Photo: Winemaker Mary McDermott
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery quickly followed its early spring release of four VQA wines with a late spring release of four 2024 wines made with imported fruit and labelled as the Interlude Series.
An unavoidable delay on my part resulted in notes on both releases be presented this summer. The VQA wines are from several of the best recent vintages from the Okanagan: 2021, 2022 and 2023. The January 2024 freeze eliminated that vintage in the Okanagan.
In her notes accompanying the wines, Township 7 winemaker Mary McDermott put the Interlude wines in their context: the freeze in January 2024 forced the winery (and many of its peers) to import grapes for that vintage.
“In past years, particularly 2021 and 2023, I noted those vintages were among the most challenging we’d faced,” she wrote. “It turns out I spoke too soon. We entered the 2024 season with optimism following a mild fall and winter. Unfortunately, that hope was quickly dashed by a devastating cold snap in mid-January. Temperatures plummeted from 0◦C on January 10th to -14◦C the next day, then to -23◦C on January 12, ultimately bottoming out at -27◦C on January 13. The result was catastrophic vine death and severe crop loss. Early bud tests revealed no signs of life, and we braced for the worst – preparing to replant nearly everything.”
She continues her narrative: “To our relief, many vines produced cane growth and leaves. In Naramata, most vines survived, but Oliver suffered extensive damage, forcing us to remove entire blocks of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. These will be replanted in 2025.”
“Given the crop loss in the South Okanagan, we sourced premium fruit from trusted growers in Washington State and California to meet production needs,” Mary added. “This ensured our business’s sustainability, kept our valued team employed, and allowed us to continue investing in our vineyards – all while providing our cherished customers with the quality wines they expect from Township 7."
While most consumers will find Interlude (and similar wines from other wineries) to be adequate stand-ins, the quality of the VQA wines reminds us what great terroir what great terroir there is in British Columbia in most vintages.
Here are notes on the two releases.
Township 7 Benchmark Series Gewürztraminer 2022 ($29.97 for 198 cases). Here is a serious Gewürztraminer that one might think is from a top producer in Alsace. It begins with aromas of lychee and ginger, leading to complex flavours of lychee, quince and stone fruits. The luscious palate leads to a long, long finish. 92.
Township 7 Benchmark Series Viognier 2023 ($30.97 for 106 cases). Made with South Okanagan fruit, this wine was fermented in neutral French oak barrels. This is a stellar example of the varietal, beginning with aromas of pear and guava with a hint of vanilla. Rich in texture, the wine delivers flavours of mango, guava and pineapple. 92.
Township 7 Provenance Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 ($33.97 for 383 cases). There is 5% Merlot blended into this elegant wine. The wine begins with aromas of black currant, dark cherry and plum, which is echoed on the palate. The firm tannins suggest the wine should be decanted for early consumption; it will also age superbly. 91.
Township 7 Benchmark Series Reserve 7 2021 ($44.97 for 453 cases). This is a blend of 53.5% Merlot, 35.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10.8% Cabernet Franc. It is a big, ripe wine, beginning with aromas of black cherry, black currant and a hint of tobacco. The palate delivers what the aroma promises along with cedar and spice on the finish. 92.
Township 7 Interlude Series Sauvignon Blanc 2024 ($26.97 for 340 cases). The fruit for this wine is from the Bacchus Vineyard in Washington’s Wahluke Slope AVA. The juice was fermented cool, primarily in stainless steel as well as two second-fill French barriques to add texture. This is a zesty wine with aromas and flavours of lime and grapefruit. 90.
Township 7 Interlude Series Pinot Gris 202b>4 ($26.97 for 430 cases). The fruit for this wine came from a vineyard near Chelan in Washington state. The golden hue and rich palate suggests the wine had more skin contact that the technical notes suggest. There are flavours of ripe nectarines. 88.
Township 7 Interlude Series Chardonnay 2024 ($27.97 for 432 cases). The fruit for this wine was sourced from a vineyard in California’s Russian River Valley near Sonoma. The wine is fruit-forward, with aromas and flavours of apple and pear. 90.
Township 7 Interlude Series Rosé 2024 ($29.97 for 328 cases). The fruit for this wine is Pinot Noir from California’s Russian River Valley. The dark hue presents will in the glass but is perhaps unfashionably dark. A juicy wine, it has aromas and flavours of cherry and wild strawberry. 90.
