Tender Hope Winery

We were proud to feature Tender Hope Winery in January 2021.

Wine is made in the vineyard. Here at Tender Hope Winery we stay true to this statement. We let the fruit shine and make wines that reflect the taste and smell of the land the grapes grew on. We use traditional winemaking methods and minimum intervention with the natural process of winemaking and ageing, letting the wines mature naturally.

Winemaker Efi Perel started growing grapes and making wine 25 years ago and has experience growing grapes and making wine in both hot and cool climates. In BC, he has worked for wineries like Summerhill, Nagging Doubt and First R.O.W, and has grown Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer grapes. Through their wines, he strives to take you on the adventure that is their special vineyard sites, grape varieties, and micro climates.

Tasting Notes

ROUSSANNE, 2018

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: Columbia Valley, Washington
Varietal: Roussanne
Vineyard: Lawrence and Sagemoor Vineyards
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 2.14 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 250

Appearance: Bright, light golden in colour.
Nose: Waxy, green herb and grapefruit bouquet with a minerally, floral top note.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, dry, creamy peach and lemon zest flavours. Good length.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now or hold a year or two.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Lobster bisque, pan-seared foie gras with figs, roasted chicken with garbanzo beans, spicy pork bulgogi rice bowl, and creamy parmesan mushroom pizza.

CORAL SYRAH, 2017

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: Walla Walla Valley (Columbia Valley), Washington
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Les Collines & Stone Valley Vineyards
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 1.95 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 170

Appearance: Deep ruby-purple colour.
Nose: Cedary, blackberry with pencil shavings on the nose and an herbal tone.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, dry, juicy, blackberry flavour carried on zesty acidity. Well-integrated French oak (30% new). Lovely mouth-feel and great balance. Firm tannins on the finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now for its freshness or hold a couple of years to mellow the tannins.
Critic Rating: 90 – 92 points – Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Mushroom and gouda-stuffed peppers, steak sandwich with horseradish mayo, smoked pork ribs with potato salad, lamb souvlaki with pita bread and tzatziki, and chocolate fondue.

CHARDONNAY, 2018

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Harvest Golf Club Vineyard, Kelowna
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 1.56 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 170

Appearance: Golden straw colour.
Nose: Lightly toasty, apple bouquet with a note of underbrush, citrus and apple blossom.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted flavours of apple and peach. Lovely mouth-feel with fresh citrus acidity to prolong the taste.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or through 2021.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Shrimp cocktail, zucchini noodles with avocado pesto, pigs in a blanket, monkfish in lemon butter sauce, and Monte Cristo sandwiches.

PINOT NOIR, 2019

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Thacker Drive Vineyard, West Kelowna
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 1.12 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 225

Appearance: Medium ruby in colour.
Nose: Lightly cedary nose of raspberries and cranberries with a suggestion of violets.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, round on the palate with raspberry and strawberry flavours, finishing firmly with ripe tannins. Lovely mouth-feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Moroccan vegetable and tofu stew, pasta puttanesca with eggplant, duck carnitas tacos with chile-cherry compote, beef and broccoli ramen, and spinach and sausage casserole.

TENDER SUMMER, 2019

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Riesling (42%), Viognier (36%), Kerner (22%)
Vineyard: Various Oliver vineyards
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 23.33 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 70

Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Aromatic, lightly floral, musk melon and citrus nose.
Palate: Off-dry with a honeyed grapefruit flavour carried on lively acidity. Beautifully balanced and lingering. Richly textured and mouth-filling. Great length.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Tuna steaks with peach salsa, onion and gruyère tart, seafood salad with avocado dressing, veal medallions with citrus yogurt sauce, and Thai green curry noodle soup.

RED WILLOW CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2017

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Tasting notes written by Tony Aspler.

Geographical Indication: Columbia Valley, Washington
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon (95%) & Sangiovese (5%)
Vineyard: Red Willow Vineyard & Six Prong Vineyard
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 1.66 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 70

Appearance: Deep ruby-purple in colour.
Nose: Cedary, toasty, mulberry nose with oak spice.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, dry, creamy, vanilla and blackberry flavours. Firmly structured with ripe tannins.
Quality: Very Good+. Hold 1 – 2 years to let the oak meld with the fruit.
Critic Rating: 88 – 89 points – Tony Aspler

Food Pairing: Brisket fried rice, braised red cabbage with apple, wagyu beef sliders with Havarti and bacon, barbecued turkey meatballs, and bean and sweet potato chili.

MIDNIGHT BLACK SYRAH, 2017

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Geographical Indication: Frenchman Hills (Columbia Valley), Washington
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Lawrence Vineyard
Alcohol: 14%
Residual Sugar: 1.88 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 190

Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark purple core.
Nose: Plum, blackcurrant, black pepper, and herbal aromas.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body, medium tannin. Dry. Black pepper, plum, blackcurrant, earth, hint of green herbs.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 – 91 points. Drink now or hold 1-2 years.

Food Pairing: Eggplant stuffed with black olives and capers, beef and artichoke fettuccine, baked beans with ham, rib eye steak with blue cheese risotto, and spice-rubbed barbequed ribs.

FIRE DANCE MERITAGE, 2018

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot (50%), Cabernet Franc (21%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) & Malbec (14%)
Vineyard: Sonoran & Stevens Vineyards, Osoyoos
Alcohol: 14.5%
Residual Sugar: 1.38 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 335

Appearance: Semi-opaque. Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Herbal notes, plum, dark cherry, dark chocolate, and leather.
Palate: Medium acid, medium+ tannin, medium body. Dark cherry, plum, blackcurrant, green vegetal note, earthy, and a hint of pepper spice. Well structured.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Drink now or hold for 1-2 years.

Food Pairing: Porterhouse steak with garlic mashed potatoes, mustard and brown sugar baked pork loin, cheesecake with blueberry compote, mushroom and lamb crostini, and chorizo and chicken paella.

SUNSET SANGIOVESE BLEND, 2018

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Geographical Indication: Columbia Valley, Washington
Varietal: Sangiovese (72%), Cabernet Sauvignon (28%)
Vineyard: Six Prong, Red Willow, and Painted Hills Vineyards
Alcohol: 15%
Residual Sugar: 1.65 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 145

Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark garnet core.
Nose: Violet, plum, dark cherry, green herbal note, and raspberry. Hint of smoke.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Red and black cherry, raspberry, green pepper, and savoury green herbs.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Well balanced. Drink now or hold 1-2 years for added complexity.

Food Pairing: Lobster gnocchi mac and cheese, chicken braised with chicory and crème fraîche, rabbit stew with coconut cream, turkey parmigiana, and French onion soup.

ROSÉ, 2019

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Viognier (45%), Pinot Noir (30%), Merlot (15%) & Kerner (10%)
Vineyard: Various Okanagan Valley vineyards
Alcohol: 11%
Residual Sugar: 4.76 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 224

Appearance: Clear, bright. Lightly opaque. Pale salmon core.
Nose: Strawberry, cherry, white flowers, peach, and a hint of tropical fruit.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body, light tannins. Strawberry, cherry, and peach flavours. Herbal note on the finish. Light and refreshing.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points. Drink now.

Food Pairing: Grilled vegetable skewers, lobster and cream cheese wontons, bacon and quail egg pizza, salami and provolone quiche, and lemon and olive chicken with orzo.

ROSÉ BUBBLES, 2019

Tender Hope Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wine

Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Blanc (56%), Pinot Noir (15%), Chardonnay (19%) & Merlot (10%)
Vineyard: Thacker Drive Vineyard, West Kelowna & Sonoran Desert Vineyard, Osoyoos
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 12.83 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 270

Appearance: Clear, bright. Lightly opaque, salmon coloured core. Light effervescence.
Nose: Strawberry, cherry, cranberry, and red apple.
Palate: Medium acid, medium- body, light tannins. Candied cherry, strawberry, raspberry, baked bread, green herbs, and a hint of vanilla. Light effervescence.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Well balanced. Drink now.

Food Pairing: Charcuterie, grilled salmon with basil and mint, quinoa salad with spinach and feta, prosciutto-wrapped duck, and grilled chicken breasts with spicy peach glaze.