Showcasing the White Wines of the Okanagan Valley

In our April blog, we explored the rich tapestry of red wines and what makes the red wines of the Okanagan so special and sought after by wine enthusiasts globally. Now, it's white wine’s time to shine!

White wine is a versatile and refreshing beverage that can range from light and crisp to rich and creamy. Whether you're a seasoned wine enthusiast or a beginner looking to expand your palate, understanding the nuances of white wine can enhance your tasting experience. This guide will cover the basics of white wine, including types of white wine, serving tips, food pairings, and of course, we look at what makes the Okanagan white wines of our very own valley so unique.

A Brief History of White Wine

White wine has a rich and storied history that dates back to ancient times, with evidence of winemaking as early as 6,000 BC in Georgia. The Greeks and Romans played pivotal roles in spreading viticulture throughout the Mediterranean, and during the Middle Ages, Christian monks in Europe meticulously cultivated vineyards and documented their methods. Every step of the way, wine making techniques have been refined, laying the groundwork for wine making as we know it today. The 20th century saw a global expansion of winemaking, with New World regions like California, New Zealand, and right here in Canada gaining prominence. Today, white wine is celebrated worldwide for its diversity and quality, a testament to centuries of innovation and tradition.

White Wine Characteristics

White wine is a diverse beverage, ranging from bone-dry to very sweet, light to full-bodied, pale yellow to rich golden hues, crisp and clean texture in lighter wines to creamy and rich in fuller-bodied ones, with sparkling wines offering a lively mouthfeel due to their effervescence. The finish of white wines can be short or long, often emphasizing fruit, acidity, minerality, or oak characteristics, depending on the specific wine. In terms of scent on the nose and flavour on the palette, white wine offers a parade of fruity aromas like lemon, apple, peach, and pineapple, and even floral scents such as jasmine and honeysuckle. Taking a sip, you'll find these fruity and floral flavours come to life, often accompanied by a crisp, refreshing acidity that makes white wine so invigorating. 

With such a wide range of characteristics, there really is a white wine for everyone!

Popular Types of Okanagan White Wines

Canada’s Okanagan Valley is a treasure trove of white wines, each with its own unique character. Let’s take a look at some of the standout types you’ll find in our picturesque Canadian wine region:

• Sauvignon Blanc produced in the Okanagan Valley is zesty and vibrant, with flavours of lime, green apple, gooseberry, and sometimes a hint of tropical fruits. You might also notice herbaceous notes like grass and bell pepper. It is generally light to medium-bodied with high acidity, making it incredibly refreshing.
• Okanagan Chardonnay can range from bright and citrusy to rich and buttery. You might taste green apple, pear, and melon, with some versions offering hints of vanilla, butter, and oak from barrel ageing. Whether it's a crisp, unoaked Chardonnay or a full-bodied, oaked one, there’s a style for every palate.
• Known for its bright acidity, Okanagan Riesling can offer flavours of green apple, citrus, apricot, and peach, often with a touch of minerality. Depending on the winemaking style, it can range from bone-dry to lusciously sweet.
• Pinot Gris often exhibits flavours of apple, pear, and melon, with occasional hints of spice and honey. Okanagan Pinot Gris can be both crisp and aromatic and it is usually medium-bodied with a refreshing acidity.
• Okanagan Gewürztraminer is intensely aromatic with notes of lychee, rose petals, and ginger. Produced with sweeter or less-sweet profiles, it often has a spicy finish and is typically medium-bodied with a lower acidity, making it lush and aromatic.
• Viognier is rich and aromatic, with flavours of peach, apricot, and tropical fruits, often accompanied by floral notes like honeysuckle. A full-bodied white wine, Okanagan Viognier has a luscious mouthfeel and moderate acidity.
• White wine blends are also very popular in the Okanagan Valley. By combining different grape varieties, winemakers can create wines with layered aromas and flavours that are more nuanced and harmonious than single-varietal wines. This blending process also allows for greater consistency and quality, as winemakers can adjust the proportions to achieve a desired profile regardless of vintage variations. At Dirty Laundry we have several white wine blends to choose from, including:
• Hush White - A, easy-drinking white wine made from a balanced blend of Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc.
• Secret Affair - An exciting and ever changing blend from a collection of our Summerland vineyards. This year’s Secret Affair is a white wine blend of Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Pinot Blanc. 

What makes Okanagan white wines so unique?

If you've ever sipped a glass of the finest Okanagan white wine, you’ll know it to be something pretty special. But have you ever wondered how the unique flavours have come to be?

Sunshine and Cool Breezes

The Okanagan Valley enjoys a fabulous continental climate, with long, sunny days where grapes bask in the warmth, soaking up the sunshine. Then, as night falls, cool breezes sweep through, giving the grapes a refreshing chill. This temperature tango helps the grapes ripen perfectly while keeping their natural zingy acidity intact. 

Glacial Goodness

The Okanagan Valley’s soils are a legacy of ancient glaciers and rivers, with layers of sandy loam, gravel, and clay. These well-draining soils ensure the vines grow strong and healthy, producing grapes with a complexity that makes your taste buds dance. 

Diversity is the Name of the Game

Every bottle of Okanagan white wine carries the essence of its home. The terroir—the combination of soil, climate, and landscape—imparts unique characteristics that you can taste in the wine. From a rich and buttery Chardonnay, to a zesty Sauvignon Blanc, to an aromatic Gewürztraminer, the diverse terroirs found from North to South of the Okanagan Valley ensures there's something for every palate when it comes to Okanagan white wines. 

Experimental Winemakers

The winemakers in the Okanagan Valley are always experimenting with different winemaking techniques to coax out every ounce of flavour and perfect the wine’s texture. They also care deeply about sustainability, treating the land with the love and respect it deserves. The result? Okanagan white wines that are not only delicious but also crafted with a conscience. 

The Magic of Okanagan Lake

The majestic Okanagan Lake is a key player in the wine game. The lake helps reduce humidity and moderate the temperature, keeping the vineyards just the right amount of cool in the summer and protecting them from frost in the spring and fall. It’s like having a natural air conditioner for the grapes, ensuring they grow in perfect conditions. 

White Wine Storing and Serving Tips

Enjoying white wine at its best involves following a few key steps which can ensure that your white wine is served at its best, enhancing the overall tasting experience. 

Serve white wine at the right temperature:

• Light-Bodied Whites (e.g., Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio) should be served chilled between 7-10°C.
• Fuller-Bodied Whites (e.g., Chardonnay, Viognier) should be served slightly warmer, around 10-13°C.
• Sparkling Whites should be served well-chilled, between 4-7°C.

Tip: To chill wine, either place the bottle in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before serving, or submerge the bottle in an ice bucket filled with equal parts ice and water for about 20 minutes.

Choose the right white wine glassware:

In most cases when serving white wines you should choose a glass with a narrower bowl to preserve the wine's delicate aromas and maintain its cooler temperature. However, for aromatic white wines like Riesling or Gewürztraminer, a glass with a slightly larger bowl will enhance the bouquet. 

For more on the different types of wine glassware and how it can impact the wine’s flavour, check out this post [https://www.dirtylaundry.ca/why-you-should-hold-a-wine-glass-by-the-stem] 

Decant and aerate more complex white wines before pouring

Most white wines do not require decanting. However, older or more complex whites such as aged Chardonnay may benefit from brief decanting to open up their flavours. Pour the wine into a decanter and let it breathe for about 15-30 minutes before serving if you suspect it could benefit from aeration. When pouring the white wine, fill the glass about one-third full. This allows room for the aromas to develop and makes it easier to swirl the wine. 

Ensure the correct order of serving white wines:

There are a few rules to follow when it comes to the sequence of serving white wines: 

• Generally start with lighter wines and progress to fuller-bodied ones. 
• Serve sweeter wines after dry ones to prevent the sweetness from overwhelming the palate.

Correctly store opened white wine:

Use a wine stopper and store the opened bottle in the refrigerator. Most white wines will stay fresh for 3-5 days after opening. For sparkling wines, use a proper sparkling wine stopper to retain the bubbles and consume within 1-3 days.

White Wine Food Pairings

Pairing food with white wine can elevate your dining experience by highlighting the flavours of both the dish and the wine. If you are unsure where to start when it comes to pairing white wine with food, here are some classic pairings:

Sauvignon Blanc Food Pairing

• Seafood: Grilled fish, shellfish, oysters, sushi
• Salads: Goat cheese salad, Caesar salad, fresh greens with vinaigrette
• Vegetables: Asparagus, artichokes, green vegetables
• Herb-driven dishes: Pesto pasta, dishes with fresh herbs

Chardonnay Food Pairing

• Rich Seafood: Lobster, crab, scallops with butter or cream sauces
• Poultry: Roast chicken, turkey, chicken Alfredo
• Creamy Dishes: Creamy pasta dishes, risotto, creamy soups
• Mushrooms: Mushroom risotto, grilled mushrooms

Riesling Food Pairing

• Spicy Foods: Thai cuisine, Indian curries, spicy Chinese dishes
• Pork: Roast pork, pork belly, sausages
• Fruity Dishes: Dishes with apple or apricot glazes or sauces
• Cheese: Soft cheeses like Brie, blue cheese

Pinot Gris Food Pairing

• Light Seafood: Shrimp, light fish dishes, ceviche
• Simple Pastas: Pasta primavera, light olive oil or butter sauces
• Vegetables: Light salads, grilled vegetables
• Antipasti: Light antipasti with prosciutto, mozzarella

Gewürztraminer Food Pairing

• Spicy Asian Dishes: AromaticIndian and Thai curries, Szechuan cuisine
• Smoked Meats: Smoked sausage, smoked ham
• Rich Cheese: Munster, aged Gouda
• Fruity Desserts: Fruit tarts, lychee-based desserts

Viognier Food Pairing

• Rich Seafood: Lobster, crab cakes, shrimp in creamy sauces
• Creamy Dishes: Creamy pastas, chicken Alfredo
• Spiced Dishes: Moroccan tagines, mildly spiced Indian dishes
• Poultry: Roast chicken, turkey

Tip: When pairing food with white wine, consider the wine's body, acidity, and flavour profile. Lighter wines generally pair well with lighter dishes, while richer wines complement heavier, creamier foods. Experimenting with different pairings can lead to delightful discoveries, so enjoy exploring and finding your perfect matches. 

If you want to learn more about the scientific basis behind food and wine pairings (or if, indeed, there is any) check out this blog: [https://www.dirtylaundry.ca/is-there-any-scientific-basis-to-wine-and-food-pairing]

Conclusion

So, there you have it! The Okanagan’s white wines are a symphony of sun-kissed grapes, mineral-rich soils, diverse varietals, innovative winemaking, and the serene influence of Okanagan Lake. By understanding the different types, mastering serving and tasting techniques, and knowing how to pair white wines with food, you can elevate your wine-drinking experience.

Cheers!