Sandhill Sovereign Opal 2024 VQA

GROWING CONDITIONS – 2024 SEASON

In January 2024, British Columbia's wine regions, including the Okanagan Valley, experienced an extreme cold event with temperatures plummeting below -20°C for extended periods. This freeze resulted in an estimated 90% loss of the wine grape crop and destroyed a significant amount grapevines, leading to a projected 97–99% reduction in typical yields for the year. The 2024 growing season was relatively dry and saw above average temperatures which promoted early ripening of fruit of the flew blocks of vineyard that did survive. The low crop load along with the hot and dry season produced very concentrated flavours.

WINEMAKING

Once the grapes have arrived at the winery, they are gently pressed, allowing the juice to be separated from the skins. The juice is then fermented with a yeast selected to enhance the floral characters. The goal is to promote a lot of peach character in the aroma and flavour profile. We achieve that by picking at exactly the right time and controlling the fermentation temperature to retain that character.

THE GRAPE

Sovereign Opal however is a varietal that was produced in British Columbia. It is a cross of Golden Muscat and Marechal Foch and was created to be very winter hardy and can tolerate temperatures below -25°C. This crisp and refreshing wine has notes of melon, gooseberry and citrus.

FLAVOUR PROFILE
Clear and bright with a fresh, clean aroma of peach, pink grapefruit, gooseberry, fresh cut flowers, and a touch of site-specific minerality. This light-bodied Sovereign Opal has the perfect balance of natural sweetness and acidity, along with flavours of tropical fruit, melon, and gooseberry.