Stag's Hollow Winery News

BC Lieutenant Governor Wine Awards

After a year with many of the usual wine judging and awards being cancelled, we' were excited to submit several wines to this year's British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards Judging Competition took place in mid-September, with the awards being announced last night. The results for Stag's Hollow wines are as follows:

GOLD - 2017 Renaissance Merlot

SILVER - 2019 Blanc de Noirs

SILVER - 2017 Syrah

BRONZE - 2019 Albariño

BRONZE - 2019 Pinot Gris

BRONZE - 2018 Pinot Noir Shuttleworth Creek

Points for Pinot Noirs from Gismondi on Wine

89 points from Anthony Gismondi, gismondionwine.com

A mix of Dijon clones from Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard is the star behind this stylish pinot noir. The attack is juicy, the fruit ripe but with earthy, sour cherry, black cherry, and black tea atop spicy forest floor, trailing into a dry, dusty, smoky finish. Its delicacy comes from only 13.6 percent alcohol, which allows all the pinot complexity to shine. It is fun to drink and ready to drink. Try this with grilled salmon and fall vegetables. Drink or hold through 2022.

 

 

 

90 points from Anthony Gismondi, gismondionwine.com

The Stag's Hollow is always a slightly bigger pinot than the Shuttleworth Creek version, given its advantage of a warm west facing aspect. The nose is fresh and clean with vibrant cherry and plum that spills across the palate. Again lively and lithe, the juicy red fruit mixes with licorice and cola, before a long, mouthfilling, balanced finish. Stag's Hollow Estate Vineyard is home to the oldest pinot vines at Stag's Hollow. Now at 26 years of age, they deliver a complex mix of co-fermented Dijon clones 115 and 667. Turkey would be a fine match.

Wine Reviews from Set The Bar

A big thanks to Robert K Stephen at Set The Bar for his recent scores and reviews on three of our newly released wines. For the complete article, please click here.

2018 Pinot Noir Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard (90 points): "On the nose raspberry galore, sweet red cherry, milk chocolate and strawberry. This is what some may call classic Pinot Noir. On the palate it is smooth and low in tannins. Slim notes of raspberry and sweet red strawberry."

 

 

2018 Pinot Noir Stag's Hollow Vineyard (92 points): "Light ruby coloured with a delightful nose of black cherry, black cherry cola, raspberry, strawberry and Cherry Kool Aid. On the palate although the tannins are velvety there is a certain gruffness on the palate highly suggestive this is a very food worthy wine. Notes of blackberry, cassis and cherry jam with a warm midweight finish."

 

 

2019 Albariño (92 points): "Mid gold in colour. On the nose cantaloupe, apricot, white peach and 1960’s upside down pineapple cake. And on the palate the notes match those from the nose. It is smooth and full bodied and at the end of the day is on par with the best Spanish Albariño."

 

Save $2 on Pinot Gris

Through the month of August we are offering our 2019 Pinot Gris on sale, at $2 off per bottle. This wine is new for us this year and our winemaker, Keira, is quite proud of it:

Winemaker Notes
"Having never worked with Pinot Gris before, the stylistic possibilities were almost overwhelming. We decided that a rich and textural, off-dry Alsatian style would suit our portfolio well, and would allow us to show off the more premium side of Okanagan Pinot Gris. To afford us as much variety and flexibility as possible when it came time to blend, we decided to divide this block into several picks, and then divide those lots even further into different vessels. While all this may have added extra work, the result has been tremendously exciting."

Wine writer John Schreiner is also a fan, having awarded it 92 points:

"To distinguish it from the ocean of Pinot Gris in the market, winemaker Keira LeFranc decided to make it in what the winery calls “a rich and textural, off-dry Alsatian style.” She succeeded brilliantly. The wine begins with appealing aromas of pear, white peach and citrus. The palate is indeed rich, with flavours of pear, apple and honeydew melon. The wine has a lingering finish with a hint of spice."

Visiting Stag's Hollow Winery

2020 Awards List

2020 BC Lieutenant Governor's Wine Awards
Gold - 2017 Renaissance Merlot
Silver - 2019 Blanc de Noirs
Silver - 2017 Syrah
Bronze - 2019 Albariño
Bronze - 2019 Pinot Gris
Bronze - 2018 Shuttleworth Creek Pinot Noir

2020 Cascadia International Wine Competition
Gold - 2016 Tempranillo
Silver - 2017 Renaissance Pinot Noir

2020 Wine Press Northwest Best of the Best
Double Gold - 2018 Syrah Rosé
Gold - 2016 Renaissance Merlot

Reopening for Tastings June 24th

We have been working hard over the past month in order to be able to begin offering tasting experiences once again and we're very excited to let you know that as of Wednesday June 24th we will be open for tastings! Due to physical distancing requirements and new santizing protocols, how tastings will operate this year is different to what you have been used to in previous years.

We have implemented a new online reservations system for our tastings this year, in order to comply with the Public Health Order for occupancy and physical distancing. Walk-ins for tastings will be accepted if space and adequate staffing is available. Tasting experiences will all be conducted on our deck, overlooking the vineyard. A new solar panel roof will be completed shortly that will not only provide shade on the deck, but will also power our wine shop and offices!

Our wine tasting experiences can be booked for up to 6 people. Please choose which flight you would like (White, Mixed or Red) and specify the number of people in your party when booking. Tastings are pre-poured in carafes and placed on your table on the deck, overlooking the vineyard, upon your arrival. The guided tasting experience runs approximately 30 minutes. Last bookings of the day begin at 4:20pm.

The tasting fee of $10 per person is waived on the purchase of 2 bottles per person. Tasting fees are also waived for Wine Club Members and up to 3 guests. Please note that we donate all tastings to SORCO Raptor Rehab, located a few kilometres south of the winery near Vaseux Lake.

Groups are defined as guests that are travelling together. For that reason we kindly request only those who wish to taste and/or purchase wine attend the tasting. Due to the limited occupancy rules, we are unable to host persons under the age of 19.

White Wine Tasting

Join us on our deck, overlooking the vineyard, to be guided through a flight of four pre-poured wines (3 whites, 1 rosé).

Red Wine Tasting

Join us on our deck, overlooking the vineyard, to be guided through a flight of four pre-poured wines (4 reds).

Mixed Wine Tasting

Join us on our deck, overlooking the vineyard, to be guided through a flight of four pre-poured wines (1 white, 1 rosé, 2 reds).

Book Your Tasting

Picnic Area Reservation

Our grassy picnic area can be booked if you would like to bring your own picnic lunch. Our wines are available to enjoy in the picnic area by the bottle. We are not able to conduct tastings within the picnic area though. Bookings are available in 50 minute increments, which allows time for our staff to sanitize the chairs and tables between guests. 

Book Your Picnic

Please review our Covid-19 Safety Plan prior to arriving at the winery. Stay healthy, safe, and drink wine!

New Release Reviews from John Schreiner

Thank you to John Schreiner for featuring our new spring releases in his latest post. We are thrilled to receive 92 points on the Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc and 90 points on the other four! To read more, please click here.

Stag’s Hollow Pinot Gris 2019 ($26 for 490 cases). This is the winery’s first Pinot Gris. To distinguish it from the ocean of Pinot Gris in the market, winemaker Keira LeFranc decided to make it in what the winery calls “a rich and textural, off-dry Alsatian style.” She succeeded brilliantly. The wine begins with appealing aromas of pear, white peach and citrus. The palate is indeed rich, with flavours of pear, apple and honeydew melon. The wine has a lingering finish with a hint of spice. 92.

Stag’s Hollow Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($22 for 123 cases). This is a dry, zesty wine with aromas and flavours of lime and gooseberry mingled with savoury herbs. The wine is especially notable for the intensity of flavour and the persistent finish. 92.

Stag’s Hollow Muscat Frizzante 2019 ($22 for 305 cases). The blend is 49.7% Muscat Ottonel, 45.3% Orange Muscat and 5% Riesling. With 10% alcohol and delicate bubbles from being carbonated, this wine is light and refreshing. It begins with aromas of spice. On the palate, the flavours mingle spice with citrus and nectarine. This is such a delicious wine, and it goes down so easily, that you need to buy more than one bottle. 90.

Stag’s Hollow Rosé 2019 ($24 for 483 cases). This is 65% Syrah and 35% Zweigelt. The Zweigelt is new to this blend; the winery now has access to that varietal from a Similkameen vineyard. The wine presents in the glass with a delicate pink hue. It begins with aromas of raspberries and strawberries. Those berries are echoed on the intensely flavoured palate mingled with watermelon and a hint of pepper. The finish is dry. 90.

Stag’s Hollow Blanc de Noirs 2019 ($25 for 235 cases). Fashionably pale in the glass, this wine is 76.8% Pinot Noir, 18.2% Gamay Noir and 4.6% Zweigelt. It begins with aromas of cherry, strawberry and peach. The texture is surprising, and pleasingly. Full, with flavours of strawberry and apple. The finish is dry. 90.

Stag’s Hollow Simply Noir 2019 ($22 for 860 cases). The blend is 63% Gamay Noir, 28% Pinot Noir, 5% Zweigelt and 4% Dolcetto. Here is a very drinkable red wine with soft tannins that suggest the wine will benefit from a slight chill. It has aromas and flavours of bright red fruit including cherries. The finish is dry. 90. 

New Release Reviews from the Wine Diva - Daenna VanMulligan

We've recently received reviews on our first 2019 vintage releases -  2019 Rosé & 2019 Sauvignon Blanc - from Daenna VanMulligan. To see more of her reviews, please visit her site at WineDiva.

Tangy, dry, juicy.
Stag's Hollow celebrates 25 years in 2020!
Made from Syrah (64.8%) grown in Osoyoos, and Zweigelt from the Similkameen Valley, this pale Provencal-hued pink offers apricot and melon, red currents and orange blossom aromas. Tangy high-toned red fruit lines the palate; overall, good structure, balance and freshness.
A great wine for taco Tuesdays, or partner with grilled fish, ratatouille, grilled veggies and medium cheeses.   

 

 

 

 

 

Delightful, expressive, delicious.
Delightfully expressive, this savvy offers piquant notes of nettle and gooseberry alongside guava and peaches, green apples, honey and elderflower branch. It is tangy and buoyant, with a clean palate that shows significant peachy flavours. It has a kiss of sweetness and is definitely more fruity than verdant. Delicious and persistent; one glass, nay one bottle will not be enough.  

Recommended Pairings 
Eat your Greens, Cheese - Goat, Creamy Dishes

 

 

Food & Music Pairings for our 2019 Rosé

Our 2019 Rosé is featured in this week's Castanet Wine Review by Allison Markin, where she offers some great food pairing suggestions, as well as a song...

Pair with: Takeout Indian dishes, spicy nachos made at home, a veggie or tuna poke bowl with reasonable wasabi mixed in (or on the side). Grilled salmon or hot buffalo wings from the grill, or a spinach and strawberry salad with a light lime and pepper vinaigrette.

Music pairing: How Soon is Now, The Smiths

For the complete review on Castanet, including the tasting notes, please follow this link.