Open a bottle of Les Dames Wine and you’ll be doing more than just twisting the cap on a decent drop. You’ll be helping a good cause.
They’re part of a fundraising project that helps women working in B.C.’s food and beverage industries. The wines directly benefit Les Dames’ d’Escoffier scholarship fund, which helps women move onwards and upwards in their careers.
The idea to make the wines came from Les Dames d’Escoffier member Mireille Sauvé. ‘Les Dames’ is a society of professional woman in hospitality, with chapters across the continent and around the world.
Thanks, in part, to help from a Les Dames’ scholarship back in the ‘90s, Sauvé became Canada’s youngest female sommelier. She went on to establish her successful wine education and marketing consultancy, The Wine Umbrella.
Currently Les Dames gives out $24,000 annually in scholarships to B.C. woman. Sauvé says she hopes to be able to double that figure through the sale of Les Dames wines.
Sauve has put in more than a few kms. between Vancouver and the Okanagan over the past couple of years.
There was no shortage of challenges in getting these wines to market. They ranged from second guessing forest fires to a last minute, no show mobile bottling line. That happened right before eight ‘Dames’ were due to be on hand for a bottling blitz weekend.
With grapes sourced from vineyards throughout the Okanagan, the wines were made at Meyer Family Vineyards in Okanagan Falls.
I first tasted them at this year’s Garagiste tasting in Vancouver, before they were bottled. The wines have now had some time to settle, and they’re showing nicely. They’re made in a style that invites easy drinking and plenty of food pairing possibilities.
Les Dames White 2015
Pinot Blanc (80%), Riesling (10%) and Gewurz (10%). Fruity but dry with tropical and orchard fruits on top followed by a nicely balanced zesty mid palate, with juicy acidity and a clean finish. 89 pts. $25.
Les Dames Red 2013
I really like this red (70% Merlot, 30% Syrah, organic grapes) which Sauvé describes as a ‘fireplace’ wine. It’s medium bodied with lovely red berries up front, mulberry and some spice on the plush and plummy palate with a gently savoury edge and easy tannins. It’s not too heavy, which makes it very food friendly, or just plain quaffable. 90 pts. $25
Tim Pawsey writes about wine for numerous publications and online as the Hired Belly at hiredbelly.com. Contact: [email protected].
