Tasting Note: by Janet Dorozynski
This white is a blend of native Spanish varieties albariño (58%) and verdejo (42%). We see very little of this blend, nor either variety planted in Canada. Pressed and fermented together and aged in stainless steel, this wine comes from the 2024 vintage which was very small. Despite being a year of severe crop loss in the Okanagan, the quality is superb, and the wine delivers a perfect expression of the Naramata Bench’s signature of freshness and flesh. An expressive nose of white blossom and citrus peel sets the stage, followed by a palate of vivid and juicy acidity, notes of lemon, pink grapefruit and white peach, which ends with a touch of saline brightness on the lingering finish. This wine is the whole package: precise, complex and deeply refreshing.  Alcohol 13.9% ABV. Tasted June 2025. 

Backgrounder:
Terravista’s history and wines are firmly rooted in what I believe to the sweet spot of the Okanagan, the Naramata Bench. The winery was founded by Okanagan trailblazers, Senka and Bob Tennant, whose pioneering work and influence echoes throughout the vineyards and Terravista’s use of distinctive Spanish and Rhone varieties. Lone Hand Ranch is home to the grapes that go into Fandango, whose vines were planted in the southwestern stony slopes of the Naramata Bench in 2008. The winery was taken over by local stewards Dallas and Eric Thor in 2019, who along with talented winemaker Nadine Kinvig, carry on the tradition of thoughtful farming and stewardship of the land and a commitment to a clear sense of place.  

Accolades: WineAlign 2025 National Wine Awards of Canada Gold Medal