HK masterclass takes a look at BC wines

The ‘British Columbia Wine Masterclass’ organised by the drinks business Hong Kong in collaboration with British Columbia Wine Institute concluded on a high note, attracting more than 40 professional trade members last Wednesday at the China Club.

Hosted by Rhys Pender MW and managing editor of the drinks business Hong Kong Rupert Millar, the masterclass did a comparative tasting of 16 premium wines from the region’s two main wine producing areas – Okanagan Valley and Similkameen Valley.

Pender talked in detail about British Columbia’s winemaking history and how the region’s unique climate and terroir conditions affect its wines.

The wines from leading producers were categorised into four groups, namely Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Bordeaux blends, to help guests better understand each variety’s characteristics and different winery styles.

The panel discussed the prospects of British Columbia as a premium wine producing region in the world, as well as how its short and hot growing season produced a wide range of wine styles that go beyond cool climate. There was also a tasting corner for wine lovers to sample more wines from the region.

According to Pender, the climate conditions in British Columbia are drastically different from all the other winemaking regions in the world. It’s not cool climate and it can be extreme. In summer, the temperature can spike up to more than 40 degrees Celsius, while in winter it can drop below 20°C. During one day in summer, he added, the temperature swing could be drastic as well, rising up to 40°C at noon, then collapsing to 7°C.

This, however, helped preserve the natural acidity in the grapes and fruit intensity, explained Pender. Admittedly, while the severe cold during winter could potentially kill vines, it also killed insects and other pests, creating an environment well-suited to organic viticulture, he added.

Being so far north, the region enjoys long hours of sunlight, which helped the grapes’ ripening process. And the coastal mountain stripped out a lot of the moisture carried by marine winds, making the region dry and sunny, according to the master of wine, highlighting its special climate conditions.

Rainfall in the region is comparatively low, which means grapes are less susceptible to fungus and mildew as well, he continued.

The Okanagan Valley is the region’s biggest wine producing area, accounting for 82% of its grape acreage. A long strip spanning from north to south, each sub region in the Okanagan valley has different climate and terroir conditions, Pender stated, giving winemakers opportunities to experiment with different grape varieties.

Further down the south, the Similkameen Valley’s sparkling wines are making waves in recent years, according to Pender. The sparkling wines are known for their lively acidity and fruit flavours.

Some of the wineries at the master class are not yet imported in Hong Kong, any interested party can contact the drinks business Hong Kong or send email to lkittmer@winebc.com.