quicksearch
The preliminary harvest report is in from Inniskillin Okanagan, and General Manager and Winemaker Sandor Mayer indicating the 2002 vintage has all the makings of a great vintage for both red and white wines.
An early spring bloom, combined with a warm summer and fall yielded an early harvest this year. According to Mayer, "Because of the high sugar and low acidity, choosing the right picking date was extremely important this year to ensure the ideal flavour profile."
So far, he adds, "White varieties are all showing a strong intensive varietal character. The reds have come in with great colour and concentrated fruit with ripe tannin structures."
Mayer, who has been making wine in British Columbia for nine years, notes the past two vintages have been strong, but that the 2002 vintage should produce wines that are exceptional. He is particularly excited about the red premium vinifera grapes he is working with from the Dark Horse Estate Vineyard.
This year to date Mayer has crushed 70 tons of grapes from the Dark Horse Estate Vineyard and has left out approximately another seven tons of Riesling for Icewine.
The 23-acre Dark Horse Estate Vineyard is located on the western slope of the valley, north of Osoyoos Lake. The unique meso-climate is one of the warmest in Canada, has the country's lowest recorded rainfall (250mm) and is Canada's only semi-arid desert. While the growing season is shorter than in Bordeaux, average temperatures are higher. Grape varieties grown on the site are purely classic European Vitis vinifera: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Vidal for Icewine.
Oliver, BC
