Hot growing days, and cool desert nights in our Southern vineyards nurture wines that showcase savoury notes, and ripe fruit flavour. The unique rockiness of Desert Ridge, and West-facing slope of Haynes Creek create some of the most interesting micro-climates in the Okanagan.

Three years ago after a trip to Alsace, France, our winemaker, Taylor Whelan, started to play with our Pinot Gris styles a bit. This bundle brings forth an exploration of a grape that is often known for its subdued character. As writer Neal McLennan stated earlier this year, "I love that Whelan is swinging for the fences with a grape that most winemakers just want to bloop singles with." 

Pinot Noir - the most important grape to us at CedarCreek - truly expresses its site more than any other grape varietal. On the lower slopes of our Home Block Vineyard on Lakeshore Road, Block 2's clay soils originate from post-glacial sediment. Our vines thrive in this terroir, resulting in an elegant, fresh, floral Pinot Noir. By contrast, on the upper slopes of Home Block, the sandy loam soils in Block 4 provide excellent drainage. The vines work hard and dig deep to access water, forcing lower yields and increased concentration, resulting in a powerful, structured Pinot Noir. 

Desert Ridge, on the western edge of Osoyoos Lake, was created with stones left behind by retreating glaciers. Stony vineyards are extremely rare, and extremely difficult to farm. As the vines struggle and our tools break, we persist. The stones radiate heat back up giving us intensely concentrated grapes.  These two wines highlight the intensity of our stoniest vineyard.