Summer’s Riesling Wines

Loosen Bros. Dr L
Riesling 2008

September’s the month for the last of the summer wines. Dr L Riesling 2008, a Light White winner in our 2010 Wine Awards, is a happy choice for those final outdoor lunches. Gloriously peachy, it finishes with a bracing, invigorating burst of acidity. Almost singlehandedly responsible for the Riesling revival in Vancouver restaurants, it’s a natural with any kind of bold or spicy salad like Thai chicken with chilies, lime, and cilantro or a Mediterranean mix of peaches, tomato, red onion, and black olives. And at only 8.5 percent alcohol, it’s made for mid-afternoon sipping.

 Tantalus Vineyards
Old Vines Riesling 2008

Tantalus Vineyards near Kelowna has one of the oldest vineyard sites, and some of the oldest vines, in the Okanagan Valley. There’s Pinot Noir and a bit of summery rosé going on, but the winery is really all about the juicy, citrusy Riesling from a block planted more than three decades ago. With its peach and almond flavours, stony minerality, lime acidity, and characteristic notes of petrol, Old Vines is British Columbia’s best Riesling, a classic that beats many a German counterpart at the same price. If you don’t drink it before summer’s end, it will only improve in the cellar.  

 

Learn more about the best wines, summery or otherwise, that Vancouver has to offer:

Vancouver Magazine Wine Awards 2010: The top 100 best-value wines

BC’s Best Fruity Wines, Cider, and Beer: 10 locally made brews and spirits that top our list

Wine Picks: The best best-value bottles to drink, right now

The Best Reds: Try the Italian recipe: a big-bowled, aroma-harbouring glass and a well-aged piece of cheese

The Best Light, White Wines: Perfect for Asian/Latin flavours