A little way’s back, I’d made mention of a wonderful new Naramata Viognier that was bottled and ready to go, but the BC government was keeping us from getting some.  I’m happy to say that this is no longer the story.

A little background…

Miranda and Del Halladay of Elephant Island Orchard Wines have been producing phenomenal fruit wines for many years now, from dry Cherry and Pear wines for drinking with your supper, to other fare like Framboise and Cassis to go with dessert or in cocktails.  A recent effort, “Pink Elephant” – a sparkling Granny Smith Apple wine with a Cassis dosage – is quite the tart little flirt, an example of the Kir Royale reborn, and is quite deserving of a place on your dinner table or picnic blanket this summer.

I’ve been proud to work with their wines over the years, and enjoy sharing their wines with people who say they “don’t like fruit wines” only to become fast friends with the stuff after taking note that the wines are fresh, not sweet and cloying, and maintain the integrity of the fantastic orchard fruit they’re made from.

Well…

Del had been working on their first grape wine, from Viognier vines that they’d grown on their property.  After a few years of tending and efforts, the stuff was harvested, processed, made, branded and bottled.  It was at this point that Miranda and Del discovered that though they were indeed licensed to make and sell grape wines, the minimum area of vines planted on their property that were required to do this had only very recently changed by a couple acres, and they were now juuust under the minimum.  Silly though, because they already had the license, the go-ahead, and had been adhering to the official policies during the whole process.  Once all was said and done, the goal posts were moved, and all of the cases of Viognier sat there stalled for a few weeks while wrangling was done.

And now, the wrangling is over and the wine is flowing, just in time for the heat of summer!

So without further ado, here it is:

Vindication Vineyards 2009 Viognier, Naramata Bench, B.C.

The name is a nod to Miranda’s grandmother’s purchase and vision of their Naramata land many years ago, seeing the potential for phenomenal orchard fruit and winemaking possibilities.  She was told it was a white elephant (hence, ‘Elephant’ Island), a waste of time, effort and money, and that her vision wouldn’t happen, not there.  As you can see in black and white on the front of the (awesome) label, there is Vindication for her early vision of the region nowadays, presented with a confident “I told you so…”.

Little did Del and Miranda know that there would be one more major hurdle for them to clear to get the wine out into public hands.  Vindication, indeed!

But what’s inside the bottle?

With about 15% Sauvignon Blanc thrown in for some acidiity and freshness, Del has made a lively, summery treat!  A nice, golden colour, there’s some fresh orange blossom and pear on on the nose, leading to honeyed apricots and peaches on the palate.  The Sauvignon Blanc appears toward the finish, adding some bright citrusy notes with fresh sorrel and lemongrass to balance out the fruit.  It’s pretty complex for those who like to dissect these things, but totally quaffable and juicy for those who don’t.

It’s quite the steal, a handsome bottle, a nice little story and -above all- a tasty drop!

Vindication Viognier is around 22 bucks, available at private wine stores or by contacting the winery.

Oh, and it’s very limited production, so put a little spring in your step!

And congrats to Del & Miranda for their efforts (and Grandma’s, too) paying off!