Poplar Grove releases its first Cascadia wines

Photo: Poplar Grove's Tony Holler

For several years, Poplar Grove Winery’s winemaker, Stefan Arnason, has been making, one of the most popular Pinot Gris wines from the Okanagan. “Pinot Gris is now a third of our total production,” I was told in 2022 by Chris Holler, one of the family that owns Poplar Grove. He anticipated the winery’s volume of that wine would continue to grow, with more blocks of Pinot Gris coming on line in the family’s vineyards.

Then came the hard winter of 2024, which eliminated more than 90% of the valley’s grape harvest in the 2024 vintage. The Holler family reacted decisively; by March 2024, they were searching out vineyards in Washington State (where, fortunately, there was a grape surplus) that could supply grapes for Poplar Grove’s winemakers. Those wines are now being released as “Cascadia Series.”

The winery has described its Cascadia Series in some detail:

This project was born out of necessity following the devastating freezing event of 2024, which significantly impacted our estate vineyards. To continue bringing exceptional wines to our customers, we sourced premium fruit from just across the border in Washington State. Despite the origin of the grapes, every other part of its journey—from fermentation to bottling, aging, and packaging—happened right here in Canada. We embrace the Pacific Northwest’s winemaking potential and celebrate the ability to craft wines that showcase the best fruit available while staying true to our Canadian roots.

For the Cascadia Series, we carefully selected vineyards from some of Washington’s most renowned AVAs, each known for its unique terroir and exceptional grape quality. Sourcing from Wahluke Slope, Goose Gap, Yakima Valley, and Horse Heaven Hills, we chose these regions for their ideal growing conditions and distinctive flavor profiles. From the warm, sun-drenched slopes of Wahluke Slope to the cooler, late-ripening sites of Goose Gap, each AVA contributes its own character to our wines. This thoughtful selection allows us to craft vibrant, expressive wines that truly showcase the diversity of the Columbia Valley.

When crafting the Cascadia Series label, it was essential to Tony Holler and the Holler family to uphold a commitment to full transparency. They wanted to ensure that every bottle clearly communicates where the grapes were harvested, reflecting an authentic connection to the land and the integrity of the wine itself. The vision was to create a label distinct enough to signify the introduction of a new series while remaining true to the style and brand that Poplar Grove is known for. Striking that balance was crucial to maintaining our identity while also inviting curiosity about this new addition to our portfolio. To achieve this, we collaborated closely with the CFIA [Canadian Food Inspection Authority] and BC winery associations, ensuring that every detail met industry standards and conveyed the proper messaging. Navigating these guidelines allowed us to communicate the story of the Cascadia region clearly and accurately, reinforcing our dedication to transparency.

This label was designed and developed entirely in-house—a testament to our team’s creativity and dedication. We take immense pride in the final release, feeling that it genuinely represents not only our brand but also the region and the people behind it. The Cascadia Series label isn’t just about what’s in the bottle; it’s about where it comes from, who crafted it, and the journey from vine to glass. It stands as a proud symbol of our commitment to authenticity, quality, and the community we’re a part of.

Here are notes on the first three wines:

Poplar Grove Cascadia Pinot Gris 2024 ($21.65). The fruit for this wine is from growers in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley. The grapes were harvested at night to preserve the aromatics. They were pressed immediately and the juice was taken by truck (a six-hour journey) to the Poplar Grove winery at Penticton, where it had a long, cool fermentation. The wine was tweaked by blending in 3% Viognier, 2% Sauvignon Blanc and 1.5% each of Chardonnay and Muscat. The wine has aromas and flavours of citrus, pear and peach. The texture fills the mouth while the finish is crisp and refreshing. 90.

Poplar Grove Cascadia Sauvignon Blanc 2024 ($N/A). This wine will be released at the winery in July. The fruit is from the Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley AVAs. The grapes were separated into two lots. Those from Horse Heaven Hills were pressed at a winery there. The chilled juice was shipped to Poplar Grove and was fermented in French oak (70% new). The Yakima Valley grapes were crushed at the vineyard and the juice was shipped at a low temperature to Poplar Grove, to be fermented in stainless steel. The lots were blended for bottling in March 2025. The wine, reminiscent in style to Sancerre, begins with herbal aromas mingled with of lime and pineapple. On the palate, there are lively flavours of lime and grapefruit which persist on the finish. 91.

Poplar Grove Cascadia Rosé 2024 (Wine club only). The blend is 92% Malbec and 8% Muscat. The fruit is from growers in two AVAs (American Viticultural Areas): Wahluke Slope and Yakima Valley. The grapes were machine-harvested in the early morning and were allowed three hours of skin contact before the juice was shipped to the Poplar Grove winery for fermentation. The wine presents with a delicate rose petal hue and aromas of watermelon and raspberry. The palate is crisp and refreshing, with flavours of watermelon and cranberry. 91.