Da Silva wines to tease our palates

Photo (courtesy of winery): Twylla and Richard Da Silva

Richard and Twylla Da Silva, the proprietors of Da Silva Vineyards and Winery, recently sent a trio of their current releases. The quality of the wines excites curiosity to taste the rest of the 15 or so wines in the portfolio. The wines are in three tiers: tradicional, vinhedo and legado. The Portuguese names for the tiers reflect the Da Silva family’s heritage. The family immigrated in 1955 from the Portuguese Azores to the Okanagan and bought their first farm on the Naramata Bench the following year. The winery was opened in 2006.

The winery now gets fruit from nine vineyards in the South Okanagan and the Similkameen. “To underscore the importance of provenance,” Da Silva says on its website, “the names of the growers, the exact latitude and longitude of the source vineyards as well as the vinification are detailed on every bottle. With over 60 years of farming in the South Okanagan, we intrinsically understand the many unique and diverse aspects of our land. Our time working the land allowed us to understand its nuances – what makes it truly special – and this knowledge is reflected in how we craft our wine," the family writes.

Here are notes on the wines sent to tease us.

>Da Silva Syrah Malbec 2020 ($40 for 300 cases). The fruit is from Cabana Estate Vineyard in Osoyoos and Sunrise Vineyard near Oliver. This wine, which is exclusive to the wine club, is 55% Syrah, 45% Malbec. It was aged 20 months in barrel (50% French, 50% American). Both varietals are excellent on their own but clearly a very good together as well. The wine begins with aromas of black cherry, black currant and pepper. The palate delivers layers of flavour, including cloves and plum. The wine benefits from decanting, which opens up the flavours and textures. 92.

Da Silva Cabernet Franc 2020 ($48 for 176 cases). The fruit for this wine was from the Avila Family Vineyard near Oliver. The wine was aged 20 months in barrel (50% French, 50% American). The wine begins with aromas of spice and brambly fruit. The rich texture supports flavours of plum and black cherry mingled with notes of oak. 91.

Da Silva Isabella 2021 ($29 for 200 cases). The sparkling wine is a blend of 75% Riesling and 25% Muscat, with the fruit from the Hidden Hollow Vineyard just behind the Da Silva winery in Penticton. The Riesling brings structure and citrus notes to the wine while the Muscat adds spice mingled with peach flavours. This is a refreshing bubbly. 90.