a Huge fan of BC wines and a connoisseur of fine wines.
Doug writes WineWise which appears weekly in the North Islander weekend
newspaper in Campbell River, B.C.
He also contributes articles to Wines of Canada
Zanatta Vineyards
On Vancouver Island , many of our vineyards produce exactly this kind of wine grape, nicely ripened and yet still high in crisp and refreshing natural acidity. One of the first and most dependable of these vineyards is Vignetti Zanatta in the Cowichan Valley .
Forget about sweet Shirazes and fat tropical Chardonnays. Some Island winemakers bring grapes in from the Okanagan Valley - and elsewhere - to conjure up their red wines. Not Zanatta!
Working entirely with grapes grown on site in their vineyards, Zanatta figured this out when they started planting their vineyards on Marshall Rd, south of Duncan , in 1986. Early ripening Ortega, exotic
Cayuga, crisp Pinot Grigio and sassy Pinot Nero are the order of the day at this quintessential Island winery.
As well as making fine and food-friendly still table wines from Ortega, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, Zanatta makes an excellent selection of sparkling wines from Cayuga, Auxerrois, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.
Zanatta's wines range in price from $14 - $24 at the winery. Because they are not stocked in Government Liquor Stores, you'll have to sniff through your local private outlets to find them if you can't find your way to the winery.
And finding your way, off Miller Rd or Allenby Rd, south of the junction of the Island Highway and the Cowichan River , can be challenging. Call ahead for directions (250) 748-2338 or check the map on their website: http://www.zanatta.ca/
Sparkling wines are a Vignetti Zanatta specialty. Named for the surrounding farming community Glenora Fantasia Brut is a tasty bubbly made completely from Cayuga grapes, using the same refermentation in the bottle method that gives us fine sparkling wines from Champagne . Aged on the lees for a minimum of 3 years, this Fantasia overflows with aromas of green apples and anjou pears.
Vignetti Zanatta Ortega is a textbook version of this mouthfilling white wine made from a crossing of Seigerrebe and Muller Thurgau grapes. Remarkably peachy and full-bodied, the addition of a dash of Muscat adds high-toned floral aromatics.
Like their Pinot Grigio and Damasco white wines, Zanatta Ortega is perfectly structured for the dining table, acids and fruit flavours in excellent balance. Neither rich creamy dishes nor light tomato sauces can take the appetizing edge from any of their white wines.
Vignetti Zanatta Pinot Nero has surprising density and weight for an Island-grown Pinot Noir. Strawberries, black cherries and blackberries swirl in the flavour and aroma spectrum. There's a brisk twist of fresh leather and new and old oak adding enough weight and body to suit it to rich meat and game.
Try to schedule your visit to include lunch at Vignetti Zanatta's “Vinoteca on the vineyard”. This full service restaurant, with a menu leaning towards local and natural foods, is open March through December, Wednesday through Sunday, Noon – 5:00pm. Bon appetit!
editors note: There are at least 30 different varieties on site for experimental purposes or for limited specialty wines (varieties such as Castel, Leon Millot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Siegerrebe...). Please check with the winery regarding hours of operation
Other Doug SLoan Articles
History of British Columbia Wines
BC VQA REDS
Too Good To Be True: Ooh! Oooh!! Ooooh!!!
Middle Mountain Mead
VQA BC Wines
Doug can be reached by email at douglas_sloan@yahoo.com
Visit Doug's Website
This curious and ambitious blend of first-rate opinions does not represent the views of anyone other than the author.
