Pop Open a Bottle of BC Bubbles to Ring in the New Year
What will be in your glass to celebrate the New Year? Here are a few bottles of BC Bubbles that I’ve sussed out for y’all.
Chronos Brut Non-Vintage
A combination of 80% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir grapes that were hand sorted, whole bunch pressed, and then fermented separately with some lees stirring before blending and finishing in the Charmat method. You’ll find some granny smith apple, ripe pear, and citrus notes on the nose. Apple, lime peel and some slight toasty notes predominate the palate, and it’s perfect for freshly shucked oysters. Best enjoyed at the winery’s onsite restaurant, Orolo.
McWatters Brut 2017
This wine is worth the splurge! Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc are vinified in the traditional Champagne method and then aged for 42 months en tirage before disgorgement. We’re getting into those biscotti and brioche notes in this bottle with some citrus, tropical fruit, and floral notes. In the glass there are fine bubbles and flavours of buttery bread, baked lemon, and tropical fruits such as pineapple predominate the palate. This is your wine to pop at midnight and served with some roasted halibut cheeks, scallops, or a cheese souffle.
Hester Creek Tio Amo 2022
A noteworthy combination of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sémillon, Viognier and Chardonnay, this bubble was created in the Charmat method. You’ll find floral and toasty notes with some apple sauce and pear on the nose and apple, lychee, peach, citrus, and citrus peel on the palate. I’m saving this one for brunch, a nice contrast to that hollandaise sauce.
Hester Creek Old Vines Brut 2020
Oh, how I love Okanagan Pinot Blanc, especially when the vines are older than I am – these vines were planted in 1968 on Oliver’s Golden Mile. This wine is made in the traditional Champagne method, and spent 24 months on tirage, creating those toasty biscuit notes and weighty mouthfeel that cause one to pause to enjoy that sip just a little longer. Along with toastiness, you’ll find citrus, orchard fruit, a slight nuttiness and some minerality. Wonderful with raclette, baked oysters and buttery poached halibut.
Church and State Blanc de Gris 2019
Church and State Winery has properties on Vancouver Island and in Oliver and how fun is it that this wine is made with 100% Vancouver Island Pinot Gris? The grapes are vinified in the traditional champagne method and left on the lees for 12 months. There’s a wack of pear and apple on the nose with a slight toast and floral notes. On the palate you’ll find a nice mouthfeel and a rich mousse, with orchard fruits coming through.
Church and State Blanc de Noir
Combining grapes from Southern Vancouver Island and Osoyoos’ East Bench this wine begins its life in stainless steel tanks before making its way into the bottle for 12 months. I love the pale salmon colour and aromas of red berries, rose and some nutty components. On the palate there’s those berries again, and a nice creamy mousse. Very festive!
Sea Cider Kings and Spies Cider*
Cider is for celebrations when it’s this good! This Vancouver Island cidery sources apples from abandoned orchards, mostly Kings and Spy varieties, and produces this gently effervescent, delicate, apple-forward cider with hints of floral and mild herbaceous notes. It’s off-dry with a nice creamy mouthfeel and we love it with lobster! Partial proceeds from this cider go to Growing Chefs, a program that teaches children about food and nutrition.
Sea Cider Certified Organic Wild English Cider*
This is a traditional English Cider that is robust and dry. It’s made with Sea Cider’s Saanich Peninsula estate-grown bittersweet and bittersharp cider apple varietals, which are high in tannin and deliver earthy phenolic aromas. You’ll find earthy, grassy and apple skin characteristics in this bottle, and it’s rather soft on the palate, with pronounced acidity and ultra dryness.
*I am employed by Sea Cider, but I loved these ciders before any financial arrangements, and with their beautiful bottles and the quality of this cider, they belong on any BC Bubbles list. I am on a mission to help people understand good cider and put cider on more dinner tables around homes in BC. Join the cider revolution!
