Red Rooster Winery
We were proud to feature Red Rooster Winery in March 2019.
Perched high above Okanagan Lake, our winery is located among the rolling hills of Naramata Bench Road. Our engaging and, at times, offbeat approach gives a certain proud flair to everything we do. Not surprisingly, our wines consistently receive top honours at major wine competitions around the world. Not to mention, the 6 Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence under our belts.
Our wines are crafted with a gentle approach and minimal intervention during the winemaking process. While specific processes vary from varietal to varietal, all of our wines are fruit forward, intending to bring out the best features of the Okanagan. All are ready to drink now.
Our reserve wines, however, have fuller-bodies and more structure, which makes them suitable for putting away.
Tasting Notes
CLASSIC RIESLING, 2017
Red Rooster Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Hidden Terrace Vineyard in Oliver, BC
Alcohol: 12.1%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 2,650
Appearance: Bright, pale straw in colour.
Nose: Nose of grapefruit and lemon with a hint of petrol.
Palate: Light-bodied, crisply dry, unctuous mouth-feel with flavours of lime and lemon with a suggestion of honey in mid-palate but finishes tartly dry. Very Rheinhessen in style.
Quality: Outstanding. Drinking well now, but will hold for several years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing Cajun shrimp linguine, camembert cheese, Greek salad, honey mustard glazed ham, crostini with avocado, crab and flake salt.
RARE BIRD SERIES SYRAH, 2015
Red Rooster Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Fool’s Gold Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.9%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 240
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Spicy, blackberry nose with notes of cedar and new leather.
Palate: Medium- to full-bodied, juicy and fruity with blackberry and black cherry flavours and enough tannin to give a final grip on the palate.
Quality: Outstanding. Drinking well now, but will improve with a couple years’ cellaring.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing Sirloin steak with roasted asparagus and mushrooms, balsamic-glazed roasted brussels sprouts with bacon, garlic parmesan cauliflower steak, braised beef stew, Peruvian-style chicken thighs with grilled corn, seared Ahi tuna steak.
RARE BIRD SERIES VIOGNIER, 2017
Red Rooster Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Fool’s Gold Vineyard and Osprey Ridge Vineyard in the Okanagan Valley
Alcohol: 13.2%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 285
Appearance: Bright, pale straw colour.
Nose: Minerally, white peach and lemon zest nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, round on the palate with peach and lemon flavours augmented by a floral note. Beautifully balanced and lingering. Delicious.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now through 2020.
Critic Rating: 91 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing Spicy fish cakes, seafood paella, Tuscan bean soup, eggplant curry, halibut with creamy dill sauce, potato leek soup.
RARE BIRD SERIES PINOT NOIR, 2016
Red Rooster Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Starz Vineyard (Kaleden, BC) and Anderson Vineyard (Oliver, BC)
Alcohol: 12%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 297
Appearance: Medium ruby colour.
Nose: Lightly cedary, cherry and raspberry bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, black raspberry flavour; well-balanced and true; nicely structured with a tannic lift on the finish. Very Burgundian in style.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold 2-3 years.
Critic Rating: 92 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing Salmon filet with brown sugar glaze, blue cheese hamburger with caramelized onions, roasted duck and sweet potatoes, fried sesame garlic tofu, beef tenderloin and red wine au jus, creamy mushroom pasta.
RARE BIRD SERIES GEWURZTRAMINER, 2017
Red Rooster Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Gewürztraminer
Vineyard: Hidden Terrace Vineyard and Starz Vineyard in the Okanagan Valley
Alcohol: 12.9%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 507
Appearance: Very pale straw in colour.
Nose: Lightly minerally, lychee, cardamom nose with a touch of ginger.
Palate: Light- to medium-bodied, dry, grapefruit, lychee, tangerine and rose water flavours; fine mouth-feel with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing Jerk chicken, Gouda cheese, sautéed shrimp with cilantro and lime, sumac berry-crusted cod, angel hair pasta limone.
CABERNET MERLOT, 2016
Red Rooster Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Merlot (65%), Cabernet Franc (19%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%)
Vineyard: Various vineyards in South Okanagan and Similkameen Valley, BC
Alcohol: 14.8%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 2,875
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Cedary, cigar-box nose of blackcurrants with a smoky-charred note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, savoury-herbal notes that complement the red and blackcurrant flavours carried on fresh acidity. Ripe, resolved tannins. Quite forward and juicy.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold 2-3 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing Garlic and rosemary grilled lamb chops with tzatziki, roasted pork loin with cranberry glaze, shepherd’s pie, corn and black bean tacos, Gouda and Gruyere cheese, filet mignon with black truffle butter.
RARE BIRD SERIES PINOT GRIS, 2017
Red Rooster Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vineyard: Hollenbach Vineyard and Hidden Terrace Vineyard in the Okanagan Valley
Alcohol: 13.2%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 273
Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Slightly reductive peach pit and lemon zest bouquet.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, peach and pear flavours with fresh citrus acidity. Good length on the palate.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing Pork and vegetable empañadas, grilled sesame-ginger salmon, pork chops with apple sauce, spicy chicken tacos, almond-crusted salmon with vegetable kebabs.
RARE BIRD SERIES ROSE, 2017
Red Rooster Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, BC
Varietal: Cabernet Franc (23%), Pinot Noir (20%), Malbec (18%), Gamay Noir (15%), Syrah (14%), Merlot (6%), and Petit Verdot (4%)
Vineyard: Various vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, BC
Alcohol: 13.4%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,460
Appearance: Pale salmon in colour.
Nose: Lightly minerally nose of wild strawberries and watermelon.
Palate: Medium-bodied, just off-dry with a candied raspberry flavour kept in check by fresh citrus acidity.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing Seafood linguine with garlic and parsley, spicy Thai curry, lemon and oregano grilled chicken, grilled eggplant and hummus burger, bacon-and-egg potato salad, white wine and garlic mussels.