A Meeting Place of Friends & Charity

If anyone was looking for some of the best Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs coming out of British Columbia these days, Naramata's Coolshanagh Wines would definitely be among my top half-dozen recommendations. 

The vineyard's soils, perched on Lake Okanagan and comprised of silt, clay, limestone and calcium carbonate, anchor vines suited to the noble Burgundian varieties damn well. Proprietors Judy & Skip Stothert were not only convinced of this through self-guided research, but visits and consulting by Chilean-based Pedro Parra, arguably the greatest terroir expert on the planet, locked in their commitment to these varieties leading the way. The wines are made by Matt Dumayne at Okanagan Crush Pad, across the lake in Summerland.

Their well-woven elegance and fine-balanced nature may make some tempted to use the B-word when discussing their quality, but these are distinctly Okanagan wines, driven by good acid, minerality, and purity of fruit.

Want to geek out? Here's the tech-y stuff about the current Chard ($37) and Pinot ($37). 

Now, Coolshanagh is a Celtic term for a 'meeting place of friends.' Expanding that sentiment broader into community, Judy & Skip are in the midst of a charitable initiative. From now through the end of June, they are donating $10 from every case of wine purchased to the B.C. Hospitality Foundation, our industry charity that provides financial assistance to those in the food and beverage industry facing a major medical crisis. More on that initiative is here.  

The wines offer tremendous value, and can both be enjoyed now, or easily lay down for a few years to develop further complexity. 

So, 'highly recommended,' for sure!

​To order Coolshanagh wines from anywhere across Canada, please visit the website of Trialto, their local agent.