Gold Hill Winery & Charisma Wines
We were proud to feature Gold Hill Winery in February 2023.
A family-operated winery, Gold Hill’s focus has been to produce wines that reflect the charm of the South Okanagan. With over three decades of farming in the Okanagan, the Gill brothers believe great wines start with understanding the unique terrior of each of the vineyard site. With a focus on Bordeaux varietals well suited to the warm South Okanagan climate, Gold Hill has garnered a loyal following and consistently produces an exceptional portfolio, including their flagship cabernet franc. With veteran viticulturist and winemaker Val Tait at the helm, Gold Hill continues to push boundaries, notably with their new TerreLab series, and create exceptional small-lot wines from their estate-grown grapes.
Charisma Wines draws from the diverse palate of the vineyards and the local wine growing regions that the Okanagan has to offer, to create approachable everyday drinking wines. These wines are vibrant, fresh, and contemporary in style, reflecting the terroir of the vineyards and playful winemaking.
Wines included in your package:
Enthusiast Red & White: 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Charisma Cabernet Merlot
Enthusiast Red Only: 2021 Charisma Malbec, 2021 Charisma Cabernet Merlot
Enthusiast White Only: 2022 Charisma Pinot Gris, 2022 Charisma Chardonnay
Expert Red & White: 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Charisma Malbec, 2021 Charisma Cabernet Merlot
Expert Red Only: 2017 Cabernet Franc, 2021 Charisma Malbec, 2021 Charisma Cabernet Merlot
Expert White Only: 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Charisma Pinot Gris, 2022 Charisma Chardonnay
Master Red & White: 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Charisma Pinot Gris, 2022 Charisma Chardonnay, 2017 Cabernet Franc, 2021 Charisma Malbec, 2021 Charisma Cabernet Merlot
Master Red Only: 2017 Cabernet Franc, 2021 Charisma Malbec, 2021 Charisma Cabernet Merlot, 2018 Syrah, 2019 Merlot, 2015 Grand Vin
Tasting Notes
SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2020
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Mirror Lake Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 2.69 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 200
Appearance: Bright, golden in colour.
Nose: Minerally, smoky, vegetal nose with a light floral note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, crisply dry, with lemon-lime and green plum flavours.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now and through 2023.
Food Pairing: Butter-and-herb baked oysters, Tuscan-style roasted asparagus, prosciutto pesto pizza, sweet potato quinoa salad, and grilled grapefruit-rosemary shrimp.
CHARISMA CABERNET MERLOT, 2021
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Cabernet Franc (41%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Merlot (19%)
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 6.1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,650
Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, smoky, spicy nose of black fruits.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, smoked-meat, blackcurrant, and black licorice flavours. Well-balanced, well-integrated oak and soft tannins.
Quality: 89 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+. Very drinkable now, but will reward cellaring for 1 – 2 years.
Food Pairing: BBQ chicken pizza, applewood-smoked steak, marinated seared ahi tuna, fried tofu in teriyaki, and French onion soup.
CHARISMA PINOT GRIS, 2022
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vineyard: Mirror Lake Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 4.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 650
Appearance: Bright, clear. Pale straw hue.
Nose: A generous bouquet of white flowers, golden berry, honeydew melon, pear, nectarine, lime and lemon, and a touch of honey.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Notes of spiced pear, ripe peach, and melon.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now and through 2024.
Food Pairing: Oven-baked salmon with picholine olive sauce, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, curry chicken skewers with lime, vegetarian pad Thai, and steamed Dungeness crab with drawn garlic butter.
CHARISMA MALBEC, 2021
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Malbec
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 0.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 790
Appearance: Dark ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, toasty nose of blackberries with oak spice and a note of violets.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, elegant. Firmly structured but lots of finesse here. Beautifully balanced, blackberry flavour with chalky minerality and good length.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drink now and through 2025.
Food Pairing: Grilled cauliflower steaks, beef brisket nachos, stuffed jalapeño poppers, rosemary- and garlic-basted sirloin steak, and pomegranate-glazed lamb lollipops.
CHARISMA CHARDONNAY, 2022
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Mirror Lake Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.9%
Residual Sugar: 3.8 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 460
Appearance: Bright, clear. Staw-hued core.
Nose: A distinct floral perfume; white flowers with a hint of baking spice. Golden berry, stone fruit, citrus (orange, lime, lemon), green grass, and herbal notes.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Ripe peach, orange and lemon citrus, and honeydew melon. Savoury green herbs like tarragon. A hint of nutmeg and clove that leaves a pleasant hint of spice on the finish.
Quality: 89 – 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Very Good+ / Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Tequila-marinated chicken fajitas, pan-seared scallops, butternut squash risotto, Elote (Mexican street style) roasted carrots, and hazelnut-crusted pork chops.
CABERNET FRANC, 2017
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 14.1%
Residual Sugar: 1.7 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 172
Appearance: Dense ruby colour.
Nose: Spicy, floral nose of blueberries with tobacco and vanilla oak notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, savoury flavours of blueberry and black plum. Beautifully balanced, ripe tannins and juicy acidity.
Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drinking well now, but can be cellared until 2025.
Food Pairing: Crispy roast duck, Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwich, ribeye steak with a ginger-garlic sauce, spinach-stuffed chicken breast, and bell peppers stuffed with quinoa and a plant-based protein.
CABERNET FRANC ROSE, 2021
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Oxbow Reach Vineyard
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 2.99 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 120
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Light salmon colour.
Nose: Notes of strawberry, cherry, raspberry, cranberry, and orange zest.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Luscious flavours of strawberry, cherry, rhubarb, tangerine, with hints of fresh basil and mint on the finish.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding.
Food Pairing: Charcuterie board with fresh fruit, hard cheeses, and thinly sliced Varzi salami, crispy beer-battered halibut, smoked gouda and bacon burger with barbeque sauce, traditional Spanish paella, and grilled eggplant with garlic and herbs.
SYRAH, 2018
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 15%
Residual Sugar: 1.7 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 263
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark ruby colour.
Nose: Floral notes of violets, black cherry, blackcurrant, licorice, and black pepper.
Palate: Medium acid, medium+ tannin, medium body. Dark plum, black cherry, blackcurrant, black tea, a hint of earth, baking spice, and black pepper.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Decant well and enjoy now, or cellar through 2025.
Food Pairing: BLT burger, sticky pork spareribs, mushroom pot pie, filet mignon with black peppercorn sauce, and falafel with hummus.
MERLOT, 2019
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Oxbow Reach Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.6%
Residual Sugar: 1.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 208
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Ruby in colour.
Nose: Wonderful aromas of black cherry, raspberry, licorice, and savoury green herbs with a hint of black pepper.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Notes of ripe dark cherry, blackberry, plum, licorice, black tea, earth, and a hint of savoury green herbs.
Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drinking beautifully now, but can also be cellared through 2024.
Food Pairing: Beef bourguignon, veggie burger with pomegranate ketchup, beef wellington with red wine gravy, chicken souvlaki with tzatziki, and cheesy scalloped potatoes.
GRAND VIN, 2015
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Cabernet Franc (30%), Merlot (20%), Malbec (20%)
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 15.8%
Residual Sugar: 2.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 500
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark ruby-garnet colour.
Nose: A rich bouquet of violets, black cherry, jammy black fruit (blackberry and cassis), vanilla, and black pepper, with a hint of menthol.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Dark cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, savoury green herbs, and a hint of black pepper. Well balanced with a smooth mouthfeel.
Quality: 90 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Decant and enjoy now.
Food Pairing: Smoked prime rib with brown butter garlic sauce, grilled lamb with burrata and pesto, osso buco, venison chili, and spinach and tomato quiche with aged cheddar.
TERRELAB TEMPRANILLO, 2018
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Tempranillo
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13.3%
Residual Sugar: 1.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 70
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark ruby colour.
Nose: A bouquet of lavender and violet with red cherry, raspberry, cassis, and baking spice.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Cherry, spice, and tomato leaf undulate along the palate with hints of dark chocolate and black tea. An exquisite, mellow mouthfeel.
Quality: 91 points – Wine Club Canada. Outstanding. Drinking beautifully now, but can be cellared through 2023.
Food Pairing: Smoked sweet ‘n’ spicy chicken wings, carne asada tacos, steak with polenta and chimichurri sauce, creamy caprese quinoa bake, and chipotle-grilled pork shoulder steaks with corn salsa.