First sips of the weekend

Sandhill Winery
At Calona tasing room in downtown Kelowna
May 25, 2012

Sandhill's concept, wines from single vineyard in order for wine to reflect the specific terroir of where the grapes were grown was fairly unique to the Okangagan.  Sandhill grows roughly 200 acres on Black Sage Road.  Sandhill benefited initially from it's association with Burrowing Owl.  They know stand on their own as premium brand. Sandhill and Calona are now owed by Andrew Peller Ltd.  Calona winery(just now reached 80) in downtown Kelowna makes the wine under the direction of winemaking Howard Soon.

This was our second time to the tasting room.  One of S's favorite wines we bought here last time, so we were eager( OK I was) to do a tasting. We arrived at the tasting room just after 9.  The tasting room was already filled with a tour bus.  We were taken to a quiet tasting area in the back and tasted the wines there.  we enjoyed our tasting and our pourer was very knowable and fun.

We bought
2011 Family Estate Pinot Gris
2012 Small Lot Viognier
2009 Small Lot One
2009 Estate Cabernet Franc
2008 Small Lot Syrah

We have drank
2012 Small lots Viognier.  Viognier is my favorite white grape and this wine delivered as one of my favorites. Lush, full bodied, tropical fuit that satified a hot day on the deck.
2011 Estate Pinot Gris  Crisp refreshing white.  Drank this one on the deck with S.
2009 Small Lot One.  35% Cab Sau, 38% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 3% Syrah.  This was one of S's favorite wine.  This was a Wine Friday wine that I enjoyed with S.
2009 Small Lots Phantom Creek Syrah  Big ripe wine.  Pepper in both the aroma and on the finish.  This was also a Wine Friday with S.

These are some of our favorite wines from the Okanogan.  We enjoyed our first few sips of the weekend and the people were great.  We will be back to stock up on their Small Lot One and Viognier.

Rating  I am in love with these wines.