Sperling Vineyards
We were proud to feature Sperling Vineyards in November 2021.
Love & Labour since 1925. As BC’s oldest heritage vineyard & home of Canada’s leading organic and biodynamic winegrower, Ann Sperling, Sperling Vineyards is renown for wines of elegance, texture & authenticity. They are proud to produce wines that honour their heritage and celebrate their long family history in Kelowna. Four generations in the making, Sperling’s estate vineyards feature high elevation slopes & mineral rich soils on the east benches of Kelowna which come to life through their old vines & carefully crafted wines. Certified organic since 2017.
Tasting Notes
CAMPBELL KIND WINE ORGANIC PINOT BLANC, 2019
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Blanc (95%) & Riesling (5%)
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 10.7%
Residual Sugar: 6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 310
Appearance: Pale straw colour, lightly minerally.
Nose: Peach pit nose with a spicy, floral note.
Palate: Medium bodied, dry, peach and crab apple flavours with a touch of bitterness on the final taste for added interest.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Cobb salad with shrimp, chicken salad sandwich, grilled zucchini and pesto pizza, scallop and grapefruit ceviche, and battered halibut with cilantro-lime rice.
ORGANIC OLD VINES FOCH RESERVE, 2017
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Marechal Foch
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.9%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 322
Appearance: Mature, deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Earthy, slightly smoky, spicy, tobacco leaf and plum bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, plum and blueberry flavours with lively acidity and a charming floral note on the end taste.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now and through 2022.
Critic Rating: 88.5 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Beef brisket with roasted potatoes, buffalo cauliflower with blue cheese dip, spicy chicken burger with pineapple, lamb chops with corn salad, and pasta primavera with smoked gouda.
ORGANIC CHARDONNAY, 2017
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.6%
Residual Sugar: 4.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 300
Appearance: Bright, golden colour.
Nose: Toasty, baked apple nose.
Palate: Medium- to full-bodied, dry, mouth-filling flavours of apple and lemon with a hint of oak. Lovely mouth feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now and through 2024.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Turkey tacos with pickled radish, polenta cakes with marinara, mushroom gnocchi with sage and brown butter sauce, panko-breaded halibut sandwich, and fava bean salad with tarragon dressing.
ORGANIC PINOT NOIR, 2018
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 1.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 600
Appearance: Light ruby colour with a tawny rim.
Nose: Cherry puree nose with a touch of forest floor and a note of violets.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, quite forward, with strawberry and cherry flavours; nicely structured with ripe tannins and brisk acidity.
Quality: Very Good+. Drinkable now, but would reward cellaring for 1 -2 years.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Spice-rubbed ribs with cheese grits, pasta with kalamata olives and artichokes, herbed potato salad, lima bean and okra succotash, and honey glazed ham.
ORGANIC OLD VINE PINOTS, 2017
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Blanc (57%) & Pinot Gris (43%)
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 11.7%
Residual Sugar: 3.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 322
Appearance: Clear, bright. Very pale straw colour.
Nose: Pineapple, flint, and a green herbal note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Lemon, green apple, pineapple, stone fruit.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points.
Food Pairing: Baked jicama fries with truffle oil, honey garlic shrimp and broccoli, caesar salad with grilled chicken, citrus-glazed quail, and apple slices dipped in baked havarti.
ORGANIC MARKET RED, 2018
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Marechal Foch (80%) & Pinot Noir (20%)
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.2%
Residual Sugar: 0.82 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 519
Appearance: Deep purple in colour.
Nose: A nose of black cherries and black plum with a cedary note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, sour cherry and plum flavours carried on fresh acidity. Reminiscent of a Beaujolais cru.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years. Chillable.
Critic Rating: 88.5 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Tuscan farro soup, flat iron steak with red wine sauce, beef bourguignon with pearl onions, duck pot pie, and smoked paprika salmon with wilted spinach.
ORGANIC PINOT GRIS, 2020
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 0.78 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 255
Appearance: Bright, light straw in colour.
Nose: Minerally, struck flint and apricot bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, stone fruit flavours with racy acidity. Long clean finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now through 2022.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Pearl couscous with feta and chickpeas, foie gras with caviar, creamy garlic mushroom chicken, oyster po’boy with coleslaw, and seared tuna with rice noodles.
ORGANIC PINOT NOIR ROSÉ, 2020
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 11.5%
Residual Sugar: 0.64 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 65
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Bright. Salmon colour.
Nose: Strawberry, raspberry, cranberry. Green herbal note.
Palate: Medium acid, light tannin, medium body. Raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, orange zest, hint of green herbs.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points.
Food Pairing: Braised duck with taro, niçoise salad, turkey and vegetable-stuffed peppers, cajun sausage and rice skillet, and strawberry balsamic pizza with chicken and applewood-smoked bacon.
OLD VINES RIESLING, 2016
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 11.5%
Residual Sugar: 10.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 200
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale straw colour.
Nose: Tropical fruit, peach, green apple, lime, white floral note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Lime, pineapple, stone fruit, green apple. Hints of minerality. Well balanced.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points.
Food Pairing: Sriracha shredded-chicken wraps, cauliflower and pea masala, mussels in white wine sauce, pita tostadas with butternut squash, and sweet potato carbonara with kale.
ORGANIC PINOT NOIR, 2017
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 12.6%
Residual Sugar: 1.9 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 594
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Garnet colour.
Nose: Red cherry, raspberry, hint of green herbs and menthol.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Red cherry, raspberry, red currant, green herbs, and a hint of pepper spice on the finish. Silky tannins.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 – 91 points.
Food Pairing: Chocolate covered strawberries, chicken quesadillas with pumpkin and goat cheese spread, teriyaki sirloin steak with soba noodles, herb-dusted chicken drumsticks with crispy skin, and cheese cappelletti.
ORGANIC DRY RIESLING, 2018
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 6.1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 202
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale gold colour.
Nose: Green apple, pear, lime, hint of honey and peach.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Green apple, lemon, peach, minerality.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. 89 – 90 points.
Food Pairing: Honey and lemon-glazed rack of lamb, bacon-wrapped chicken tenders, goat cheese and sundried tomato ravioli, crab enchiladas with green pepper sauce, and fried tempeh with peanut sauce.
OLD VINES FOCH RESERVE, 2016
Sperling Vineyards, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Marechal Foch
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 312
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark ruby colour.
Nose: Black cherry, plum, and cedar spice notes.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Plum, dark cherry, jammy dark berry flavours. Hints of green pepper and black pepper spice. Silky tannins. Well balanced.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points.
Food Pairing: Pork loin stuffed with pesto and prosciutto, strip steak with a garlic-parsnip purée, eggplant & porcini “meatballs” in tomato sauce, roast beef with cranberry glaze, and chocolate raspberry mousse cake.