Despite the heavy rains this past week, this Sunday marks the first day of spring and hopefully sunnier and warmer weather will follow. Rather than sticking to our favourites, changing the wine we drink with the seasons is a golden opportunity to experience a wider range of wines and pairings. With the warmer weather we crave wines that are fresh and clean, light and simple.
Today I have three recommendations, which fit the bill for being fresh and clean, light and simple…and affordable. They’re all produced at an award winning winery located amongst the rolling hills of South Langley, a short drive from Richmond in the Fraser Valley Wine Region.
The Backyard Vineyards 2019 Simply Nosey Neighbour White ($17.95; 87 points Very Good) is a light and refreshing blend of 40-per-cent Gewurztraminer, 20-per-cent Chardonnay, 20-per-cent Viognier,10-per-cent Madeline Angevine, and 10-per-cent Bacchus. The Gewurz, Chard, and Viognier grapes are sourced from vineyards in Okanagan Falls while the Madeline and Bacchus are grown in Langley.
The Nosey Neighbour’s light-straw colour glistens in the glass with brilliant clarity. On the aromatic nose there’s stone and tropical fruit. With the palate expect ripe apricot and peach as well as mango flavours in the medium-light body with high acidity and a dry tropical-fruit finish.
It’s perfect to sip on the patio and watch your garden grow. I enjoyed it with roast chicken dinner and a curried lentil and cauliflower stew. The natural acidity cut through the medium spice and refreshed the palate for more of that Nosey Neighbour!.
At the same meal I tasted the 2020 Simply Social Pinot Gris ($21.95; 88 points Very Good). Three lots of grapes from three vineyards in Okanagan Fallswere fermented in stainless steel.
This is a food wine rather than a sipping wine. It has a delicate aroma of orchard and tropical fruit as well as citrus. It enjoys ripe apple and pear flavour with a medium-body, plenty of refreshing acidity along with ample minerals and a baked apple pie ending with a bone-dry finish.
What I found very appealing was the Pinot Gris kicks enhances the flavour of the meal. And the wine’s fruity character becomes amplified, especially with papaya and nectarine flavours.
My last spring white recommendation is the Backyard Vineyards 2019 Simply Social Chardonnay ($12.95; 89 points Very Good) from Okanagan Falls. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and aged on its lees for aromatic complexity.
Sporting a light straw colour, the Chard displays an aroma of tree and stone fruit along with butter and vanilla. On the palate there’s apple, peach, butter and toasted pecans with a medium-body and a balanced fruit and acid combo with a long fruity dry finish. Great value for a 12.95 Chard! A delightful match with the Coconut and Mango Crusted Basa I served last weekend.
Backyard Vineyards is located at 3033 232nd St, Langley. Their Tasting Room is open year-round 7-days a week from 11 am–5 pm Sunday through Thursday and 11 am–6 pm Friday and Saturday.
Shop online and choose “Customer Pick-up” at checkout. And there’s free delivery on orders of six bottles or more.
