Canada Day is almost here and if you’re looking for some terrific west coast wines to celebrate, our next guest has you covered! Joining us today is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com.
Hi Natalie!
Great to be back with you! Not only are these wines delicious, but they’ve also proved themselves in national and international competitions winning multiple awards and medals.
Let’s start with your first wine.
Vasanti Estate Winery Gamay Noir
Oliver, B.C.
I have the Vasanti Estate Winery Gamay Noir, a silky smooth, medium-bodied red from Oliver, British Columbia with aromas of bright red berries and a touch of spice. It’s perfect for savoury summer salads and soft cheeses.
Vasanti has multiple medals at the All Canadian Wine Awards and was a Top 10 Finalist for Best New Winery.
The word Vasanti means renewal and growth, which captures the Sidhu family’s story. Their father arrived in Canada in 1980 with just a few dollars in his pocket and built one of the province’s most successful farming operations. Today, his three sons—Davinder, Vik and Gordie–carry on that spirit with top-tier wines like this one.
They’re all deeply involved in every aspect of the winery. Davinder, a biochemist, has published research on cool-climate viticulture which brings additional depth and precision to the winemaking process. He’s also an optometrist, so you could say he’s a visionary in both fields.
What if we’re looking for something more full-bodied?.
Clos du Soleil Signature
Similkameen Valley, BC
I have the Clos du Soleil Signature Red from Similkameen Valley in British Columbia.
The winery specializes in Bordeaux blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot—bold, structured, and beautifully balanced. It’s basically the Canadian Rockies in liquid form. This wine won the Silver Medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, England and was awarded 91 points out of 100.
They farm organically and biodynamically, letting the rocky soils and mountain sunshine through every sip. This is the kind of wine that tells a story that’s elegant yet powerful, like the landscape it comes from. Try it with a steak, grilled Portobello mushrooms, or aged cheddar.
What is we want something to pair with our grilled steak?
Township 7 Winery Provenance Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Naramata Bench, B.C.
We’re moving on to this bold, savoury Township 7 Winery Provenance Series Cabernet Sauvignon. It offers seductive aromas dark plums and juicy blackberries. It’s smooth and full-bodied, perfect for barbecue steak or a grilled Portobello mushroom burger with melting blue cheese.
Township 7 is celebrating their 25th anniversary and is one of the few BC wineries with two locations: South Langley and Naramata Bench. They produce still and sparkling wines in small artisanal lots and their wines have consistently been awarded 90+ point scores and many awards, including the Trophy for Best Canadian Sparkling Wine at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships.
After one of the most challenging years in Okanagan history with that 2024 freeze, they’re replanting their vineyards and, in the meantime, have introduced their Interlude Series made from Sonoma grapes. It’s a true testament to Canadian resilience and optimism because if there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s turning weather disasters into character-building exercises and superb wine.
Finally, what would you recommend for dessert?
Sagewood Estate Winery Dernier Foch
Kamloops, B.C.
For our final wine, we have a gorgeous late-harvest dessert wine from Sagewood Estate Winery in Kamloops. The Dernier Foch is bursting with luscious dark cherry and blackberry jam flavours. I’d pair it with blackberry pie or even chocolate mousse as it’s rich enough to handle it. This is pure decadence in a glass and a great reason to skip dinner entirely.
Sagewood is a boutique family-owned and operated winery, nestled on the slopes of the scenic South Thompson River. This is the region’s oldest commercial vineyard.
Winemaker Doug Wood has been growing grapes since 2005 and started bottling wine under his own label in 2013. Since then, Sagewood has won more than 60 medals and awards.
Natalie, thank you for sharing these wonderful BC wines!
Where can we find you online?
On Instagram, you can find me posting wine reviews and tips at:
Online, my website is nataliemaclean.com.
Posted with permission of CTV Morning Live.
