8th Generation Rose and friends

There is no doubt that rosé wines have become mainstream. Here is a story that proves it.

Recently, three burly bikers en route to a heavy metal concert stopped at 8^th Generation Vineyard near Summerland to select wines to take to the concert. The portfolio here includes sparkling wines as well as red and white table wines.

The bikers left for the concert with a case of rosé!

It is a well-made rosé. I scored it 92 points when I recently visited the winery for a tasting of my own. Everything else I tasted, including a Syrah, scored 90 or better. The bikers had options. I suspect that five or 10 years ago, they would have been embarrassed to be seen with a rosé.

Today, no one is embarrassed to be drinking rosé. Pink wines have really broken away from that notion that only women drank them. Many consumers now choose them ahead of white wines because rosé wines, while still light, deliver more flavour. They are also more versatile with food.

Rosé aside, the roots of 8^th Generation, which is operated by Bernd and Stefanie Shales (below) are with German Rieslings.

The variety is in their blood. Stefanie, though trained in architectural drafting, has 10 generations of wine-growing in her family. Bernd, who was born in 1972, comes from a Rheinhessen family that has grown grapes and made wine for eight generations, since 1783.

Rather than joining the siblings and relatives in family-owned Weingut Schales, Bernd and Stefanie struck out on their own in the Okanagan. In 2003, they bought an 11-acre vineyard near Okanagan Falls that had been planted in 1985 with, among other varieties, Riesling. The mature vines, all Clone 21B Riesling on their own roots, produce excellent wines with ripe flavours, crisp acidity, and a mineral backbone.

They opened 8th Generation Vineyard in 2007. Bernd’s family had sent him off to Canada with his grandfather’s antique wine press, which was a godsend in the 2007 vintage. That summer, Bernd and Stefanie shelved original plans to attach a winery to their Okanagan Falls home when they were able to buy the building previously housing the highway-side Adora winery just south of Summerland. The building was empty (Adora moved its equipment elsewhere) and Bernd moved urgently to order new equipment because the grapes were ripening quickly. His grandfather’s press, he discovered, was good for yet another vintage.

The Summerland property includes a five-acre vineyard. The winery also has a third vineyard, seven acres in size, on the Naramata Bench.

Here are notes on the wines currently being tasted in the wine shop.

8^th Generation Chardonnay 2017 ($20). Eight per cent of this wine was barrel-fermented; the rest was fermented in stainless steel. The oak notes are very subtle in this vibrant, fruit-forward Chardonnay, which has aromas and flavours of peaches and tropical fruits. A note of cloves lingers on the finish. 91.

8^th Generation Riesling Classic 2017 ($20). Made from 32-year-old vines, this is a Riesling with depth and intensity of flavour. The wine begins with a hint of petrol and lemon. The lime and lemon flavours are supported by good minerality. The wine has a dry finish. 91.

8^th Generation Riesling 2017 ($20). This is the off-dry Riesling. It also begins with a slight note of petrol. The 23 grams of residual sugar support aromas and flavours of citrus and tropical fruits. The finish lingers. 91.

8^th Generation Pinot Meunier Rosé 2018 ($20). Twenty-four hours of skin contact gave this wine an appealing rose petal hue. The aromas of strawberry and rhubarb are echoed in the refreshing flavours. The finish is crisp and dry. 92.

8^th Generation Integrity 2017 ($21). Bernd captures carbon dioxide from his Riesling ferments to add bubbles to this white frizzante style sparkling wine. It is 60% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Gris and 15% Kerner. The bubbles give the wine a creamy texture. The wine delivers flavours of citrus and peach. 91.

8^th Generation Confidence 2017 ($21). This pink sparkler is 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Gris. This is a festive wine, with a rose petal hue in the glass. Again, the bubbles create a creamy texture. The palate delivers a bowl full of fruit and a lingering, fruity finish. 91.

8^th Generation Pinot Noir 2016 ($23). Elegant and silky in texture, this wine has aromas and flavours of cherry and plum, with a note of spice on the finish. 90.

8^th Generation Cabernet Merlot 2016 ($23). The blend is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 60% Merlot. The wine was aged in French oak (25% new). It begins with aromas of cassis and black cherry. On the palate, there are flavours of blueberry, black cherry and black currant. The texture is juicy. 91.

8^th Generation Syrah 2016 ($20.17 wine club only). This wine was aged 12 months in French barriques. It begins with aromas of plum and deli meat spices, which is echoed on the palate. There is also a touch of black pepper. The long ripe tannins give the wine a full body and a firm structure. 92.

8^th Generation Red One 2018 ($21). This is a fun wine made to be chilled. It is 97% Merlot, 3% Syrah. The aromas and flavours are cherry and raspberry. The wine is soft and juicy, with a texture recalling a nouveau wine. 90.

8^th Generation Riesling Late Harvest 2018 ($14 for 350 ml). This is a very well-balanced dessert wine, with aromas and flavours of lime, apple and quince. The lingering sweet finish is moderated by the bright acidity. 92.