Welcome to a brand of wines that tell a story. It’s appropriately called Narrative, a brand parented by Okanagan Crush Pad winery in Summerland. But you won’t be able to hear the story. But you certainly can smell it, taste it, feel it, and know it,
David Scholefield, OCP’s advisor, says, “Wine is a narrative.” Each Narrative wine ‘tells’ the story of the Okanagan terroir. It’s a region of extremes, home to both a desert and a cold snowy winter. Matt Dumayne, Senior Winemaker at the Okanagan Crush Pad and his team create a portfolio of wines that showcases Okanagan characteristics: cool climate, aromatic, crisp and lively wines that are 100-per-cent Okanagan grown grapes.
Take the Narrative 2019 Chenin Blanc for example ($24.90; “A+” rating). Chenin Blanc is seldom planted in B.C. but the Narrative is a shining example. It’s rich, ripe, and luscious. There are plenty of delicious aromas: quince, green apples, honeydew melon, and citrus. The palate also displays those characteristics along with high acidity and minerality. A white wine that over-delivers!
Easy to drink on its own, and well suited for scallops, prawns, and oysters, as well as sushi, grilled asparagus and salads.
Want a complex red that is simple to enjoy on so many levels? That’s the Narrative 2018 Malbec ($34.70 Club Members only; “A+” rating). The bouquet has layers of scents: raspberry, strawberry, plum, cherries, earthy tones, as well as vanilla and spice.
A rich round flavour greets your palate with the above ripe fruit and forest floor savouriness. Well-balanced with fruit, cool climate acidity, and a cocoa finish for a kiss of dessert! Suitable for both informal dining (I enjoyed it with bangers and mash and an au jus from the wine and beef stock) or something more elegant such as Beef Wellington.
Our third wine is also made by Okanagan Crush Pad Winemaker Matt Dumayne but not it’s not in the Narrative line. The Bizou + Yukon 2019 Savvy Gris ($19.90; “B+” rating) is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (Savvy) and Pinot Gris (Gris), fermented with wild yeast and aged in a concrete tank. There’s tropical fruit, tree fruit and citrus in the nose. Flavours of guava, gooseberry, pear, and grapefruit are on the palate. Because of the Pinot Gris in the blend, the Sauvignon Blanc is mellowed so it is smoother and less acidic. And the concrete tank ageing also makes it have a creamier mouth-feel.
The Bizou + Yukon Savvy Gris is a refreshing white to enjoy on its own or with a variety of lighter fish and seafood, like grilled halibut with tarragon or dill. It’s also great with appetizers. Think artichoke or crab dip, as well as goat cheese on a baguette.
An exciting way to learn more about the wines from the Okanagan Crush Pad is to sign up to THE List @ OCP! You can save money and get your hands on wines that you may not know are made at Okanagan Crush Pad. Anything from their house brands - Free Form, Haywire, Narrative, Bizou + Yukon - to select private labels.
If you’re not interested in this month's offer you can wait until you see next month’s list. There’s no commitment to purchase, no automatic shipments, no fees. Unsubscribe anytime, or share with like-minded friends. Check out THE List @ OCP on their website under Clubs. Buy wines online or locally at VQA stores at Ironwood’s Save-On-Foods and other private stores.
