One of the quibbles I often hear about the B.C. wine scene is that people have a tough time tracking down the smaller wineries whose products aren't always easily available.
A couple of years ago, a small group of people in the industry decided to do something about that and came up with the idea of holding a wine festival just for the smaller wineries.
Coming up fast, Garagiste, the "small guys" wine festival, is a lively celebration where the only people you'll find pouring are commercial winemakers making under 2,000 cases a year. The name Garagiste refers to the original group of Bordeaux winemakers who, tired of being beaten down by excessive regulations, took to making their own wines, often in a garage.
This little festival that could has become a hot ticket, and with good reason. Ante up $49 for the April 17 Wise Hall tasting (2-4.30 p.m.) and you'll have a chance to taste some impressive drops from an eclectic and passionate group.
Even though the first festival was only held a couple of years ago, good news travels fast: On Aug. 21, 2015, the U.K.'s Financial Times included it in its list of five of the best wine festivals held around the world. The list of "rogues" is longer than you might think. Some (such as B.C. Wine Studio, Black Cloud, Niche or River Stone) you may well have heard of. But chances are you don't know Nighthawk, Anarchist Mountain, or most of the wineries participating. Plus, a bonus: first tastes of the inaugural wine made by Les Dames d'Escoffier.
Back in the day, before the era of big commercial wineries took hold, it was people like this who got the whole B.C. wine thing going. And that's what makes this event so irresistible.
If you want to do some tasting, and hear it like it is from the folks who happily get their hands dirty at every stage, you'll have come to the right place. Mixed in with bites from Chicha Restaurant and music by Chicken Like Birds, it promises to be a truly taste-worthy time. Tix: $49 available on Eventbrite with more info at garagistenorth. com. Partial proceeds benefit Garagiste North Wine Study Scholarship at Okanagan College, which helps people get involved in the industry.
The challenge with being a "garagiste" is that you might all too soon get too big to qualify.
One winery that I can think of is Joie Farm, which started out (briefly) as very much a garagiste but with definite plans to grow. And grow they have, not only in volume but in stature. Some of the best new B.C. releases recently tasted include a selection of their reserve or "en famille" wines.
One recommendation: Joie Viognier 2014
An extraordinary effort went into the viticulture for this wine and it really shows. Honeysuckle and stone fruit on top, followed by a luscious peach and apricot palate with seductive viscosity with a touch of citrus and mineral. Quite possibly Viognier like you've never tasted before ($28, 93 points). Buy it online or possibly at some better private stores.
And pick up the En Famille Chardonnay 2013 (92 points) or Gewurztraminer 2013 (92 points) while you're at it.
Tim Pawsey writes about wine for numerous publications and online as the Hired Belly at hiredbelly.com. Contact: [email protected]
