Tasting Note This is from a cooler, east-facing Summerland Lakefront site, whose proximity to the un-frozen lake likely saved it during the crippling winter freeze in January of this vintage. It strikes me as very fulsome yet dry Alsatian style. It pours fairly deep lemon. The nose is soft but rich with classic yellow pear, fresh sage, dried flowers and subtle saffron. It is medium-full bodied (13% ABV), smooth and elegant, with modest acidity. Very well balanced, dry but mellow, although firmer acid and minerality come to the finish. The length is excellent. This wine is also available in Ontario through importing agent Nicolas Pearce, listed at $56.

Backgrounder Naramata-based Joie Farm has long been a proponent of aromatic white wines in B.C., most famous for their Noble Blend. They have always struck me as Alsatian in style because the terroir is so similar — due to the northerly latitude and warm, dry growing season in the lee of the Coastal Range. Joie is best known for the En-Famille range from various sites, but are also making some one-off single vineyards like this Whitfield Riesling. Planted in 2011, it is 2.89-acre property with sandy loam soils and dramatic elevations. Facing east, it catches the cooler morning sun and goes into shadow in late afternoon. The wine rested for 14 months in neutral oak and stainless steel. The wine has 13% alcohol, 6.3 g/L TA and 7.07 g/L residual sugar.