Tasting Note: There is certainly a lot going in this organically grown gamay, especially at the great price. I had a quick look at the National Wine Awards in June, having been a fan of previous vintages and Orofino in general. And I made a note to follow-up for a more detailed tasting. Above all I like its complexity and energy. It is unfined and unfiltered, so expect the haze within the medium pale ruby colour. The nose is nicely lifted with pure, sour cherry/cranberry, fine herbs, pepper and underbrush. All very well meshed. It is medium weight, fairly smooth and creamy yet intense and notably sour-edged at the same time, with some lurking acetone. Tannins are very fine. The length is excellent. The length is excellent. I would chill lightly and serve at the table, rather than as sipping red. 

Backgrounder – John and Virginia Weber left Saskatchewan in 2001 to put down family and vine roots in the Similkameen Valley, making Orofino one of the pioneers of the region. And over the intervening years, through farming several sites, some of which they now own, they have developed a detailed knowledge of the Similkameen’s varying topography and soil types.  The home Orofino Vineyard on the Cawston Bench was planted in 1989, among the first in the region, and it is home to three acres of gamay, planted a bit later. Some of the gamay also came from the Johal Vineyard nearby. The 2025 vintage was excellent, with September heat that forced quick harvest decisions to hold acids. The grapes were de-stemmed leaving whole berries where internal carbonic fermentation for the first five days with gentle daily punch downs. The fermentation took place in open top fermenters, using natural yeasts. It was then gently pressed off into older French barrels and concrete tanks, before bottling without fining or filtration.

Accolades: Gold National Wine Awards of Canada 2026