I canât believe weâre half-way through May already! Hopefully the random, lateâseason smatterings of snow across the country are behind us, so letâs brighten things up with a trio of shimmering, charismatic white wines in hopes that sunny days and warm temperatures are here to stay.
1) JoieFarm 2014 Muscat
You know what this wine tastes like? GRAPES! I know, it sounds crazy, right? Yup, each sip is like plucking the best from a bowl of fresh green table grapes, along with a bunch of Concords and a handful of white flowers. Continued sips, which are guaranteed with the bottleâs juicy and crisp deliciousness, bring lychee fruit and a touch of citrus. An aromatic delight, thereâs nothing like it in the country; stock your fridge well.
2) Fort Berens 2013 White Gold
This Chardonnayâs well-integrated, toasty French oak and vanilla carry the aromatics from your first sniff right through the very long finish, but in-between youâll find a host of Granny Smith apple, a bright spot of lemonade, a touch of roasted hazelnuts and so much more. Itâs rich and decadent, but the bright acidity keeps it from being heavy or cloying. Fort Berens is the only winery in British Columbiaâs fledgling Lillooet region, and bottles like this make you wonder why theyâre the only one.
3) Le Vieux Pin 2013 Ava
You know, Iâm really starting to get used to these Okanagan odes to southern-RhĂŽne Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne blends. Honeyed peaches and nectarines waft out of the glass, continuing into the palate where we get additional layers of tropical fruit like mango, pineapple and papaya. Admirable use of French oak puts everything in place, while the overall balance and, yeah, damn-fine quality show why this critically acclaimed winery is gaining a solid national, and international, following.
