If you love wine like me, then you probably can’t wait to get out to the wineries in the Okanagan or Osoyoos this summer. One thing this pandemic has allowed for us to do, is explore what our own province has to offer, instead of traveling to a different country like we would normally do.
On Thursday, Mattia and I went out to Glass House Estate Winery. The sun was shinning and it was the perfect day for a little wine tasting.
Glass House is one of my favourite wineries in the Campbell Valley. It opened in 2012 after the de Jong family retired from their 60 years in the greenhouse industry, hence the greenhouse like building. The property was originally an over grown Christmas tree farm until the de Jong’s transformed it into the winery it is today. They produce “hand selected, single vineyard, low yield artisan wine” in the South of Langley. Their whites are grown on the property but the reds are grown in the Naramata bench area. The winery is managed by the Joesph Richards Group who are proud to continue to build on what the de Jong’s have created.
We arrived to the large glass building and entered the tasting room through the sturdy hickory doors. The staff were lovely and brought us to the bar for a tasting right away.
We tasted five wines for $10 but if you buy a bottle $5 is knocked off the tasting. I had the 2019 Savignon Blanc, 2019 Chardonnay, NV Cameo Rosé, 2017 Austellus and the 2017 Stellatus Brut Cuvée, which I did end up taking a bottle of home. During our tasting, I taught Mattia to swirl her wine in order for it to “open up.” Basically, just allowing oxygen to get into the wine in order to breakdown and give off its aromas. I also made Mattia taste her wine in three sips in order for the palette to adjust to the wine. A few tricks I’ve learned over the years at wine tastings.
Charcuterie Board
After our tasting, we sat inside for a glass of wine and some appies. We shared the truffle and herb flatbread and a charcuterie board. I highly recommend both. The charcuterie came with a variety of meats and cheese as well as pickles veggies, dark chocolate and a grainy mustard. Once we finished the wine and food, we went outside to explore the vineyard. We walked around in the picnic area they have set up. Then we strolled over the garden bridge, that’s over a flowing stream and headed towards the grapes. After sinking a little too deep into the wet and muddy ground, it was time to head back to the main area.
We decided to have one more glass of champagne before we left. We sat on the out door patio where they have hanging lights and white marble tables and chairs on the red brick ground. During the summer months, the patio is usually filled with people enjoying live music from local musicians.
This Sunday, Glass House is having an Easter Dinner menu served family style for two. It’s full of tomato salad, lamb saddle, halibut and fresh donuts. It’s on for $129 for two guests and they have wine parings available.
Glass House is open Wednesday to Sunday with varied hours. I highly recommend hopping in (Get it? Because Easter is this weekend) for a tasting.