Gray Monk Estate Winery
We were proud to feature Gray Monk in March 2022.
A true expression of BC wine. Built upon tradition and generations of commitment, Gray Monk stands proudly overlooking Okanagan Lake, with stunning panoramic views of mountains and vineyards, it offers a true taste of Okanagan living. They offer one-of-a-kind, award-winning BC VQA wines – including their number one selling Pinot Gris.
Gray Monk was established in 1972 by George and Trudy Heiss. Today, they have over fifty acres of lush vineyards overlooking Lake Okanagan, which produce some of the world’s finest wines.
Tasting Notes
PINOT GRIS, 2020
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vineyard: Estate vineyard and various Okanagan Valley growers
Alcohol: 13.3%
Residual Sugar: 9.9 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 28,208
Appearance: Pink-gold colour.
Nose: Minerally, peach pit nose with a light floral note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted white peach flavor. Well balanced, lovely mouth feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now and through 2022.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Grilled black cod with miso sauce, zucchini lemon orzo with feta cheese, foie gras with toast points, seared scallops with jalapeño vinaigrette, and lemon chicken piccata.
ODYSSEY MERLOT, 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Various Osoyoos and Oliver vineyards
Alcohol: 14.6%
Residual Sugar: 0.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,477
Appearance: Ruby-purple in colour.
Nose: Cedary, Bing cherry nose with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, mocha chocolate and plum flavours. Well-structured, with well-integrated oak and pliant tannins.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold a couple of years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Lamb burger with tzatziki, Tennessee meatloaf with brown sugar glaze, pork loin with red wine reduction, vegetarian Shepherd’s pie, and pan-seared duck breast with blueberry sauce.
ODYSSEY TRADITIONAL BRUT, 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Chardonnay (34%), Pinot Meunier (33%), Pinot Noir (33%)
Vineyard: Various Kelowna vineyards
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 7.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 450
Appearance: Pale straw colour. Active mousse of tiny bubbles.
Nose: Apple and pear bouquet with crusty bread notes.
Palate: Light- to medium-bodied, crisply dry, Granny Smith apple flavour with lemony acidity and a hint of almond on the finish. Good length.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now and through 2022.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Chicken and veggie stir fry with teriyaki, mussels with herbs de Provence in white wine sauce, risotto-stuffed mushrooms, mini-quiche Lorraine, and deep-fried turkey with roasted root vegetables.
MONK'S BLEND, 2020
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Syrah (73%), Cabernet Sauvignon (27%)
Vineyard: Various south Okanagan vineyards
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 3.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 6,131
Appearance: Dense purple in colour.
Nose: Cedary, savoury blackberry nose with a smoky note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, spicy blackberry and dried herb flavours. Firmly structured, finishing on a note of bitter chocolate.
Quality: Outstanding. Can be enjoyed now, but will reward cellaring for a couple of years.
Critic Rating: 91 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Barbecued herb and garlic sausages, veal chops with crimini mushrooms, venison steak with onions and gravy, Mediterranean stuffed eggplant, and hard cheeses.
ROSÉ, 2020
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Cabernet Franc (35.5%), Merlot (28.8%), Rotberger (12.6%), Gamay Noir (9.1%), Pinot Noir (7.6%), Pinot Meunier (3.8%), Pinot Gris (1.9%), Siegerrebe (0.7%)
Vineyard: Estate vineyard and various Lake Country, Oliver, and Osoyoos growers
Alcohol: 12.6%
Residual Sugar: 16.5 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 4,836
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Pale salmon colour.
Nose: Strawberry, raspberry, red cherry, peach, melon, white flowers, hint of cranberry.
Palate: Medium acid, light tannin, medium body. Strawberry, raspberry, peach, pink grapefruit, tangerine. Hint of minerality.
Quality: 90 points. Outstanding. Well balanced and refreshing.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Smoked prosciutto-wrapped brie, pork chops with roasted garlic, mushroom-stuffed bell peppers, spicy roasted chicken, and grilled peaches with cinnamon mascarpone.
ODYSSEY CABERNET FRANC, 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Various Osoyoos and Oliver vineyards
Alcohol: 14.6%
Residual Sugar: 2.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 545
Appearance: Deep purple in colour.
Nose: Spicy, oaky nose of blueberry and blackcurrant.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted, juicy flavours of plum and blackcurrant carried on fresh acidity to a pleasing finish of ripe tannins and blackberries.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. Drinking well now, but will reward a year or two in your cellar.
Critic Rating: 89 – 91 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Grilled chicken with chipotle sauce, steak with sautéed onions in garlic butter, flame-grilled green and red peppers, baked asiago cheese dip with baguette, and artisanal dark chocolate.
ODYSSEY WHITE BRUT, 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Chardonnay Musqué (53%), Riesling (30%), Pinot Blanc (17%)
Vineyard: Villa Vista Vineyard, Kelowna; Compact Orchard, Lake Country; Semper Sitiens Vineyard, Lake Country
Alcohol: 11.7%
Residual Sugar: 8.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,330
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale straw colour. Tiny effervescent bubbles.
Nose: Fresh baked bread, peach, green apple, lemon, hints of tropical fruit.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Green apple, peach, yellow pear, lime zest, toast. Well balanced and refreshing.
Quality: 89 – 90 points. Very Good+ / Outstanding.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Pan-fried salmon with sautéed mushrooms, lemon chicken, grilled tomatoes with goat cheese, parsley and black pepper, spicy Szechuan pork bites, and baked brie with fruit compote.
CABERNET MERLOT, 2019
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA British Columbia
Varietal: Cabernet Franc (46%), Merlot (45%), Cabernet Sauvignon (9%)
Vineyard: Various Okanagan and Similkameen vineyards
Alcohol: 13.4%
Residual Sugar: 3.1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 5,355
Appearance: Opaque purple in colour.
Nose: Blueberry bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, blueberry and black plum flavours with bay leaf notes. Beautifully balanced and firmly structured with a juicy plum finish.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. Hold to 2023 to soften the tannins.
Critic Rating: 89 – 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Grilled beef tenderloin with jus, eggplant lasagna with garlic bread, smokey pulled pork on pretzel buns, gorgonzola and honey bruschetta, and aged Canadian cheddar.
CHARDONNAY UNWOODED, 2020
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA British Columbia
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Various Okanagan and Similkameen vineyards
Alcohol: 12.9%
Residual Sugar: 6.7 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 4,407
Appearance: Clear, bright. Very pale straw colour.
Nose: Green apple, white flowers, peach, hint of tropical fruit.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Green apple, tangerine, peach, lemon, lime zest.
Quality: 90 points. Outstanding.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Coconut shrimp skewers, crab cakes on a bed of sautéed veggies, linguine in an avocado and basil cream sauce, baked ham with toffee crust, and crème brûlée.
ODYSSEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard: Various Osoyoos vineyards
Alcohol: 14.3%
Residual Sugar: 1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,450
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark purple-ruby colour.
Nose: Dark cherry, blackcurrant, violet, savoury green herbs, hints of smoke and black pepper spice.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry, plum, earth, dark chocolate, leather, black pepper, hint of black tea.
Quality: 89 – 90 points. Very Good+ / Outstanding. Decant well and enjoy now or hold 1-2 years.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Rich beef stews, leg of lamb with roasted tomatoes, veggie burgers with aged cheddar, hard cheeses like gorgonzola and gouda, and chocolate-raspberry layered cake.
MERLOT, 2019
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Various Oliver and Osoyoos vineyards
Alcohol: 14.1%
Residual Sugar: 3.8 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 575
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark garnet colour.
Nose: Dark cherry, black raspberry, blackberry, savoury green herbs, hint of black pepper and smoke.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Plum, black cherry, dark berry fruit, green vegetal note, hints of earth and black pepper.
Quality: 90 points. Outstanding.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Portobello mushroom burgers, macaroni and cheese with truffle shavings, beef wellington with blackberry sauce, grilled flat iron steak and frites, and charcuterie.
PINOT NOIR, 2019
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Various Okanagan Valley vineyards
Alcohol: 12.2%
Residual Sugar: 8.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 12,195
Appearance: Bright. Pale garnet colour.
Nose: Red cherry, raspberry, earth, hint of black pepper and vanilla.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Red cherry, cranberry, raspberry, savoury green herbs, touch of earth and pepper spice.
Quality: 89 – 90 points. Very Good+ / Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Turkey dinner with wild mushroom stuffing and cranberries, roasted tomato and eggplant ragu over pasta, smoked salmon with capers, fennel-garlic pork roast, and chocolate-covered strawberries.
ODYSSEY MERITAGE, 2018
Gray Monk Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Merlot (45%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Cabernet Franc (20%), Malbec (10%), Petit Verdot (5%)
Vineyard: Various Osoyoos vineyards
Alcohol: 14.7%
Residual Sugar: 0.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,415
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark purple-ruby colour.
Nose: Violet, dark cherry, blackcurrant, savoury green herbs, smoke, black pepper.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Black cherry, blackcurrant, dark plum, green pepper, earth, touch of vanilla and pepper spice.
Quality: 89 – 90 points. Very Good+ / Outstanding.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Pheasant in a rich red wine reduction, steak and kidney pie, barbequed lamb shank, roasted veggies, and grilled venison with mashed potatoes and gravy.