
$35.00 at the winery and online
Dolcetto Rosato
Vineyards & Geographical Indications
Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls Sub-GI
Tasting Notes
Don’t let its electric magenta colour fool you–this rosato is drier, more savoury and fuller in flavour than most of its paler rosé counterparts. Driven by Dolcetto’s intense varietal character, the nose is bursting with red fruit, wild flowers, earth, spice and herbs, with each sniff offering something new. The palate is dry, textural and savoury, with lively cranberry-like acidity and just a touch of structure.
Winemaker Notes
In 2020, we really wanted to push the boundaries of what we expect of Okanagan rosé, and produce something vibrant, structural and food-friendly. Dolcetto seemed like the perfect fit, because of its natural acidity, and the colour we were able to achieve with extended cold soaking is absolutely stunning. Back now with its third vintage, this version of Dolcetto Rosato is definitely closer to 2020 than 2021 in flavour profile and style. Certainly on the serious, more savoury side of rosé, and more in-line with some of the highly pigmented rosatos of southern Italy; hence the name.
Production Notes
Four bins of hand-harvested fruit from our older block of Dolcetto were foot stomped, and then sealed up for 5 days of cold maceration. After the cold soak, the bins were pressed directly into a concrete tank (full solids) and inoculated with a selected yeast. Once the primary ferment finished, the wine was racked off of its lees, into stainless steel, where it was stabilized, filtered and bottled.
Food Pairings
Classic: cured meats, beet salad, grilled salmon. grilled meats (steak, tenderloin or even skirt steak tacos), seafood (especially grilled), antipasti & fried appetizers.
Adventurous: Lebanese dishes, spicy Indian food, hamburgers, and even dessert!
Ageing Potential
Now and over the next 5 years.
$25.00 at the winery and online
Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyards & Geographical IndicationsHerrera Vineyard, Keremeos, Similkameen Valley
Tasting Notes
Textural, tropical and citrusy, this wine showcases everything that Sauvignon Blanc has the potential to be. Playful aromatics of apple and pear with a hint of fresh cut grass and florals. Bright acidity, vibrant minerality and texture, with just the right amount of lush tropical fruit to balance the classic lemon and lime notes. A perfect match for our classic Pacific Northwest Coast cuisine.
Winemaker Notes
This Sauvignon Blanc came from a new-to-us, but very well-established vineyard in the Similkameen Valley. Because of the late Spring we experienced in 2022, our harvest as pushed back well beyond our usual pick dates. This fruit hung in there until late October, and the extended ripening period absolutely shows in the vibrancy of this wine. Sauvignon Blanc is always such a punchy and expressive grape. We used a combination of concrete, stainless steel and oak to build complexity, while not overshadowing the beautiful aromatics and varietal character.
Production Notes
Hand-harvested fruit was sorted, destemmed and pressed into a stainless steel tank. After cold-settling for 24 hours, the juice was racked into a concrete tank (63%), neutral French oak barrels, and stainless steel barrels for fermentation and ageing. Batonnage was used to build texture and richness. Once we were happy with the texture, all pieces were racked and blended together. The final wine was then stabilized, filtered and bottled.
Varietals: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Food Pairings
Classic: fish & chips, creamy goat cheese, dishes with green herbs (parsley, rosemary, basil, cilantro, mint, etc.), white meat, seafood, fatty vegetarian dishes (asparagus quiche, green hummus, white bean casserole with zucchini, white lasagne, etc.).
Adventurous: Japanese dishes (sushi & sashimi), seafood-based steamed and fried dim sum, smoked salmon, Greek & Mexican food.
Ageing Potential
Now and over the next 5 years.
$26.00 at the winery and online
For this next two wine you may think it’s just for the summer, but consider these possibilities…in your backpack as you go for a Fall bike ride; how about in your backpack as you snowshoe in December or January; maybe you prefer to add it to your backpack as you hop on the chair lift for a day of skiing; or how about apres ski, the possibilities are endless!
Tragically Vidal
Stag’s Hollow Estate Vineyard, Okanagan Falls Sub-GI
Tasting Notes
Tragically Vidal is always an absolute delight on the nose. Perfumed notes of apple blossom and honeysuckle mingle with tropical and orchard fruit; like walking through an Okanagan orchard in the middle of August. The palate is fresh and juicy, with flavours of stone fruit, honeydew melon, lemon-lime citrus, and a satisfying herbaceousness. The finish goes on and on, with the bright acidity and gentle nudge of residual sugar in beautiful harmony.
Winemaker Notes
We’ve found, over the 25 years of working with Vidal, that waiting until just after the first frost to pick seems to be the sweet spot. The grape’s tough skins finally soften enough to maximize flavour and aromatic expression, and there is a slight raisining that happens in certain pockets of the vineyard, that contribute to that beautiful honeyed bouquet. Playing into the fun and vibrant nature of this wine, through its cool fermentation, a small amount of CO2 remained dissolved in the wine, giving the aromatics a boost, and the palate a zippy freshness. Available for the first time in cans!
Production Notes
The fruit was destemmed and lightly crushed into the press, where the juice was gently pressed off and transferred into tank. After settling for 72 hours, the clarified juice was racked into another stainless steel tank and inoculated with a select yeast culture. It enjoyed a long, slow, cool ferment, preserving as much of the aromatics as possible, before stopping it prior to sugar dryness by chilling the wine to 0°C.
Varietals: 100% Vidal
Food Pairings
Classic: pork, chicken, duck, fruit salads, foie gras.
Adventurous: Cajun/Creole dishes, Thai food, Chinese food, Vietnamese food, Mexican food, coconut curries, Indian food.
Ageing Potential
Drink now and through 2025 for freshness and aromatics. Age 5 years and beyond, and it continues to develop beautiful honeyed characteristics.
Our Tragically Vidal cans are available for online sales with shipping by the flat only. To order, please contact the winery directly at 877-746-5569.
We are open for tastings from 11am to 5pm daily.
Tastings are $10 per person, waived with the purchase of two bottles.
Please note that we donate all tasting fees to SORCO Raptor Rehab, located a few kilometres south of the winery near Vaseux Lake.
Join us for a special tasting with our friend and Sommelier Ron Rocher!
Ron will be here next on Saturday, Sept 23rd to meet with those groups looking for a more elevated tasting experience (no extra charge).
Please call us at the winery to reserve your spot.
To arrange your visit, click HERE.
Please call us at 250.497.6162 or email julie@nullstagshollowwinery.com if you have any inquiries.
For same day bookings please call the winery (Tock only allows reservations up until 9am day of).
STAG’S HOLLOW WINERY
2237 Sun Valley Way
Okanagan Falls, BC V0H 1R2
250. 497. 6162 or 877. 746. 5569 toll free
info@nullstagshollowwinery.com
Wine notes and bottle shots courtesy of the winery. I received complimentary wine to facilitate this feature.
