Domaine Artema is deliberately different.
First of all, it's the Okanagan's first Beaujolais house focusing on the wines famous in that region of France -- Gamay for reds and roses and Chardonnay for whites and sparkling.
Second, Domaine Artema is promising a new vision on Oliver's Black Sage Bench where it's located at 4078 Black Sage Rd.
In early 2024, Vancouver-based Trident Hospitality bought Desert Hills Winery, changed the name and started to work on a new chapter for the property.
"Our winemaker is the incomparable Stefanie Dylla and our focus is her passion: Gamay," explained Domaine Artema general manager Courtney Fossett.
"As the vineyard has a long history of growing award-winning Gamay and Chardonnay grapes, we felt that it was a natural fit for us to turn our focus as a winery in that direction."
Dylla worked grape harvests in Ontario and New Zealand before coming to the Okanagan to be the winemaker at Desert Hills and then Domaine Artema.
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"It's all about experiencing Beaujolais on the Black Sage Bench," continued Fossett, who previously worked at Tinhorn Creek Winery in Oliver and had a founding role in the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association.
"Domaine Artema crafts elegant, expressive wines that reflect the growing conditions on the celebrated Black Sage Bench."
Domaine Artema is a boutique winery with production of about 5,000 cases a year with an eye to eventually increase to 10,000 cases annually.
Like most other Okanagan wineries, Domaine Artema was thrown a curveball when the deep freeze of January 2024 killed buds on grape vines ultimately decimating the 2024 harvest.
Like many other wineries, Domaine Artema bought grapes from Washington state growers that matched its style and grape-growing philosophy to make its 2024 vintage wines.
The result is five wines that focus on its core of Gamay and Chardonnay, but also veers a little using Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, too.
- 2024 Village Sparkling Rose ($35)
This fresh and bright pink bubbly is 76% Pinot Noir and 26% Chardonnay.
Aromas and flavours of strawberry, rhubarb and lemon zest.
Ideal for a casual get together or a celebration.
- 2024 Village Chardonnay ($35)
An elegant profile of apple, pear and butterscotch.
Delicate enough to drink on its own on the patio or pair it with roast chicken.
- 2024 Village Rose ($30)
Classic strawberries and cream profile pink of 76% Pinot Noir, 22% Gamay and 2% Chardonnay.
Drink it on its own or pair with barbecue pork tenderloin or pizza.
- 2024 Pinot Gris Cru ($30)
A varietal out of Domaine Artema's traditional wheelhouse of Gamay and Chardonnay, this Pinot Gris is juicy with a melon-citrus-tropical profile.
As such, it's not only a stand-alone drink, but pairs nicely with any salad, fish or cheese.
- 2024 Village Gamay ($35)
A light-bodied flagship red with fresh-crushed flavours and aromas of raspberry and cranberry and Gamay's signature spice of white pepper.
Domaine Artema's wines are available at the winery, online and at select private liquor stores across the province.
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space
