Wine Man: Highway 13 vineyard rundown

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This column doesn’t usually highlight a particular vineyard. However sometimes a chance presents an fascinating perspective worthy of a deep dive. Which is the place we discover ourselves this week.

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Highway 13 Vineyards has definitely been across the B.C. wine block. The long-lasting Okanagan producer was initially based as Golden Mile Cellars by southern Okanagan grape pioneers Helga and Peter Serwo — full with a fake, golden fort vineyard.

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In 2008, the vineyard, underneath then-owners the Luckhurst household, modified the identify to Highway 13 Vineyards. A serious motivator for the evolution was to facilitate the Golden Mile area establishing its personal id, a feat realized in 2015 when Golden Mile Bench turned the province’s first sub-GI (or geographic indication).

Highway 13 Trustworthy John’s 2022 Rosé ($18.99 on sale till Oct. 28, No. 357327)

Quick-forward to at this time, and ongoing possession modifications and initiatives proceed to mark the vineyard’s path.

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However one fixed has been the vineyard’s dedication to producing a broad vary of bottles. This begins with Highway 13’s Trustworthy John line of wines.

Named after John Oliver, B.C.’s nineteenth premier — and the person largely liable for establishing the agriculture business within the southern Okanagan — Trustworthy John’s Rosé is vibrant and fruity, throwing aromas of purple berry and citrus pith, with a recent and approachable model general that screams to be paired with the season’s closing meals off the grill.

Backside line: B, recent, enjoyable and easygoing.

Highway 13 Choose Harvest 2022 Chenin Blanc ($28, out there by way of the vineyard)

Earlier this yr, Highway 13 debuted their Choose Harvest line of wines. Comprised of 5 completely different bottles, Choose Harvest is meant to current the vineyard’s “genuine expression of our land, our arms and most significantly, our ardour.”

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Chenin Blanc needed to be a shoo-in, because the vineyard has a number of the Okanagan’s oldest plantings of this expressive vine. Certainly, this hand-harvested, complete cluster pressed white is deliciously gregarious, with lemon and pear vibes backed by some mineral tones and evident acidity. A clear and crisp end concludes affairs; all-in-all this is an interesting white able to pair with fish or seafood.

Backside line: B+, lip-smacking Chenin.

Highway 13 John Oliver Choice 2020 Syrah ($80, out there by way of the vineyard)

John Oliver’s identify additionally seems on Highway 13’s new flagship reds — and sure, it also needs to be famous the city is known as after him too.

Dubbed John Oliver Choice, the vineyard launched a group of wines earlier this yr, together with a John Oliver Choice Syrah. This bottle properly encapsulates the previous, current and way forward for B.C. wine. Sourced from the vineyard’s reserve winery blocks in each the Golden Mile and Black Sage benches, it’s fruit-forward and highly effective whereas sustaining a taut muscular and supple construction. Darkish fruit, pepper and toasty cedar all mingle in a fulsome, but elegant, severe purple. 

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Backside line: A, muscular but vibrant.

The Swirl: Okanagan Fall Wine Pageant

Prepare, the Okanagan Fall Wine Pageant returns the weekends of Oct. 27-28 and Nov. 3-5. This yr’s competition options myriad occasions, together with Après Crush tastings, wine pairing dinners and varied wine country-touring TASTE passports.

For full particulars and to order tickets head to thewinefestivals.com. 

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