With help from Wikipedia, here is a definition of fandango: “Fandango is a lively couples dance from Spain, usually in triple meter, traditionally accompanied by
guitars and castanets or hand-clapping ("palmas" in Spanish and
Portuguese). Fandango can both be sung and danced.”
It the Okanagan,
it also can be consumed. This is the name of unique and delicious white wine
from Terravista Vineyards, the Naramata Bench winery that Bob and Senka Tennant
opened last year.
The wine is named
for a Spanish dance because it is a blend of two Spanish grape varieties,
Albariño and Verdejo. The Tennants were the first to plant these varieties in
the Okanagan. There is not much of it. Their vineyard is only four acres in
size. A neighbour has also planted a small block.
There is a small
price for being out in front. Neither of these varieties is approved yet for
VQA certification. The list of approved VQA varieties is locked down in
legislation and regulation. Adding additional varieties requires getting
industry consensus and then approval by the B.C. cabinet. The industry has
approved but the government, of course, has been distracted this spring.
I am not sure
that it even matters, other than it keeps Fandango from being sold through the
VQA wine stores.
Terravista has
only one other wine, a VQA-eligible blend of Viognier and Roussanne that is
called Figaro. The 2012 Figaro is to be released next month. Previous vintages
of both of these wines were outstanding. The current vintages should be even
better, given that 2012 was an excellent vintage.
Here is my note.
Fandango 2012 ($24.90). The wine begins with lovely, refreshing
aromas of honeysuckle, pear and apple. On the palate, there are flavours of
melon, apple and citrus, with a hint of stone fruit and almond on the clean and
lively finish. Behind the elegant and delicate fruit, there is a rich texture.
The wine is so well made that the 14% alcohol is simply not apparent. 91.
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