Top Wine Picks! Dirty Laundry Vineyard

Located in Summerland, Dirty Laundry Vineyard is a family-run winery that has been combining well-made wines with fun, saucy labels that strip the pretense from the wine-tasting experience and focus on fun without sacrificing quality.

Under the leadership of winemaker Mason Spinks, Dirty Laundry’s wines have come to embrace the place in which they are made. The winery has come to be known for aromatic whites such as Gewürztraminer as well as naughty-themed blends such as Dangerous Liaison, Secret Affair and Bordello. Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?

In honour of Dirty Laundry's free shipping deal that's on right now, here are some top wine picks to help guide your order. These wines take the summer season into mind, focusing on lighter, fresher wines that are as fun on the patio as they are with your favourite summer meals.

1.  2013 Say Yes Pinot Gris ($20.99)

A gold-medal winner at both the 2015 All Canadian Wine Championship and the San Francisco International Wine Competition, it’s tough to say no to this ripe, fruit-forward Pinot Gris. The stone fruit and tropical notes are there in spades, with a richness that hints at off-dry but with acidity that keeps things in balance.

2.  2014 Woo Woo Vines Gewürztraminer ($19.99)

Gewürztraminer is one of the grapes Dirty Laundry does best, and their Woo Woo bottling is a consistent winner. Complex floral, spice, apricot, pineapple and lychee notes are as seductive aromatically as they are on the dry but opulent, light-bodied palate.

3.  2013 Hush Rosé ($19.99)

Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Merlot are joined by just a splash of Gewürztraminer in the blend. Red fruit dominates here (cherry, strawberry and raspberry), with hints of watermelon and fresh peaches to keep the fruit salad party going. A fun addition to any summer plans.

4.  2012 Pinot Noir ($24.99)

With only 300 cases of this light-bodied red produced, you’d best act now to nab a few bottles of a relatively mature Pinot Noir. Black cherry, raspberry, plum and earth notes are as appealing aromatically as they are on the palate, and the dollop of oak brings a touch of weight and complexity.

This week only, get free shipping on wines from Dirty Laundry when you buy six or more bottles of their wine — whichever ones you like, mix and match. Free shipping will automatically be applied at checkout.

2013 Say Yes Pinot Gris   2014 Woo Woo Vines Gewurztraminer  2013 Hush Rosé  2012 Pinot Noir    2014 Dangerous Liaison2014 Secret Affair  2010 Bordello

Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson is the wine columnist and literary editor for the Winnipeg Free Press. He’s on Twitter and Instagram at @bensigurdson.