Culmina Saignée 2020

Covert Farms Family Estate Rosé wine

From the Arise Bench, each grape variety for this blend was harvested through the final two weeks of October. The last was Cabernet Sauvignon on Halloween. Culmina Saignée 2020 highlights bright red berry aromas, with red cherry and red currant leading with hints of watermelon and papaya. On the palate, the profile is light and bright, delivering bone-dry flavours with an elegant medium-body. Crushable on its own but meant to accompany heightened summer fare. A lengthy, nuanced finish. Tasted September 2021.

Process: Fermented in 100% stainless steel.

Visit producer website

Style: Still Wine

Producer: Culmina

Country: Canada

Region: British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Golden Mile Bench

Classification: VQA

Vintage: 2020

Colour: Rosé

Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc

Secondary Grape: Syrah, Malbec, Cab Sauv, Merlot

Organic: N/A

Biodynamic: N/A

Sustainable: N/A

Vegan: N/A

Regeneratively Farmed: N/A

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An entirely separate food and drink post is coming 😀

1. Colosseum, Rome - heading inside with our tour group. We paid extra to see the underground and walk where the gladiators walked, and it was worth every penny.
2. A bunch of literal relics.
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7. Sunset views from Terrazza del Pincio.
8. Vatican views from inside Castel Sant’Angelo.
9. Roman views from the top of Castel Sant’Angelo.
10. Rooftop cocktails and bites at @biohotelraphaelroma near Piazza Navona.
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12. Sunday morning in Rome.
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Grab the fall issue of @fullpourmag to read my article about why it might be time for a change in Canada, where hybrid grapes have an important winemaking history without much recognition within the country’s regulatory quality alliance.

Let’s take a poll: should hybrid grapes play a more prominent role in BC and Ontario’s VQA?

#canadianwine #hybridgrapes #fullpour #allthedrinks⁠

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Read about it on VineRoutes.ca: https://vineroutes.com/are-okanagan-gsm-blends-safeish-from-climate-change/

@road13vineyards @pentagewinery @winesofbc

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I’ve always been that person that travels with snacks, in case gluten free meal options are a challenge. But this trip, I didn’t need a single one.

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Any vintage experts have any insight?

#ChateauneufDuPape #2017Vintage

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Exclusively inside the @fairmontvan, this cocktail blends @thebotanistgin, @sheringhamdistillery Rhubarb Liqueur, fresh lemon, @giffardcanada Strawberry, and a touch of honey. Sweet, tart, and oh-so-refreshing, it’s the perfect drink to celebrate the sunny season. 🌞🍋

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Full article is coming about the smaller (boutique perhaps?) wineries in this expansive AVA. Keep your eyes 👀 out!

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A relatively new venture for Bryant and partner in wine, Kate Truscott, the duo took over 1 Mill Road from David and Cynthia Enns, founders of Laughing Stock Vineyards, in 2022.

For Bryant, former chief winemaker for Pernod Ricard Australia and VP of winemaker at Mission Hill, it's about crafting single-vineyard expressions while maintaining sustainable practices.

"Our view is to be single-vineyard with a very purposeful intent in how we grow," says Bryant.

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* 2022 Chardonnay: From the same East Kelowna slopes vineyard — aged in French barrels (12% new). The acidity is persistent from start to finish and marries well with the oak. Flavours of peach, apple blossom, and wet stone, restrained and non-overt. An anti-Okanagan style.
* 2022 Black Pine Pinot Noir: Produced on a 4-acre Naramate Bench vineyard, one of the bench’s most northerly sites. 20% whole cluster, aged for 9 months in 1, 2 and 3-year-old French barriques. Incredible brightness and perfume intensity. The palate offers an integrity and structure, perfectly marrying bright red fruit flavours with acidity.
* 2022 Home Block Pinot Noir: Home Block is a 1.5-acre vineyard on the Naramata Bench, planted in 2013. 30% whole cluster and fermented in foudres, this wine highlights the stability of the growing season, growing gracefully without heat spikes. The vine age offers riper fruit flavours with fine cocoa powder-esque tannins — excellent integration with a seamless texture.

Thank you, Ben and Katie, for sharing your wines!

Six-pack shipments are available directly from the winery across Canada. https://www.1millroad.ca

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