Local BC Wines Perfect for Gifting This Season

BC, Food & Drink

Local BC Wines Perfect for Gifting This Season

A toast to the province's wine region for the vino lover on your list!

December 7, 2023

As the holiday season approaches, consider elevating your gift-giving game with exquisite local wines from British Columbia. Whether you’re seeking a sparkling sensation, a bold red, or a vibrant white blend, BC’s diverse wine offerings have something to please every palate.

Here’s a curated list of exceptional wines to make your celebrations even more special!

Echo Haskap: Rara Avis

This is the best gift if you want to ‘wow’ someone. The Rara Avis is a great fortified wine to pair with charcuterie. While sipping on a glass of it, you can taste flavours like ripe black cherries, berries, and red fruit — much like port.

Haywire: The BUB 2017

Named after Haywire Winery owner’s daughter Alison, The BUB is a delightful bubble made from 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay. With primary fermentation in concrete and stainless-steel tanks, this crisp and fresh wine boasts citrus and toasty notes. Perfect for pairing with soft cheeses or fresh oysters, it’s sealed with a crown cap, making it great for sharing.

Narrative: XC 2022

A cutting-edge sparkling wine with environmentally friendly packaging, Narrative XC is fermented in concrete, stainless, and large barrels for complexity. With pineapple and tropical fruit flavours, floral notes, and a rich, creamy palate, this wine is a unique experience. Plus, its Stelvin screw cap closure adds a modern twist.

Blasted Church: Pinot Noir

The Blasted Church Pinot Noir offers a fun and funky label matched with a flavour profile that includes strawberry, raspberry, and dark cherry. With a full mouthfeel and textural tannin, this Pinot Noir is enjoyable and a versatile choice for various occasions.

See Ya Later Ranch: Legacy Syrah 2019

A Syrah with hints of spice, pepper, and vanilla, followed by a burst of red fruits and complex tannins. Awarded a Silver Medal at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, it pairs beautifully with a range of dishes, from smoked duck breast to barbecued rib-eye steaks.

NK’Mip Cellars: Dreamcatcher 2020

A vibrant white blend tantalizing the palate with tangy citrus fruits and pineapple. Comprising Riesling, Ehrenfelser, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Semillon, this wine offers a balanced finish that leaves you craving more.

Saintly: The Good Red

A harmonious blend of varietals, Saintly’s Good Red is a testament to the artistry of BC winemaking. With a rich and balanced profile, it’s an excellent choice for those who appreciate a well-crafted red wine — year-round.

Steller’s Jay: 2018 Mountain Jay Brut

Elevate the celebration with Steller’s Jay’s 2018 Mountain Jay Brut. This sparkling wine boasts elegance and finesse, making it an ideal gift for those who savour the enthusiasm of a top-tier bubbly. Not only would this bottle make for a great gift for Christmas, but it would also be an amazing drink to open up on NYE!

Bench 1775: 2022 Glow Rosé

Produced from 100% Naramata-grown Pinot Noir, this Rosé has notes of strawberry, candied cherry, and rhubarb. With a fresh, fruity, and delicate profile, it pairs well with a variety of dishes, from melon and prosciutto to Thai noodle salad.

Bench 1775: 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Bench 1775 is made with fruit grown on the Osoyoos East-facing vineyard — for maximum heat. The result is a ripeness that gives this wine rich dark fruit flavours and firm smooth tannins! Enjoy this wine with BBQ eats, a roast, and winter root vegetables. This wine won a Silver Medal from the 2022 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada!

Bench 1775: 2022 Pinot Gris

This 2022 Pinot Gris has a delicate profile featuring the barest hint of fruit sweetness. This is an everyday wine, from the Naramata Bench with a delicate profile that features the barest hint of fruit sweetness — making it the perfect wine for sipping year-round!

Bench 1775: 2021 Roussanne

Bench 1775 introduces its inaugural Roussanne, drawing inspiration from the captivating Roussanne/Marsanne blends of Northern Rhone in France. Fermented in stainless steel, this wine unfolds a symphony of floral notes, delicate chamomile, and a medley of pear, mandarin, apricot, and honey characters.

Bench 1775: 2020 Blanc de Blanc

This special wine won Gold in the 2023 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards. It has classic notes of citrus, apple, pear, light bread, and nutty notes. Pair this wine with poutine, oysters, mac and cheese, Caesar salad, linguine with clams, fried chicken, sashimi, crab cakes and calamari. The 2020 Blanc de Blanc is a seriously versatile wine.

Bench 1775: 2021 Pinot Noir

Introducing Bench 1775’s inaugural single vineyard Pinot Noir, crafted from our estate vineyard adjacent to the crush pad. Embracing a minimalist winemaking approach, we let the fruit speak for itself. After a four-week skin fermentation with daily punch downs, the fruit was pressed, and 30% found its home in French oak for 12 months. This Pinot Noir showcases classic notes of cherry, strawberry, and currants, beautifully complemented by hints of vanilla and a subtle toastiness from the oak.

Phantom Creek: 2017 Sparkling Brut

A poised Brut blending Chardonnay finesse with Pinot Noir depth, offering bright fruit, toasted hazelnut, and harmonious sweet spices. Aged on its lees for 47 months, it boasts a fine, persistent mousse and a classic Brut style.

Phantom Creek: 2020 Estate Petite Cuvée

The fruit from this wine comes from Phantom Creek’s vineyards in the Golden Mile and Black Sage Bench. Initially, the aromas aren’t fully revealing, with notes of herb, plum, dried tobacco and chocolate. While sipping on this whine you will taste flavours that are bright and fresh, with plenty of structure around them!

Phantom Creek: 2022 Okanagan Riesling

Calling all Riesling fans — this wine comes from a hot and well-exposed site on the Black Sage Bench. It’s matured for 19 months (in Austrian white oak foudres) for added weight and richness. Find notes of caramelized apple, vanilla, and lime zest — with world-class acidity, green and yellow citrus, lemongrass, watermelon, petrol, and sweet spices.

Road 13: 2020 John Oliver Syrah

Expressing the spice of Golden Mile Bench and the fruit-forwardness of Black Sage Bench, this Syrah is fermented and aged in French oak barrels. The result is a wine that combines spice, fruit, and complexity.

Mission Hill: 2014 Silver Ranch Vineyard Riesling Icewine

Reflecting the unique microclimates of the Okanagan Valley, this Riesling Icewine offers a rich and sweet experience. Hand-selected from the top 3% of estate fruit, it showcases meticulous care and precision farming. Each offering is limited, making it a very special and unique gift to give this season.

Mission Hill: 2022 Border Vista Vineyard Rosé

The 2022 Border Vista Vineyard Rosé is grown on a small vineyard estate in Osoyoos on the eastern side, making a delightful, dry Rosé of Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. “When standing on this site, one has a feeling of being on the edge. Coupled with the ‘vista,’ the view and right-of-way at this unprotected international border where Canada and the US connect, it was fitting to name this wine Border Vista,” said Mission Hill.

Mission Hill: 2019 Quatrain

The 2019 Quatrain from Mission Hill is fermented in small specially designed French oak fermenters and aged in French oak barrels for eighteen months. There is a lot of balance and structure that goes into this wine, with four varietals — which is how it landed the name Quatrain.