Vasanti wines: bold and satisfying

Photo: Sidhu family (l-r): Vik, Davinder, Harb and Gordie (Melissa Bexton Photography)

The current releases from Vasanti Estate Winery, which opened a tasting room last year near Oliver, are among the boldest and most satisfying red wines from the Okanagan. Grab them while you can because the 2024 freeze event has interrupted production from this aspiring producer.

Vasant is owned and operated by the Sidhu family. The winery name is derived from a Punjabi concept meaning new beginnings and renewal. It was inspired by family scion Harb Sidhu’s decision in 1980 to come to the Okanagan from India. Here, he established himself in agriculture, first with an orchard and later with vineyards. The family now has about 20 acres of vineyard in the Oliver/Osoyoos area of the Okanagan.

“We three brothers decided it was a good time to continue on his legacy and start the winery,” I was told last year by Davinder Sidhu, who was born in 1988 and is the middle of the brothers. “We had always dreamt of a winery when we were younger. It has a sentimental value to us because we all grew up as kids at the location where the winery will be.” The brothers all have careers outside the winery. Davinder is an optometrist. Gordie, the oldest brother, is a financial planner while Vik, the youngest brother, is trained as a biologist. Mentored by Jason Parkes, the winery’s consulting winemaker, Vik is assuming many of the winery’s viticultural and cellar duties. The Jason Parkes winemaking style is big and bold.

Unfortunately for the Sidhu family, the hard winter in early 2024 has delivered a setback after such a promising start. “As per the 2024 vintage, we had a lot of red inventory in the cellar from 2023 so we will make do,” Davinder says. “We have about 150 cases of a Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon blend coming that was co-fermented. This wine turned out spectacular and our winemaking team was very excited about it. We plan on leaving it for 15-18 months to gain even more complexity.” Commenting on the 2024 damage to the Sidhu vineyards, he continues: “We replanted some Syrah and Cabernet Franc last year and had to rip out a lot of Merlot. We are planting some Riesling this year in place of the Merlot and will be adding more Merlot in a different part of our Oliver vineyard likely next year.” Vasanti did not import any Washington State grapes in 2024. But the family seems to have the resources and the determination to hang in there and fulfill the promise of the excellent wines released to date.

Here are my notes.

Vasanti Merlot 2022 ($34.99 for 190 cases). This is Vasanti’s second Merlot release. The grapes are from Vasanti’s Paradise Vineyard. The fruit was fermented in stainless steel and aged 21 months in new and neutral American oak. The wine begins with aromas of cassis and dark fruits which are echoed on the palate, mingled with a hint of blueberry. 90.

Vasanti Cabernet Franc 2022 ($41.99 for 112 cases). This mouth filling wine, Vasanti’s second release, was aged 16 months in new American oak. The wine has aromas and flavours of dark fruits mingled with blackberry, raspberry and spice. 92.

Vasanti Syrah 2021 ($54.99 for 131 cases). Vasanti’s debut Syrah, this delicious wine is a wine club exclusive. It was aged 33 months in new American oak. It is a bold, ripe wine with aromas and flavours of dark cherry, plum, cassis, black licorice, mocha and a hint of pepper. 93.