We taste a lot of B.C. wine at Gismondi on Wine. Before we turn to our holiday columns — covering gifts, entertaining, sparkling wines, Champagne, and wine choices for Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve — we’re taking a look back at some of the most impressive B.C. wines we tasted this year.

From wines scoring 93 points out of 100 and above, they are all excellent; here’s a cross-section of some of the best. You will find more selections at Gismondi on Wine, with full notes and details. Prices reflect the cost at the time of tasting. Availability varies, but start with the winery, then private wine shops, and finally B.C. liquor stores as you prepare to hunt down any of these labels. And for the budget-minded, we wrap up our picks with some of our favourite best buys. This is definitely a column to photo or save electronically for on-the-go use throughout the holiday season.

We begin with Osoyoos Larose 2022 Grand Vin, Okanagan Valley $80, one of the best red blends made in North America and a standout in ’22. The Storm Haven 2023 Riesling Gibson Block 3, Okanagan Falls $45 is a gift to Riesling aficionados who won’t believe the quality for the price. The Hester Creek 2022 Garland, Okanagan Valley $65 is a favourite of mine, polished and elite among red blends.

Riesling remains underrated, but the knowledgeable Tantalus 2023 Old Vines Riesling, Okanagan Valley $44 is a joy to drink or cellar for decades. In East Kelowna, winemaker Martin’s Lane Shane Mumn has become the custodian of Sperling Vineyard Riesling 2025 East Kelowna Slopes $60, one of the oldest vineyard sites in the Okanagan. Speaking of best, the most consistent sparkling producer has a new release: the Blue Mountain 2017 Blanc de Blancs R.D. Okanagan Falls $45 is a magical sparkler, having spent 90 months on its lees in the cellar.

Mission Hill 2023 Perpetua Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley $60, continues to evolve and joins the elite Next World Chardonnay group. In the Similkameen, unheralded Smith Montpetit 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon $45 is a fully ripe Cabernet with freshness and elegance. And if pink is your thing, look into the 1 Mill Road 2025 Pinot Noir Rosé 438 from the Naramata Bench, which is the best we have tasted this year.

Lightning Rock 2022 Reserve Pinot Noir, Canyonview Vineyard, Summerland Bench, $50, is the only one among several Pinot Noirs spreading its wings across B.C. CedarCreek 2023 Aspect Collection Block 4 Pinot Noir, East Kelowna Slopes, speaks to the growing interest in northern-based Pinot Noir sites. B.C.’s potential attracted one of the world’s foremost Biodynamic growers, Olivier Humbrecht, who is excited to grow Pinot Gris in the Okanagan, especially in the Similkameen. His latest release: Phantom Creek Estates 2025 Pinot Gris, Okanagan Valley, $32, is a sign of things to come.

And for those on a budget, here are some of the best value B.C. bottles tasted this year: Nichol Vineyard 2025 Pinot Gris, Naramata Bench $22; Liber Rebil 2025 Sauvignon Blanc, Okanagan Valley $22; Lightning Rock 2025 Riesling, Naramata Bench $25; Blue Mountain Estate Cuvée 2025 Pinot Blanc $25 and the 2025 Sauvignon Blanc $25 and the 2025 Pinot Gris$25; Fort Berens 2025 Riesling $24; Rust Wine Co 2025 Gewürztraminer $25; Solvero 2025 Pinot Gris Garnet Valley $25; LaStella Vivace 2025 Pinot Grigio $25; Tantalus 2025 Rosé Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley $24.

If you are shopping for B.C., vintage matters. The best vintage still in the market is the 2022, but supplies are running low. The 2023 and 2025 are both respectable vintages, although ’23 was a small crop and is running low. Plenty of 2025s are available from what was a generous, if at times diluted, harvest.

Finally, keep in mind that 99 per cent of ’24s you encounter fall into the replacement category. The quality has been, on average, quite good, but the use of foreign grapes has rubbed some folks the wrong way, even if it kept scores of wineries open and hundreds of jobs safe. As for 2026, the jury is out, but there will be smoke issues to sort out and, likely, a reduced offering of wines from across the Okanagan when it is all said and done.

Weekend wine picks

Seven Terraces Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

$19.99 | 89/100

UPC: 9419453008012

Honestly, this Marlborough white blows me away with its freshness, balance, and unassuming quality for the price, year after year. I first encountered it several years ago while searching for high-quality tap wine at Earls. We never had a complaint or an issue with any of the hundreds of 9L bags that went through the system, and Seven Terraces, a mom-and-pop winery, was the smallest winery we dealt with. If you are a fan of Kiwi Sauvignon, this is the one to buy under $20. It is well ahead of its competitors in style and taste.

Liquidity Chardonnay 2025, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley

$29 | 91/100

UPC: 626990456018

Liquidity’s latest, a wine we haven’t seen in seven years, is a winner. Polished and creamy, it has a fragrant pear-and-lemon-pie nose and a citrus mid-palate, lifted by hints of baking spice in the finish. I love the oak integration, which adds breadth without obscuring the freshness. A touch of bitterness in the finish completes the complexity and length. Stylish and affordable. Good value.

Domaine Montmartel Côtes du Rhône 2024, Rhône Valley, France
$21.99 | 89/100

UPC: 3432700000016

This certified organic Côtes du Rhône blends Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan for a sturdy, generous red at a very attractive price. Soft, round, but concentrated blackberry and plum fill the mid-palate, with notes of cedar and pepper in the finish. Don’t overthink this one. The tannins are soft enough for early drinking, while the savoury spice keeps the finish lively. Grilled lamb chops or a pan of oven-grilled vegetables would be divine matches, so back up the truck.

Haywire Merlot 2025, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley
$24.99 | 89/100

UPC: 696852126892

Expect a fresh take on Okanagan Merlot, from 40-year-old Naramata vines, fermented in concrete. The attack blends black and blue fruits with an earthy, smoky, iron undercurrent. The texture is silky smooth and mouth-filling, with notes of red plum, leather, and savoury herbs in the finish. Juicy and ready to drink, this is a food-friendly Merlot you can serve with the likes of burgers, grilled sausages, or mushroom dishes — an affordable midweek red.

Moraine Reserve Merlot 2022, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley
$45 | 90/100

UPC: 626990404026

A ripe, polished Naramata Merlot, full of dark plums and black cherries, with a savoury, dessert-like back end and exotic spice. It is dry; the tannins are dense but more dusty than sticky. It has a lively demeanour throughout, and you can serve it now with grilled lamb chops or a mushroom burger.

B.C. wine of the week

Blue Mountain Blanc de Blancs R.D. Méthode Traditionelle 2017, Okanagan Valley

$44 | 93/100

UPC: 626452721173

Every year, this wine never fails to delight, from the first tension-filled sip to the final lingering taste notes. Seven years on its lees create a creamy, fine mousse without sacrificing freshness. Lemon and citrus lead up front, with fine autolytic layers that carry the wine from bottle to glass to you. The finish is long and dry, with great precision. Toasted nuts and subtle autolytic complexity fade into a long, dry finish with mineral and chalky notes, and Champagne-like precision. Disgorged in August 2025, it is given another year in the bottle before release. At $44, it is an exceptional Canadian sparkling-wine value.

Value wine of the week

San Felice Chianti Classico 2022, Tuscany, Italy

$21.99 | 91/100

UPC: 709067110096

Leonardo Bellaccini, San Felice’s head winemaker and technical director, aims to express the character of each prized vineyard site. His Chianti Classico does just that, with an appealing simplicity and seductive flavour. Earthy notes complement bright red Sangiovese fruit, rounded out by a little Pugnitello — an ancient Tuscan grape the winery helped revive for modern Chianti blends. Real wine. On sale $6 off in 85 stores; stock up.

Calendar items

It’s year 10 for the much-cherished Festival of Trees tradition as it returns to transform Mission Hill Family Estate into a winter wonderland. Your tasting experience begins with a guided tour through the estate, adorned with beautifully decorated trees. It continues with a seated tasting of a thoughtfully curated wine flight paired with seasonal small bites that celebrate holiday flavours. Attendees can enjoy a terrific atmosphere and an entertaining tasting with delicious bites, while a portion of the $65 ticket price ($35 for club members) supports B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation. Last year’s programme raised over $70,000.00. You’ll need a reservation to attend between Nov. 21 and Dec. 31, but you can book ahead for a time that suits you on the Mission Hill Family Estate website.

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Winter in Wine Country takes place at Moon Curser Winery, with Savoury S’mores at The Hideout, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 28 and 29, and Dec. 5 and 6. Families are invited to stop by for a wine tasting and complimentary fireside Savoury Charcuterie S’mores. If you’re new to savoury s’mores, you can replace the sweets with cheese and charcuterie, complimentary with your tasting, if you donate to the Osoyoos Food Bank. Expect Christmas music, decor, and holiday cheer — no reservations required.