My Wine Canada Wine Club Feature: Fort Berens Estate Winery
Hailing from Lillooet, BC, Fort Berens Estate Winery is our featured producer this month for the My Wine Canada Wine Club. Get ready for some tantalizing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc reserves (to name a few) to arrive at your door next week! How do you get in on these exclusive wines that you can't get anywhere else? Sign up for the Wine Club right here and your package will be shipped to your home or office in no time. Your package includes tasting notes and pairing suggestions written by wine experts, and it makes the PERFECT holiday gift for the wine lover in your life. The deadline to receive Fort Berens' wine bounty is midnight tonight, so sign up now!
Fort Berens owners Rolf de Bruin and Heleen Pannekoek emigrated from Holland in 2009 and chose Lillooet as a place to plant their roots - and vines! Their belief in their vision that the Fraser Canyon can produce premier, outstanding wines was shared with several other business partners who have collaborated to create Fort Berens Estate Winery. And their vision seems to be coming true since they have taken the BC Wine Industry by storm in winning accolades at the provincial, national, and international levels.
We had the pleasure of tasting the Fort Berens wine club selections, and wanted to share a few of our favourites with you.
It's racy and zippy, it's a...Chardonnay? Often reserved for Sauvignon Blancs and Rieslings, these descriptors allude to the extra touch of acidity in this vintage that works so well with the citrus, tropical fruit, and mineral notes. You can take this Chardonnay anywhere (from sunny patio to fireplace-laden ski chalet) and pair it with just about anything (from fresh seafood to pasta to turkey dinners).
This Pinot Noir has alluring aromas of red cherry, mushrooms and earth, and a touch of black pepper and woodsmoke. Four different clones of Pinot Noir grapes from the Fort Berens Estate vineyard have been incorporated into this vintage and, while still young, the flavour is refined and well-balanced. This wine calls for herb-crusted lamb chops, or grilled salmon on a Cedar plank with wild rice and mushrooms.
For the 2015 Meritage Reserve, the best Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc fruit from the Fort Berens vineyards was pressed separately and aged in French and American oak. After aging, the barrels showing the highest quality were chosen for this Meritage Reserve blend, and then bottle aged for another 12 months.
Black fruit flavour abounds with black cherry, blackberry, plum, and black currant on the palate. Herbal notes and black pepper add spice to the lengthy finish. A very smooth and luxurious wine to be opened and imbibed eagerly or savoured in the cellar for another 3-5 years. This will pair perfectly with strong cheeses, Oysters Rockefeller, and grilled steak with peppercorn sauce.
Get these exclusive wines delivered to your home or office by signing up TODAY by midnight. Or get a jump on the holidays by giving Wine Club subscriptions to your friends and family!
