Day 5 – Unsanctioned Series Pinot Gris 2022

Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio?

Yes, they are the same grape! However, much like Syrah vs Shiraz, the name is most often associated with where the wine comes from or the style its made in. The primary fruit flavors in Pinot Gris/Grigio are lime, lemon, pear, white nectarine and apple. Depending on where the grapes are grown, Pinot Gris/Grigio can take on faint honeyed notes, floral aromas like honeysuckle, and a saline-like minerality. Italian Pinot Grigio is usually totally dry with bright acidity and a bitter almond note, while French Pinot Gris is fleshy and more unctuous with faint honey notes.

Grown by our neighbour Stephane at OPG Vineyard in Kaleden (just across the street from us), this is the second vintage of our Unsanctioned Series Pinot Gris. This wine is a textural experience, showcasing a richer style Pinot Gris that is reminiscent of a Cru wine from Alsace, France. We split up the 4 tons of grapes and fermented half of them in large format French oak barrels, and the other half in a stainless steel tank. The wine that ended up in our Unsanctioned Series wine was 3/4 barrel-fermented and aged, and 1/4 tank fermented. The blend of the two techniques provides the best of both worlds: rich texture and slight vanilla notes from the barrel fraction combined with the crisp, fresh style from the tank fraction.

You might be starting to see a bit of a pattern with our food pairing suggestions: simplicity.  Today’s food pairing is another dish that is relatively simple to prepare, but packed with flavours that will compliment the Pinot Gris: a traditional carbonara.

Winemaking Notes

Our 2022 Pinot Gris is made with grapes grown by our neighbor at OPG Vineyard in Kaleden. Hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, the grapes were lightly pressed and then the juice was fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks and 500L French oak puncheons. After fermentation, the wine was aged 9 months in barrel, with batonnage (stirring of the lees) twice a month to build body and texture. Bottled on July 31st, released on September 1st.

Tasting Notes
A textural experience showcasing both creaminess and crisp acidity. Aromas of orchard fruits, mandarin and a hint of caramel follow on the palate with flavours of golden delicious apple, pineapple, toasted almond, and lemon zest on the finish. Subtle hints of toasted marshmallow reflect the barrel aging process.

Food Pairings
The creamy texture and crisp acidity of this medium body Pinot Gris make it a perfect match for seafood and cream-based pastas.

Wine Specs

Vintage 2022
Appellation Okanagan Valley VQA
Vineyards Kaleden
Acid 6.5g/L
pH 3.33
Residual Sugar 4.6g/L
Alcohol % 12.3
Production: 112 cases