Day drinking! It’s the best! It lets you look down a few floors in the observation tower at the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery and find it artistic!
Christian, our excellent driver and guide from Sagebrush Tours, looked after us while we tasted a LOT of wine. He is a fount of information about the wineries of this area – which are owned by which company, which are private, which are public, which are based on Ontario. I had no idea there were conglomerates that own several of the labels I favour. Big wineries produce ≥ 60,000 bottles per year, small wineries ≤ 6,000 bottles per year.
In BC Liquor stores we see mainly big company wines. Hmmm. Going to try to support independents from now on.
To keep track of where we were and what we drank and whether we liked it or not, Joan and I came up with an excellence scale between 1 and 5, with five being the best you can get. At the first two wineries, we didn’t have to taste the same wines while at the last two, we drank what was poured.
First winery: River Stone Estate Winery.
| Nancy’s ratings | Joan’s ratings |
| 2020 Savignon Blanc 3 Gold medal winner | 2022 Gewurztraminer 3.5 |
| 2022 Pinot Blanc 3 | 2022 Malbec Rosé 2 |
| 2022 Malbec Rosé 2 | 2020 Cabernet Merlot 3 |
| 2020 Cabernet Merlot 3 | 2021 Cabernet Franc 2.5 |
| 2019 Cornerstone 3.5 (a blend of cab sauv, cab franc, merlot, malbec and petit verdot) Gold medal winner | 2020 Cornerstone 3.5 Gold medal winner |
Second winery: Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery
| Nancy’s ratings | Joan’s ratings |
| Rosé 4.5 | Sparkle Brut 4 |
| Optimum Pinot Gris 4 | Gewurztraminer 3 |
| Sauvignon Blanc 4 | Summer Night 3 (a blend of pinot noir, cabernet franc and merlot) |
| Optimum Pinot Noir 4 | Optimum Pinot Noir 4 |
| Dry Rock Merlot 4.5 | Dry Rock Merlot 4.5 |
Third winery: French Door Estate Winery
Joan and I liked this winery best because we sat in comfortable chairs, outside on the deck, overlooking vines. At all the other wineries, we stood at a counter.
| Nancy’s ratings | Joan’s ratings |
| 2022 Sauvignon Blanc 4.5 | Sauvignon Blanc 4.5 and Joan’s not a white wine drinker! |
| 2022 Fleur 5 (gamay pinot noir blend served chilled) | 2022 Fleur 4.5-5 |
| 2020 Heritage 3 (blend of many!) | 2020 Heritage 3 (basically a Meritage) |
| 2021 Malbec 4 | 2021 Malbec 4.5 |
Final winery: Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
| Nancy’s ratings | Joan’s ratings |
| 2022 Pinot Gris 5 | 2022 Pinot Gris 4.5+ |
| 2021 Chardonnay 3.5 | 2021 Chardonnay 3 |
| 2021 Merlot 3 | 2021 Merlot 3 |
| 2020 Cabernet Franc 4 | 2020 Cabernet Franc 4 |
| 2019 Malbec 4.5 | 2019 Malbec 4.5 |
Our scores edged upwards as the day progressed. We are not sure whether that is because we were less critical or because the wines were better. There were only two wines that earned perfect scores, and they were terrific!
Following a well-earned nap to sleep off the effects of our day drinking, we headed out for dinner at another pub in Osoyoos. This most considerate sign was on the door leading to the patio. We decided to sit inside.
This has been a wonderful first day of tours. Tomorrow we head to Penticton for another tour. See you later!
“May we never go to hell, but always be on our way.”
from Atlas Obscura, Raise a Glass to our Readers’ Favourite Drinking Toasts
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