Anthony Gismondi: This is now the most-planted grape in B.C.'s wine country

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Weekend wine picks

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Squealing Pig Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

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$16.99 | 88/100

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UPC: 9415305003457

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Squealing Pig is a Marlborough, New Zealand, Sauvignon designed to be a playful, easy-sipping white. The profile is modern Marlborough, from its pale straw/green hue to its pungent passion fruit, gooseberry, nettle, citrus finish. It’s a fresh summer white you can serve with oysters or mussels or a goat cheese salad. On sale to the end of June.

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Unsworth Vineyards Rosé 2024, British Columbia, Canada

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$27.99 | 88/100

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UPC: 626990320333

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This B.C. rosé blends fruit from Fraser Valley’s Damm Vineyard, Sannich Peninsula’s Sunnydale Vineyard, and a few vineyards across Cowichan. Tart wild strawberries, rhubarb, and tangerine are lit with a racy pink grapefruit acidity and lined with a fine bed of lactic lees, trailing off into stony spice. Crisp and brisk, ready to crack into now.

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Burrowing Owl Rosé 2025, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

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$30 I 89/100

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UPC: 688229020254

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The Burrowing Owl Rosé 2025 is very much a Provence-style dry rosé. It’s 99 per cent Cabernet Franc with one per cent Malbec for colour. Look for a fun pink with ripe wild-strawberry and pink-grapefruit notes on the nose and palate. The palate is just off-dry, allowing it to pair with a wide range of dishes, including lightly spiced dishes. The winery’s suggestion of a poke bowl is a good one.

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Four Shadows Zweigelt 2023, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

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$27 | 89/100

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UPC: 696852118408

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Light on its feet, this Zweigelt belies its generous, luscious mouth feel, evident in lively, juicy, spicy blackberry, blueberry, and cranberry, making it perfectly suited to accompany any grilled chicken dish. It is a perfect red for summer parties. The two acres of Zweigelt at Four Shadows were planted in 1999, but it took nearly two decades before the winery decided to get serious about the farming and winemaking of this off-the-beaten-path red.

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Painted Rock Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

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$59.99 | 92/100

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UPC: 626990105831

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Youthful cassis, spice and cedar dominate the nose of this powerful cabernet. Structured and linear, it presents a well-balanced mix of ripe blackcurrant fruit, with classic South Okanagan savoury olive notes. The finish has dense, sweet tannins and a brush of oak that will dissipate with aging through 2028. Long, fragrant, and polished, this is modern B.C. Cabernet Sauvignon at its best.

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Calendar items

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• Visitors to Summerland’s wineries, cideries, breweries and distilleries will see a clearer, more cohesive wayfinding system this season. The upgrade replaces outdated, inconsistent signs with a modern network designed to improve navigation along rural roads, agricultural corridors and tasting routes. Created with graphic designer Phred Martin, the refreshed system emphasizes visibility, readability and consistency, while complementing Summerland’s landscape. The project also updates the Bottleneck Drive logo, which has largely remained unchanged for more than 20 years. “The design needed to function at high speeds, in varying light conditions, and across diverse terrain,” said Martin. “Clarity was prioritized, with branding that reflects Summerland’s landscape and rhythm.”

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• The B.C. Crab Fishermen’s Association and the Chefs’ Table Society of B.C. will again host the False Creek Crab Fest on July 26, from noon to 4 p.m., at False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf. Now in its fourth year, the festival draws seafood lovers, families and community members to enjoy locally caught Dungeness crab, B.C. craft beverages, live music, games and educational booths. The event promotes sustainable management of B.C.’s crab fishery and supports the future of the province’s food and hospitality sectors. Funds raised will benefit the Chefs’ Table Society’s initiatives. General tickets cost $70 plus taxes, with day-of tickets at $75, plus taxes, depending on availability. Each ticket includes a Dungeness crab dish, a sweet treat, and two beverage tastings. For tickets, go to Eventbrite.ca.