On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Pinot Gris! The 2015 Roche Pinot Gris to be exact.
One of the Naramata Bench’s newest wineries is also one of my favourites! It’s owned by Dylan and Penelope Roche, a winemaking power couple who have made wine all over the world. Penelope’s family owned a chateau in Bordeaux for generations, so she’s literally grown up in the wine industry. At Roche, they take French wine making techniques and tradition and use them to put their mark on organically grown grapes here in the Okanagan valley. Pinot Gris is the most widely planted white grape in the valley, but this version is an absolute stand-out. It’s got uber rich texture and sweet fruit character that still retains fantastic acidity and freshness in a dry white wine. It’s all ripe pears and ginger spice with a long, candied lemon finish. This is a perfect accompaniment to roasted chicken or pork with roasted veggies. Alternatively, serve this to your guests as an aperitif when they walk through the door and get ready for a barrage of high fives.