Vasanti's new winemaker plans to change the style

Photo: The Sidhu family at a Vasanti vineyard

In Punjabi, Vasanti means spring or new beginnings. The name of this South Okanagan winery was inspired by the history of Harb Sidhu, the head of the family, who left India in 1980 to farm orchard fruit and then to grow grapes in the Okanagan. He and his three sons sold grapes to other wineries for years before beginning to bottle wines under the Vasanti label in 2021. Gordie Sidhu, the oldest son and a financial planner, is the vineyard manager, having equipped himself with a certificate in viticulture from Okanagan College. Vik Sidhu, the youngest son, who has a biology degree, works with the winemaker.

The director of operations is Davinder Sidhu, an optometrist who also has a biochemistry degree from UBC Okanagan and who has published papers on his wine research. The winery’s initial vintages were made with the assistance of Jason Parkes, one of the Okanagan’s leading consulting winemakers. In the spring of 2005, Petar Djuric, who had been at French Door Winery, joined Vasanti as winemaker. A master sommelier, he had a long career in restaurants before coming to the Okanagan in 2021. He has a certificate in viticulture from Okanagan College and honed his experience with a season making wine in Chile.

The arrival of a new winemaker also has led to a decision to change cooperage. “Vasani was built on new American oak and French oak,” the winery writes. “It is an assertive cooperage [which can] dominate the exact site character we are trying to show. We are moving to French and other European oak and cutting the proportion of new barrels. The reasoning: if the goal is a wine true to a vintage and its fruit, the barrel should be a frame rather than a flavour. … The vineyard [should] be the loudest thing in the glass.” The first wines to reflect the new direction in winemaking and cellaring are being made in the 2026 vintage. It would be interesting to lay in a few wines that are currently being released – and they are well made wines – and compare them with the 2026 wines when those are released. My only comment: if it is oot broken, do not hurry to fix it.

Here are notes on the wines.

Vasanti Paradise Bubbles 2025< ($26.99 for 322 cases). This is made with Pinot Gris. The wine was fermented cool to retain the aromatics. Forced carbonization gave the wine its sparkle. The wine is crisp with notes of citrus on the palate. 88.

Vasanti Sauvignon Blanc 2025 ($24.99 for 185 cases). The fruit for this wine is from Vasanti’s Paradise Vineyard near Osoyoos. It was fermented cool and matured in stainless steel. The wine begins with aromas of lime and lemon leading to flavours of lime and gooseberry. The wine is crisp and dry, reminiscent of Sancerre. 90.

Vasanti Pinot Gris 2025 ($24.99 for 339 cases). The fruit for this wine is also from the Paradise Vineyard. It was fermented cool, left on the lees for two weeks, with regular battonage and was matured in stainless steel. The wine has aromas and flavours of apple, pear and citrus. It is crisp and dry on the finish. 89.

Vasanti Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2025 ($24.99 for 535 cases). The fruit is from the winery’s Granite Lake vineyard near Osoyoos. There is eight per cent Cabernet Franc in the blend. The fruit was pressed with minimal skin contact which produced an appealing salmon pink hue. The wine has aromas and flavours of strawberry and watermelon, with cherry notes as well. The finish is crisp and fresh. 91.

Vasanti Meritage 2023 ($29.00 for 924 cases). The blend is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 18% Merlot, all from Osoyoos vineyards. The wine was aged in a mixture of French, American and Hungarian oak barrels. It begins with aromas of spice, cassis and dark cherry, leading to flavours of black currant mingled with chocolate. The wine benefits from being decanted. 93.

Vasanti Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 ($44.99 for 408 cases). This fruit for this wine is from two Osoyoos vineyards, in a hot season that produced a big and bold red. The wine was aged 28 months in a mixture of French, American and Hungarian oak barrels. The wine, which benefits from decanting, has aromas and flavours of dark fruits mingled with spice. The finish is long. 93.