Chronos and Evolve wines are released
Photo: Lynzee Schatz (courtesy of Chronos Wines
Four years before he died in 2019, Harry McWatters launched the Time Winery in downtown Penticton, converting an old movie theatre. The facility now has a wine production area, a tasting room and a restaurant. It became what one would call a destination winery.
Unfortunately, the winery went into receivership after Harry’s death. It was purchased by Ron and Shelley Mayert. Time has been rebranded as Chronos, while the Evolve brand, created by Harry, has remained in the portfolio and now graces the separate Evolve sparkling house on Lower Bench Road.
The sparkling wine house opened with three award-winning sparkling wines made by, or finished by, Lynzee Schatz, the Okanagan-born winemaker who joined Time in late 2019, taking over from Harry’s winemaking team, Nadine Kinvig and Graham Pierce.
Lynzee trained as a winemaker in Australia and spent five years with Chandon, a French-owned sparkling wine producer in the Yarra Valley there. “Sparkling wine has been my passion since I entered the wine industry over 20 years ago,” she is quoted in one publicity release from Evolve.
She clearly has solid ability in making table wines as well. Chronos designates the well-made premium tier in what the Mayerts still call the Time Family of Wines. The more modestly priced table wines are released under the Evolve label. The portfolio is deep: the winery’s website lists 29 wines!
Here are notes on just a selection of those wines. Many are from the wonderful 2025 vintage.
Chronos Sauvignon Blanc 2025 ($29.99 for 285 cases). The fruit was fermented cool for four weeks in stainless steel. The result is a classic Sauvignon Blanc, with aromas and flavours of lime mingled with citrus and green apple. 91.
Chronos Pinot Gris 2025 ($24.99 for 580 cases). The winery remarks that the ideal growing conditions in 2025 “fostered pristine Pinot Gris grapes.” It shows in the glass where the wine has aromas and flavours of peach, pear and citrus. The bright fruit flavours persist in the crisp finish. 91.
Chronos Riesling 2025 ($26.99 for 119 cases). The fruit is from a Naramata vineyard. The grapes were fermented whole-cluster in stainless steel. The wine has aromas of citrus and peach which are echoed on the palate, along with a hint of apple. The wine is balanced to finish dry. 90.
Chronos Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 ($39.99 for 742 cases). The dark colour and the rich texture of this wine reflect the long ferment and daily pump-overs. The wine was aged 18 months in American and French oak (20% new). It begins with aromas of cassis, spice and dark fruits. These are echoed on the palate, mingled with flavours of plum, black olive and chocolate. 92.
Chronos Syrah 2021 ($34.99 for 500 cases). The fruit for this wine is from a vineyard beside Osoyoos Lake. The grapes were fermented in small tanks, each with a different yeast strain. Each batch was then aged for 16 months in French oak barrels (20% new), and blended before bottling. The 2021 vintage was hot and produced a rich and bold wine, with meaty, spicy aromas and flavours of plum and dark cherry. 91.
Chronos Merlot 2021 ($29.99 for 568 cases). The fruit was from two Osoyoos vineyards, fermented separately and kept separate until bottling. The wine was aged 18 months in French and American oak barrels. This is a bold and ripe Merlot, reflecting both the hot vintage and the careful winemaking. It begins with aromas of blackberry and other dark fruits. The firm tannins soften as the wine has time to breathe, revealing juicy flavours of dark cherry and black currant. 91.
Evolve Effervescence NV ($26.99 for 889 cases). Made by the Charmat method, this is a crisp sparkling wine packed with flavour. The blend is 55% Pinot Blanc, 25% Ortega and 10% each of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Pale straw in colour, the wine begins with aromas of peach, freshly sliced apple and citrus. On the palate, there are flavours of melon and peach. 90.
Evolve Pink Effervescence NV ($27.99 for 1,335 cases). A Charmat method sparkler, the blend is 55% Pinot Blanc, 25% Ortega, 10% Chardonnay, 9% Pinot Noir and 1% Syrah. The latter is added to provide the wine’s pink hue. There is a hint of strawberry and peach in the aroma. The flavours are fruity, with notes of watermelon, peach and strawberry. 90
Evolve Rosé 2025 ($26.99 for 980 cases). This is a Syrah rosé with fruit from the Solmere Vineyard in Osoyoos. The fruit was whole-bunch pressed to produce a delicate pink hue in the wine. Fermentation was cool and long in stainless steel. The wine has aromas and flavours of strawberry and cherry, with a hint of watermelon on the palate. The finish is fresh and crisp. 91.
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