Anthony Gismondi: This superstar grape shows big promise for B.C. wine

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Grüner Veltliner aligns with the premium identity B.C. wineries want to project and, with prices from $20 to $60+, it is well on its way to establishing a foothold in the market. All it really needs now is more consumer demand, because without it, there will be no rush to plant more vines and increase production.

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Should demand materialize, Grüner Veltliner could move quickly from a B.C. curiosity to a signature small-lot white. For now, it remains one of the province’s most intriguing unfinished wine stories.

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Weekend wine picks

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Nostalgia Home Vineyard Viognier 2025, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

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$24.99 | 87/100

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UPC: 626990366553

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Ripe and open, this Viognier blends warmer notes of apricot, peach, and orange blossom with a soft, rounded palate and modest acidity. It’s a touch light in weight but very easy to drink and will be a hit with Viognier drinkers. The finish is smooth and lightly honeyed. Think easy, generous, early-drinking Okanagan style with good overall balance. For best results, serve with lightly spicy food.

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Sartarelli Classico Verdicchio 2022, Marche, Italy

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$23.99 | 89/100

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UPC: 8032919700018

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This Verdicchio is a simple, straightforward white made from gently pressed fruit, handled delicately during fermentation. It displays a light straw hue with greenish hints. On the nose, it offers classic green grassy fruit and hawthorn notes, accented with citrus and a hint of almonds at the finish. This charming Marche white is perfect for West Coast seafood. Its fresh, youthful character makes it an excellent pasta pairing, especially with clams or mussels served with spaghetti.

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Suavia Soave Classico Garganega 2024, Soave, Verona, Veneto, Italy

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$39.99 | 89/100

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UPC: 8026766001107

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Unlike many Soave wines on the market, Suavia is made entirely from Garganega and is fermented in stainless steel. The fruit comes from vines that are more than 60 years old, and you can expect white peach, pear skin, and almond notes, followed by linear lime-citrus and green-apple flavours, and ending in a light, stony, saline finish. Suavia’s Classico version is not aiming for cru-level intensity but rather a cooler, lighter white with balance at a lower weight — nothing but fun, from the bottle shape to the taste.

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Seven Directions Pinot Noir Rosé 2025, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

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$32.00 | 91/100

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UPC: 626990275077

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The Bottega Wine Studio produces the Seven Directions rosés in the Similkameen Valley. The 2025 is made entirely from Pinot Noir. Its colour is subtly Provençal, with strawberry and orange hues. The nose is sweeter than the palate, which ends dry with a hint of citrus rind bitterness that balances the wine. It is back on track in the Similkameen. The fruit comes from multiple vineyards in the Similkameen Valley, as well as from the Bottega estate.

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Winemaker’s Cut Sparkling Grüner Veltliner 2024, Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington

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$25 I 88/100

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UPC: 644625740097

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Sparkling Grüner Veltliner sounds appealing to me. In 2024, when grapes were nonexistent in B.C. due to a deep freeze, winemaker Michel Mosny found some Grüner in the Yakima Valley, Washington. He had it sent to his Okanagan winery for processing. The result is a fresh, clean, green-apple, white-flower bubble with an undertone of minerality and bright acidity. Food-friendly and ready to drink.