British Columbia

This tree-free Chardonnay comes from one of British Columbia's finest wineries, run by Heidi Noble and Michael Dinn, two former restaurateurs who turned their passions toward winemaking. This opens with aromas of tropical fruit, including mango, followed by rich, minerally flavors that include apple, passionfruit and banana. A delicious wine to drink as a cocktail or with … [Read more...] about JoieFarm 2012 Unoaked Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, $23

The JoieFarm team excels with aromatic whites, and this is one of the finest Gewürztraminers we've run across in recent memory. It's a reserve-level wine packaged in a dramatically tall bottle and is seriously great. It opens with huge aromas of tropical fruit, yellow grapefruit, rosewater, lychee and apple blossom. On the palate, the touch of sweetness is expertly balanced … [Read more...] about JoieFarm 2011 En Famille Reserve Gewürztraminer, Okanagan Valley, $28

A government-sponsored vine pull-out in the late 1980s helped to eradicate most non-vinifera grape varieties that plagued the Okanagan Valley in the 1960s, '70s and '80s. The result is that we're now seeing wines from vines that are a quarter-century old. Such is the case with this delicious Pinot Blanc, which uses grapes from the Kelowna and Naramata areas of the valley. This … [Read more...] about JoieFarm 2012 Pinot Blanc, Okanagan Valley, $23

This stunning Chardonnay from north of the border was crafted by Heidi Noble and Robert Thielicke. Noble and her husband, Michael Dinn, came from a restaurant background and craft all of their wines to pair specifically with the cuisine prevalant in the Lower Mainland, particularly seafood. This white wine opens with aromas of fresh apricot, peach, pear and tropical fruit, … [Read more...] about JoieFarm 2011 En Famille Reserve Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, $30

Robert Thielicke works alongside Heidi Noble as the winemakers for JoieFarm, one of British Columbia's best producers. He is a veteran winemaker who has spent more than a decade in the valley's cellars. This reserve-level Pinot Noir uses grapes from the Naramata Bench and other nearby vineyards, and only the top barrels are chosen. This opens with aromas of ripe watermelon, … [Read more...] about JoieFarm 2011 En Famille Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, $40