You don't have to hand over a whole wad of cash to snag a tasty bottle of wine.
Noble Ridge Winery in Okanagan Falls has an entry-level tier -- aptly called the Noble Series -- of nine affordable, approachable and quaffable wines priced between $20 and $30.
The winery also has two higher tiers -- the Reserve Series with wines priced $24 to $43 and King's Ransom, priced $50 to $75.
"The majority of our winemaking practices are similar across all tiers," said Noble Ridge director of winemaking and viticulture Benoit Gauthier.
"The subtle difference being expressed in the vineyards and maturing time."
What that means is the best grapes go into the Reserve and King's tiers, while grapes that are still great, but not quite the best, are used for the Noble Series.
"This ensures quality wines that are accessible to everyone," continued Gauthier.
"No two wines are alike, but each start with the end in mind and an expression of the fingerprint of where the grapes are grown."
Noble Ridge is promoting Noble Series' value and quality and raising some money for charity at the same time this month.
For all of November, the winery will donate 50 cents per bottle sold of Noble Series wines to one of its Noble Causes -- the South Okanagan Women in Need Society.
The society provides shelter, safety and support for those impacted by abuse and violence.
To qualify for the donation, the bottle has to be sold through the winery's direct-to-consumer channels.
That means purchased from the winery's tasting room and shop at 2320 Oliver Ranch Road in Okanagan Falls, online at www.nobleridge.com or through the Noble Ridge wine club.
The nine wines in the Noble Series are:
- 2022 Stony Knoll Chardonnay (unoaked) ($26)
- 2022 Rose ($25)
- 2020 Meritage ($27)
- 2021 Pinot Noir ($25)
- 2020 Merlot ($27)
- 2020 Cab Merlot ($28)
- 2020 Cabernet Franc ($30)
- 2022 Mingle white blend ($20)
- 2022 Riesling ($24)
Winery for climate action
Summerland's Okanagan Crush Pad is the first Canadian winery to earn silver status with International Wineries for Climate Action.
Crush Pad, which makes the Haywire, Narrative, Free Form, Bizou+Yukon and Garnet Valley Ranch wines, first became a member of International Wineries for Climate Action in May 2022 when it committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050.
Last month, Okanagan Crush Pad was awarded silver membership when it completed a rigorous International Organization for Standardization (ISO) audit.
Okanagan Crush Pad received its silver status at the same time as Domaine Lafage in France and Herdade dos Grous in Portugal.
Okanagan Crush Pad winemaker Kat D'Costa has had sustainability officer added to her title to oversee the winery's green initiatives.
International Wineries for Climate Action was founded in 2019 by Spanish winery Familia Torres and Jackson Family Wines of California in 2019 to provide a framework for wineries worldwide to reduce carbon emissions, share best practices and mitigate climate change.
Currently, the group has 26 silver members, 6 gold members and 13 applicant members.
The only other Okanagan winery that's a member -- at the applicant level -- is CedarCreek in Kelowna.
Okanagan Crush Pad is also the first winery to join FortisBC's Renewable Natural Gas Program to reduce is greenhouse gas emissions by switching to natural gas generated from decomposing organic waste from landfills and farms.
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.
