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All our wines are 100% estate-grown in our Cobble Hill vineyard in the warm Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.
We often give them our own whimsical names, even when they are from a single grape variety, so you can enjoy them without any preconceived notions. Each is an adventure for us, as we allow each vintage full expression with a combination of obsessive care in the vineyard and adventuresome spirit in the winery. Above all remains our basic philosophy of natural sustainability: no irrigation, no herbicides or pesticides in the vineyard, no chemicals in the winery outside of a small amount of sulphite added to some of our wines as an antioxidant to enable cellaring.
This handy red bag with the VS logo in white has interior partitions that protect each bottle. It is made of non-woven polypropylene, strong enough to carry six 750 ml bottles of wine, is reusable many times over (like the non-woven grocery bags) and is fully recyclable. Makes a great gift bag for VS products, too!
The exceptional hot and sunny 2009 season produced excellent reds. This Nero di Collina combines Zweigelt and Dornfelder to create a medium-bodied, delicious, unique & juicy red with flavours rreminiscent of dark blackberry and brambleberry with subtle hints of leather in its smooth, rich palate. Aged one year in 50% new Nevers French oak barrels. 12.3% alc.
Selected fruit from old vines in the hot 2006 season yielded just three barrels of our reserve Pinot Noir: two years in new French oak; hand bottled without fining or filtering; smoothly structured mouthfeel; dark chocolate covered cherry nuances on the nose; deep colour; dark berry/plum fruit with a tobacco leaf/leather complexity and structure dominated by minerality and firm, yet smooth, tannins.
Store upright and decant carefully off the sediment before serving. 14.8% alc.
2008 was a cool growing season, yet with lots of sunshine to build sugar levels in our Pinot Noir. The resulting wine, aged a year in new and one year old French Nevers oak barrels, has a complex palate displaying intriguing floral tones along with cherry and cassis-like fruit and hints of leather, fennel, chocolate and spice over slate minerality. We do not do malolactic fermentation to reduce acidity. The wine can be enjoyed young with dishes where the natural acidity is an advantage (such as roasted lamb shank or stew). We highly recommend ageing it for 6 months and beyond for further softening and rounding. It is unfined and not sterile filtered, so we recommend storing it upright (it is closed with a crown cap) and decanting it off any sediment before serving. 13.7% alcohol.
Pinots are very sensitive to motion. If it is shipped, it should be allowed 6 weeks in a cool, quiet place to recover from bottle shock. Otherwise, it may appear to be oxidized or "off"
This combination of our Pinot Noir and Zweigelt was partially fermented in French oak, producing a light bodied dry purple/red wine dominated by juicy cherry with hints of barnyard, leather and spice. It was finished with a year of French oak barrel ageing. 12% alc.
An artful combination of three white varieties: Pinot Gris, Chasselas and Pinot Auxerrois. Extended lees contact contributed to intriguing hints of melon and orange citrus and fresh yeast and earthy components. Its bright acidity is balanced by a hint of residual sweetness. Wonderful with morel mushrooms; delicious with curry. 12.4% alc.
Created from Schönburger grapes in a hot season, Indigo is often described simply as "sexy" - not an objective wine descriptor to sum up the combination of musky spice, orange and perhaps just a hint of candied violets or roses, but you can't argue with subjective personal interpretations, and sensory evaluation of Schönburger is very much dependent on the physiology of the taster. Our family certainly has the receptors to appreciate this unique wine. We love it with cheese and dishes such as a hand made lasagna with béchamel sauce layers with meat and cheese. Recipe coming soon. 13.5% alc.
Our dry white Millefiori (a thousand flowers) is an extremely versatile food pairing wine dominated by floral notes and bright tropical fruit character. The cool 2010 season provided long hang time for the Siegerrebe and Ortega grapes, yet adequate acidity to maintian its characteristic freshness, enhanced by a hint of spritz from the cool fermentation. 12.2% alc.
This100% estate grown combination of four aromatic European varieties from the cool 2010 growing season produced a light, dry white wine characterized by subtle peach and juicy passionfruit tones and delicious acidity reminiscent of grapefruit and mandarin. 11.8% alc.
This wine from the cool 2007 season is a delicate dry white wine with subtle spice and mandarin orange aromas and flavours. It will pair well with seafood, white meats and cheese. The fresh citrus finish is enhanced by a hint of cold fermentation spritz. Schönburger is a European crossing of Pinot Noir with an Italian table grape developed in the 20th century in Germany by crossing Muscat of Hamburg with Chasselas. Although very winter tender and rather prone to mildew, requiring lots of tender loving care with canopy management, it is still a delight to grow as it is very resistant to bunch rot in those occasional damp seasons. 12.5% alc.
Maranello is a village a few km from Giordano's home town in Italy and the home of Ferrari - an apt name for our beautiful racy 2009 Pinot Noir rosé. Aromas and flavours of juicy wild strawberries and ripe apples are followed by vibrant acidity on the finish. Two-thirds underwent barrel fermentation to enhance mouth-feel, one-third fermented in stainless steel to retain the fresh fruity notes. 14.4% alcohol.
We created this unique rosé with extended lees contact on carefully selected Pinot Noir grapes from the wonderful 2009 growing season. Its fruit-driven palate and juicy acidity is balanced by a touch of residual sweetness. 13% alc.
The cool 2008 season was ideal for our sparkling varieties, giving us a delicious dry bottle-fermented sparkling with our typical Vancouver Island fruit character, gentle, but persistent bubbles and smooth texture. As usual, we did not add any sulphites or additional sweetness. This cuvée was composed from Pinot Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and touch of Kerner with a kiss of oak ageing. Delicious! 12.5% alcohol.
It is sealed with a crown cap instead of a cork to better preserve the quality of the wine.
This delicious dry ever-so-slightly rosé coloured bottle-fermented sparkling is a unique, and secret, combination of two red and two white vinifera varieties. It has our trademark creamy texture and fine mousse along with beguiling delicate fruit character - great with "real food" but also an intriguing match with Black Forest Cake. No sulphites are added to our sparkling wines.
This dry bright ruby red bottle-fermented semi-sparkling wine was created from Pinot Noir and Zweigelt. With its mild effervescence, bright berry fruit aromas and well balanced palate, it will add a sparkle to any occasion and is a natural for those summer get togethers with friends when even a barbecue deserves a great wine.
12.7% alcohol. Sealed with a crown cap instead of a cork to better preserve the quality of the wine.
This sweet amber wine is named for the No.3 Brandenburg concerto. Its rich, earthy, smoky, caramel-coffee notes pair wonderfully with foie gras, charcuterie, a cheese and hazelnut platter and, for the more adventurous, spice-crusted duck in a heart-stopping coffee cocoa sauce. Also wonderful with the Five Spice Crème Brulée and the Orange Hazelnut Fennel Biscotti on our Recipes page. This vintage is sterile filtered in a clear bottle with a Stelvin screw cap.
The No.3 has had no sulphites or preservatives added. 7.5% alcohol.
REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING
For more recipes, visit: www.venturischulze.com/recipes