Best Buy! This early-ripening grape native to Germany thrives in maritime regions of the Pacific Northwest, and Fraser Valley winemaker Gary Zhygailo has used it to produce another charming wine. The graduate of Ukraine’s Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies blended it here with another German variety — Schönburger (15%), which is related to Pinot Noir. Aromas hit on chamomile, lavender and honey before the palate reveals flavors of peach, green guava and orange pith, making for a well-balanced finish ideal with curries, a ham sandwich and fare from the Salish Sea. Siegerrebe has become the flagship wine of Chaberton, and it’s clear to see why. Alas, they are not permitted to ship beyond Canada, which requires a visit just across the border to British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.
Rating: Cascadia International best white wine — gold medal — 94 points — Outstanding!
Production: 1,111 cases
Alcohol: 12.7%
Leave a Reply