West Kelowna Adventures
Welcome back everyone! Today I'm going to be covering two wineries located in West Kelowna, one that I've visited before and one that's brand new! The two wineries are Frind Estate Winery and Kalala Organic Estate Winery. Both are very different and both have very unique qualities to them. I find that West Kelowna has some of the most diverse wineries throughout and I've been enjoying my exploration of them all.
Anytime anyone mentions Frind in a conversation I literally can't stop myself from blurting out: "That's the Plenty of Fish guy!!" and I'm sure that nobody ever really cares to know that, but I think it's pretty cool! Markus Frind bought the property after he sold Plenty of Fish and was looking to do something more hands-on, so what better than a winery! Frind is a beautiful winery located at the base of Mt. Boucherie and extends right to the lakefront. People can actually drive their boats right to the lakefront and get out to have lunch or drink some wine on the beach! And now, for the wine:
1. 2019 Rose
Anyone who has been to Frind recently has told me this Rose is their favourite (my sister included) and I can't blame them! It's pretty delicious! It's a blend of Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It's very light on the nose with a nice floral aspect to it and on the palate, there was a ton of watermelon with some rose notes sticking out. This Rose is so fresh and I was very pleased to be trying it on National Rose Day!
2. NV Sparkling Brut
Whereas the Rose is many people's favourite, I am and always will be a sucker for the bubbles. This is a blend of Riesling and Unoaked Chardonnay and it is just exquisite. They use the traditional method for this sparkling and so the bubbles just fill your mouth when you take a sip. In the mouth it's just an explosion of citrus, pear, and white blossom. Personally, this is my ideal wine to pair with oysters.
3. 2018 Viognier
This being a tasting where you got to choose which wines to have, how could I not pick the Viognier? I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn't! This had that really nice floral aspect on the nose, specifically some nice orange blossom and violet. In the mouth it was just full of peach, pineapple and mango. This wine just felt so nice in my mouth that you can probably bet which wine I purchased from Frind.
4. 2018 Pinot Noir Cuvee
As per the Viognier, in a tasting where you get to pick your own wines how could I not pick the Pinot Noir?! This one was a nice light ruby and on the nose I got lots of cherry and raspberry. This was gorgeous on the mouth, so nice and light and with the perfect amount of tannins. Fun fact, I got one of the last tastings of the 2018 because Frind has now released their 2019 vintage of Pinot Noir! I can't speak much to the 2019, but if it's anything like the 2018 then I would give it a big thumbs up!
5. 2019 The Premier
This is Frind's big red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Regent, Syrah and Marechal Foch. Talk about a blend! This was beautiful on the nose, full of ripe red fruit and maybe a touch of black fruit as well. On the palate you get all of that, plus some cocoa notes and various spices. The tannins are so nice and not overbearing at all. If you love big red blends, this is the wine for you!
6. 2019 Premier Cabernet Sauvignon
This Cabernet was only aged in French and American oak for 10 months and the results are super interesting! It's surprisingly light on the nose with some slight strawberry and vanilla. It's also incredibly light on the palate, with still that vanilla and more cherry than raspberry. The tannins aren't overbearing at all and just add a little extra kick! If you're a fan of the big, bold Californian Cabs then this one probably isn't for you, but if you find yourself struggling to enjoy Cabs because of how heavy they are then I definitely recommend the one from Frind!
I think Frind has one of the best locations for a winery and I would love to stop by for lunch or just a bottle on the beach one day! If you're planning on doing a West Kelowna tour, make sure Frind is on your list!
Winery #2: Kalala Organic Winery
I've been looking forward to visiting Kalala! I've heard great things about this small, family-owned winery and couldn't wait to check it out. Kalala has been a certified organic winery since 2010 and is located a bit farther into West Kelowna, near two other super unique wineries. I was so upset that it was raining when I visited because their outdoor tasting area looks adorable! For being a slightly smaller winery, I was surprised and impressed by the large profile they have!
1. 2016 Dostana Riesling
This was a nice off-dry Riesling that was actually partially oaked (approx. 15%) in American oak. This was incredibly smooth and creamy in the mouth with nice notes of citrus and pear. There were even some slight tropical notes in the wine as well, which is always a favourite of mine when I drink a Riesling! It had a nice, balanced acidity to it and is the perfect Riesling to drink when you're having food loaded with spices or heat.
2. 2016 Gewurztraminer
Ah my favourite, polarizing grape! People either love or hate Gewurzt. I happen to love Gewurztraminer! I think it's fascinating how a grape can be sweet and spicy at the same time and it's also very versatile! This particular wine was very aromatic with lots of peach and even more spice. It was done in a dry style, and I usually prefer an off-dry Gewurzt, but this one was quite lovely! This was definitely more spice-forward in the mouth but it didn't deter from the fruit or how good the wine was.
3. 2018 Pinot Gris
This Pinot Gris was both a hit and a miss for me. It was very light on the nose and I couldn't get much out of it, which is what made it a miss. What made it a hit though was when I got it on the palate! It was quite nice, with lots of green apple, lemon, lime, pear and slight nectarine as well. Incredily light in the mouth, I wouldn't pair this with anything too heavy or else it would get overwhelmed and disappear!
4. 2019 Rose
This Rose was made from a very unique blend of Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Zweigelt. What made it even more unique? This is a boxed wine!! And it was delicious!! A bit of a spicier Rose, which I kind of loved. It was also full of berries, lemon and watermelon. A very nice summer Rose, something I would want to chill and bring down to the beach with me.
5. 2018 Pinot Noir
This Pinot Noir was aged for 12 months in American oak and was very nice on the nose with lots of ripe, red fruits and some spices like vanilla and clove. It was quite light on the palate with super subtle tannins. Much of the palate reflected exactly what I had on the nose with the red fruits, vanilla and clove. It had a nice, long finish and would pair excellent with heavier fish such as salmon, or some lighter dark meats like a nice roast duck.
6. 2014 Aspire
This is Kalala's big red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The wine spent a grand total of 3 and a half years in French and American oak and let me tell you, this wine is most definitely candle-worthy! On the nose it's just full of jammy red fruits and licorice. It's a full-bodied red, but it doesn't stick in your mouth like lots of red wine are want to do. It also has a gorgeous, long finish. This is the wine you want to pair with your steak!
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Kalala and as I said before, I'd love to revisit so I could sit out in their outdoor tasting room! I'm eager to try more of their wines in the future and I can't wait to see what else they will try!
Alright folks, after this post we've got quite the extravaganza coming up! We have my birthday extravaganza, followed by my Canada Day extravaganza so buckle up and keep an eye out because I'm going to try and be quicker about my next posts!
Whine of the day: I wish all wineries had an indoor and an outdoor tasting room option.
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