Anthony Gismondi: Take note of this selection of B.C.’s most impressive wines

If you are shopping for B.C., vintage matters. The best vintage still in the market is the 2022, but supplies are running low. The 2023 and 2025 are both respectable vintages, although ’23 was a small crop and is running low. Plenty of 2025s are available from what was a generous, if at times diluted, harvest.

Finally, keep in mind that 99 per cent of ’24s you encounter fall into the replacement category. The quality has been, on average, quite good, but the use of foreign grapes has rubbed some folks the wrong way, even if it kept scores of wineries open and hundreds of jobs safe. As for 2026, the jury is out, but there will be smoke issues to sort out and, likely, a reduced offering of wines from across the Okanagan when it is all said and done.

Seven Terraces Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

$19.99 | 89/100

UPC: 9419453008012

Honestly, this Marlborough white blows me away with its freshness, balance, and unassuming quality for the price, year after year. I first encountered it several years ago while searching for high-quality tap wine at Earls. We never had a complaint or an issue with any of the hundreds of 9L bags that went through the system, and Seven Terraces, a mom-and-pop winery, was the smallest winery we dealt with. If you are a fan of Kiwi Sauvignon, this is the one to buy under $20. It is well ahead of its competitors in style and taste.

Liquidity Chardonnay 2025, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley

$29 | 91/100

UPC: 626990456018

Liquidity’s latest, a wine we haven’t seen in seven years, is a winner. Polished and creamy, it has a fragrant pear-and-lemon-pie nose and a citrus mid-palate, lifted by hints of baking spice in the finish. I love the oak integration, which adds breadth without obscuring the freshness. A touch of bitterness in the finish completes the complexity and length. Stylish and affordable. Good value.

Domaine Montmartel Côtes du Rhône 2024, Rhône Valley, France
$21.99 | 89/100

UPC: 3432700000016

This certified organic Côtes du Rhône blends Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan for a sturdy, generous red at a very attractive price. Soft, round, but concentrated blackberry and plum fill the mid-palate, with notes of cedar and pepper in the finish. Don’t overthink this one. The tannins are soft enough for early drinking, while the savoury spice keeps the finish lively. Grilled lamb chops or a pan of oven-grilled vegetables would be divine matches, so back up the truck.

Haywire Merlot 2025, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley
$24.99 | 89/100

UPC: 696852126892

Expect a fresh take on Okanagan Merlot, from 40-year-old Naramata vines, fermented in concrete. The attack blends black and blue fruits with an earthy, smoky, iron undercurrent. The texture is silky smooth and mouth-filling, with notes of red plum, leather, and savoury herbs in the finish. Juicy and ready to drink, this is a food-friendly Merlot you can serve with the likes of burgers, grilled sausages, or mushroom dishes — an affordable midweek red.

Moraine Reserve Merlot 2022, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley
$45 | 90/100

UPC: 626990404026

A ripe, polished Naramata Merlot, full of dark plums and black cherries, with a savoury, dessert-like back end and exotic spice. It is dry; the tannins are dense but more dusty than sticky. It has a lively demeanour throughout, and you can serve it now with grilled lamb chops or a mushroom burger.

Blue Mountain Blanc de Blancs R.D. Méthode Traditionelle 2017, Okanagan Valley

$44 | 93/100

UPC: 626452721173

Every year, this wine never fails to delight, from the first tension-filled sip to the final lingering taste notes. Seven years on its lees create a creamy, fine mousse without sacrificing freshness. Lemon and citrus lead up front, with fine autolytic layers that carry the wine from bottle to glass to you. The finish is long and dry, with great precision. Toasted nuts and subtle autolytic complexity fade into a long, dry finish with mineral and chalky notes, and Champagne-like precision. Disgorged in August 2025, it is given another year in the bottle before release. At $44, it is an exceptional Canadian sparkling-wine value.