While cocktails may be all the rage, there is only one drink to toast the holidays and ring in the new year, champagne.
While France owns the copyright to the name champagne, BC wineries are producing excellent sparkling wines in both the traditional and frizzante methods. With small case lots produced, these best of BC bubbles are worth seeking out from private wine stores or ordering directly from the winery to celebrate the holidays.
Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars
One of the original BC cult wineries, Blue Mountain, a family run vineyard and winery, opened in 1992 and set the standard for excellence in Canadian sparkling wine and pinot noir. Today, they remain one of Canada’s top wineries and their estate sparkling wines, made in the traditional method, offer outstanding value.
The Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut is a steal at $23 and their vintage sparkling wines, the 2008 Blanc de Blancs and the 2007 Reserve Brut, can compete with the finest champagnes from France that cost three times as much.
For those who appreciate the finer things in life, Blue Mountain’s bubbles will shine at your elegant holiday celebrations. Ring in the New Year with a toast from Canada's best.
Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut $23.90
Blue Mountain 2007 Reserve Brut $39.90
Blue Mountain 2008 Blanc de Blancs $39.90
The Okanagan's first winery dedicated exclusively to bubbles, Bella Wines is owned and operated by Jay Drysdale and Wendy Rose along with their bulldog, Buddha. Bella Wines released their first vintage in 2011 to critical acclaim and opened their winery in 2015 on the famed Naramata Bench.
Bella winery produces single varietal and vineyard sparkling wines, made in the traditional method. Sold with a crown cap, Bella wines with a quick pop, are ready to toast in the holidays.
If your holidays are filled with large family gatherings and Feast of the Seven Fishes is your Christmas eve dinner, celebrate with Bella bubbles because like the wine, life is beautiful.
Bella 2013 Sparkling Blanc De Blancs-Oliver East Side $23.90
Bella 2013 Sparkling Rose Brut-Oliver-$23.90
Did you know that all fine sparkling wines made in the traditional method including champagne start out in bottles sealed with crown caps? Only after secondary fermentation has occurred in the bottle is the crown cap replaced with the cork. Leaving the crown caps on and not replacing with the traditional cork are becoming the new vogue for many BC wineries producing bubbles in both the traditional and frizzante methods.
Jane and Paul Graydon, chose the Okanagan to pursue their life-long dream of opening a winery. In 2011, they opened their small estate winery in Summerland, named Saxon after their British heritage. In 2014, they released their first estate sparkling wine, the Crown Jewel, made from Pinot Gris and the winery’s own Léon Millot grapes.
This award-winning sparkling wine, made in the traditional method, has a unique orange coral colour that looks beautiful in the glass. For those whose holiday traditions include watching the Queen’s Christmas message and wearing paper crowns on their heads, this Canadian bubble is fit for a Queen.
Saxon Winery 2014 Organic Crown Jewel VQA- $27.00
Blasted Church winery is named after a church that was blasted with dynamite to move it to Okanagan Falls. The winery's colourful animated labels along with their wines have been recognized with numerous awards. The release of their first sparkling wine, made in the traditional method, named OMG became a sold-out success. Luckily the release of the 2011 OMG sparkling wine has 57 cases remaining, meaning you can snag a bottle or case just in time for the holidays.
If your New Year’s Eve bash is the party everyone talks about for months afterwards, bring on the cheer with Blasted Church OMG bubbles.
Blasted Church 2011 OMG Sparkling-$23.50
8th Generation became one of the first Okanagan wineries to focus on frizzante style wines. In 2010, they released Integrity -a white frizzante and Confidence-a red frizzante which have remained best sellers and put 8th Generation at the top of Okanagan wineries producing frizzante style wines.
For those whose holidays bring together close friends and intimate gatherings, ring in the New Year with integrity and confidence.
8th Generation 2014 Limited Edition Confidence-$20
8th Generation 2014 Integrity-$20
Located in the Similkameen Valley, Orofino Winery has been recognized as one of Canada's best wineries for riesling. In 2011, Orofino released their Moscato Frizzante which was applauded by top wine critics. This winery now focuses their muscat vines, many over 25 years old, on producing almost exclusively their award-winning frizzante.
Paired beautifully with foie gras, Moscato Frizzante is the bubble of choice for the cool kids who decide the trends. Happy New Year!
Orofino 2014 Moscato Frizzante-$25.00
