Add these West Kelowna Wines to your Christmas Shopping List
These Okanagan Wines are the Perfect Pairing for your Holidays
The holiday season is a time for celebration, family, and, of course, delicious food and wine. West Kelowna, a wine lover's paradise, offers a diverse range of exceptional wines that perfectly complement your Christmas feast. Let's explore some fantastic pairings from local wineries:
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery
Wine: Mt. Boucherie Reserve Syrah 2022 ($44.99)
Pairing: Cheese & Charcuterie Boards
While Okanagan Syrah can range from mid-weight to full-bodied, the 2022 vintage certainly yielded the former in many of the reds, lending our Reserve Syrah more delicate floral and primary fruit notes, softer tannins, white pepper, with subtle signature smoked meat characteristics. This svelte profile makes it the ideal match for abundant cheese & charcuterie boards over the holiday season, as the gentler profile of the wine does not require the richness of a marbled ribeye. The 2022 Reserve Syrah is very at home with lighter bites of aged cheddar, prosciutto, and enough of a fruit profile to absorb the tricky parts of a charcuterie board like compotes and spicy chorizo, while still delivering a pleasurable and satisfying mouthfeel when it's just you and a glass alone by the fire.
Bonus: Use promo code YULEFUEL15 at checkout for 15% off the 2022 Reserve Syrah! The is on sale as part of Mt. Boucherie's "Yule Fuel" promotion that runs through the holidays, with discounts up to 25% off through December 30th, available online and in-store.
Mission Hill Family Estate
Wine: 2021 Perpetua Chardonnay ($65.00)
Pairing: Gnocchi with Brussels Sprouts and Chestnut Brown Butter
Bright fruit and incredibly fresh acidity highlight the 2021 vintage of Perpetua. Notes of stone fruit, citrus, and flint are highlighted by a fine lemon acidity and seductive textures. Harmonious integration of fruit, oak, and texture. The soft creamy texture of the gnocchi and sauce matches the texture in the wine and the nutty brown butter and lemon help heighten the aroma and finish. Click here for the recipe!
Wine: 2022 Fritzi's Vineyard Riesling ($42.00)
Pairing: Okanagan Chanterelle & Leek Pierogis With Wise Earth Hispi Cabbage
Textural and balanced, with hints of honeysuckle complementing notes of citrus and passionfruit. The acidity in the cabbage balances the richness of the dish and allows the brightness in the Riesling to come through. The caraway and prune add to the ripe fruit quality in the wine. Click here for the recipe!
Wine: 2021 Reserve Merlot ($31.00)
Pairing: Kuri Squash and Salish Apple Soup with Braised Duck Bread Pudding
Full-bodied and well structured, this wine is introduced with elegant notes of wild blackberry and dark cherry on the nose. The palate is rich with ripe dark fruits, refined tannins and a persistent finish. The baking spices compliment the aroma of the Merlot while the duck broth and meat match the body of the wine well and round it. The fresh herbs provide lushness in the finish. Click here for the recipe!
Ciao Bella Winery
Wine: 2021 Pinot Nero ($37.05)
Pairing: Roast Turkey with Cranberry Sauce
The crisp acidity and red fruit flavours of the Pinot Nero cut through the richness of the turkey, while complimenting the tartness of the cranberry sauce.
Pairing: Grilled Salmon with Maple Glaze
The complex spice-like profile of the Pinot Nero will counter the sweetness of the maple glaze, while its acidity contrasts beautifully with the fatty richness of the salmon.
Pairing: Mushroom Risotto
The Earthy undertones in the Pinot Nero match the richness of the mushrooms, while the bright acidity balances the creamy texture of the risotto.
The beautiful Pinot Nero is a delicate and refined red wine, with aromas of baking spices, wild berries, and subtle earthy undertones. On the palate it offers a smooth texture with flavours of red fruits and spice, such as cranberry, clove, allspice, and white pepper. The wines balanced acidity and light body make it exceptionally versatile for pairing with a variety of dishes.
Wine: 2023 Pinozannte ($34.05)
Pairing: Bruschetta with Tomato, Basil, and Balsamic Glaze
The light, crisp acidity of the Pinozannte perfectly compliments the juicy, tangy tomatoes and the aromatic freshness of the basil. The wines subtle fruitiness enhances the balsamic glaze’s sweetness while the bubbles refresh the palate after every bite.
Pairing: Smoked Salmon Canapés
The effervescence of the Pinozannte pairs beautifully with the smoky richness of the salmon, cutting through its fattiness and enhancing the delicate flavours. The wines fruity profile compliments the savory notes of the fish.
Pairing: Cheese Platter with Soft Gorgonzola, Goat Cheese and Fresh Berries
The creamy texture of Gorgonzola and tangy goat cheese is balanced by the crisp acidity. The red berry flavours of the wine also elevate the freshness of the berries, creating a dynamic festive combination.
Picture a sparkling glass of Rosé Prosecco, its bubbles rising in a shimmering toast to the holidays. The wine is served with vibrant appetizers to make for the perfect start to a holiday meal to remember. The sparkling Pinozannte is the perfect companion for a holiday gathering, offering a celebratory touch to a wide array of festive dishes. Its bright Fruitiness and elegant bubbles enhance appetizers, making it the perfect choice for toasts, celebrations, and everything in between.
Kalala Organic Estate Winery
Wine: 2020 Pinot Noir ($24.99)
Pairing: Poultry and fish, such as turkey, chicken, or salmon
Aromas of vanilla, clove, licorice, and mushroom. Flavours of cranberry, cherry, and raspberry. Has soft tannins and a long-lasting finish. It is light enough for salmon but complex enough to hold up to some richer meat including roast duck.
Wine: 2022 Frizzante ($24.99)
Pairing: Charcuterie Board or a Spinach Salad
This fresh and zesty 150 Frizzante has cherry, liquorice and citrus flavours on the palate. It’s the perfect daytime sipper while grazing on holiday snacks.
The Gallery Winery
Wine: 2019 Inspiration Sparkling ($35.00)
Pairing: Cream Puffs
The bright bubbles of the wine along with its apple and stone fruit flavours complement the creamy filling of the puffs. The toasty notes in the sparkling harmonize with the delicate pastry. While the Inspiration Sparkling Brut is celebratory on its own, we also love to feature it in a holiday cocktail perfect for entertaining over the festive season.
Beaumont Winery
Wine: 2022 Pinot Gris ($30.00)
Pairing: Okanagan Apple Pie
The combination of Pinot Gris and apple pie create a perfectly harmonious experience. Both Pinot Gris and apple pie offer a delicate sweetness that complements each other without overpowering the senses. The crisp apple and pear notes of the wine echo the primary fruit in the pie, while refreshing acidity cuts through the richness.
Wine: 2020 Gamay Noir ($35.00)
Pairing: Venison Stew
A well-concentrated red with rich flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry and pepper spice and subtle oak and berry fruit on the nose. The richness of a warm stew and peppery gravy along with a slight game taste is a perfect pairing with the white pepper notes of the Gamay Noir.
Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
Wine: 2021 Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir ($59.00)
Pairing: Roasted, Smoked or Deep Fried Turkey with Cranberry Sauce
This bright and juicy New World style Pinot is made from a blend of premium Pinot Noir blocks and clones at Quails’ Gate’s West Kelowna estate. Graceful and sophisticated with aromas of a mix of dark and red fruits, this Pinot has mouth-watering acidity that makes it a perfect match for fatty foods. The allspice and earthy flavors complement classic holiday dinners. Looking to barbeque this holiday? This Pinot Noir is excellent with pork as the wine’s acidity balances the rich meat. Our recommendation is juicy and smoky barbecued pork ribs. Winter salad fans will enjoy this wine with roasted beet and feta cheese salad.
Wine: 2021 Queue ($54.00)
Pairing: Slow Roasted Rosemary and Garlic Roast Beef
The smooth, rich, and complex blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah makes for a highly complex wine with great aging potential. This wine becomes more complex when paired with highly flavored dishes. Choose food and cooking styles that allow the food to gain deep and intense flavors to match the flavors and textures the wine has earned throughout the winemaking and French oak barrel maturation.
Wine: 2023 Orchard Block Gewürztraminer ($27.99)
Pairing: Burrata with Preserved Peaches
A traditional style of Gewurztraminer grown on the 1989 Quails’ Gate vineyard, originally an orchard planted with cherry and peach trees, this unique off-dry wine presents lychee and rose petal aromatics. Delivering an outstanding smooth, perfectly balanced, and complex finish, opt for fruity and rich dishes that will create harmony between wine and food. Burrata with peaches appeals to the wine’s smooth creaminess and fruit-forward peach notes.
Niche Wine Company
Wine: 2023 Dark Horse Red ($28.00)
Pairing: A large charcuterie board and this Holiday Cocktail & Christmas Dinner Party playlist
Frontenac Noir is a dark-skinned, winter-hearty hybrid that produces a medium-bodied wine with all kinds of fresh and juicy fruit on the nose and palate. Spoiler alert: it’s delicious! The rich raspberry flavours and integrated oak make this Frontenac Noir the kind of underdog you’ll want to cheer for. Think cherry, raspberry, and strawberry.
Wine: 2021 Near & Far Pinot Noir ($36.00)
Pairing: This wine is the perfect company for a viewing of ‘The Holiday’ starring Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, and Kate Winslet. Another great example of the near and the far working together to make magic. If you LOVE love like we do, you will love this combo! Pro tip: consider upgrading this experience by adding a big bowl of buttery popcorn with a sprinkle of truffle Salt.
This special bottle of Pinot was made with fruit grown in two different vineyards—one near and one far. Our own estate fruit in West Kelowna and some beautiful bunches from our friends in South East Kelowna were used to make two separate lots of wine and then blended before bottling. The result is a true showcase of the best of East and West and a wine rich with structure and complexity. The best of both worlds? We sure think so, but we’ll let you be the judge.
Volcanic Hills Estate Winery
Wine: 2016 Eruption ($55.09)
Pairing: Red Wine Braised Short Ribs (get the recipe here!)
Cold days call for curling up with those you love with a hearty glass of red wine! Meaty, and decadent, braised beef short ribs are perfectly paired with many hearty red wines. The blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec grown in the South Okanagan. They also work well with the winery’s Magma Red and Lava Red blends.
Little Straw Vineyards
Wine: 2022 Riesling ($23.99)
Pairing: Spicy Chicken Masala
The Riesling is from certified organic 40-year-old vines in Westbank. The morning sun exposure brought maximum ripeness to grape while the cool summer evenings maintained the vibrant acidity. This wine is full of aromas of nectarine, apricot, honey-crisp apple, and pear. The pleasant acidity, almost to the level of a tart fruit juice like lemonade is a perfect match with strong Indian and other Asian spices.
Off the Grid Organic Winery
Pairing: Mushroom Chorizo Flatbread
Aromas of cherry, liquorice, plum, mint, chocolate, currant, juicy raspberry, black cherry chocolate, cedar, and smoke.
Aged for 24+ months in premium French oak, 60% new, 40% 1 year old, then bottle aged for 6 months. Ready to drink now or later, this wine is also a perfect pairing for your favorite burger, peppered cheeses, or a dish from the smoker.