Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 93/100

Okanagan Crush Pad should be calling this spot-on, beautifully balanced Merlot and Cabernet Franc (2022) red wine blend ‘Seriously Addictive Narrative Red’. Smooth, fresh, food-friendly and extremely moreish, it hits all the check boxes with bright red fruit, fresh red cherry, plum and a delicate touch of pink florals and dried find herbs. In fact, this is a red wine style that I have personally been searching for because it sits right in the middle between heavier winter whites and lush, full-bodied, gritty reds; it is dry, medium-bodied, refined, soft and rounded with smooth tannins and a ‘come-hither and sip more’ lingering finish. Grapes for this vintage were sourced from vineyards in the Naramata and Oliver wine regions, British Columbia. Tasted November 2025.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 90/100

From Hester Creek Estate Winery, Columbia Valley Collection, their iconic Pinot Gris Viognier (PGV) 2024 was produced from grapes hand-harvested from the Goose Gap and Yakima Valley AVAs (due to BC Okanagan freeze). The wine was vinified and crafted at the estate winery in Oliver, British Columbia. So friendly and extremely moreish, it is lightly aromatic with pineapple, peach, pear, ginger with a touch of savouriness on the palate. Totally food versatile with balanced acidity and freshness, there is something for everyone’s palate and food pairing, from seafood to crudites or simply chilled on its own. Amazing value at $18! Tasted March 2026.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 93/100

Love this tropical fruit bowl of a PG from Upper Bench Estate Winery. The winery's latest release (2025) of their iconic Pinot Gris is fragrant with ripe Bartlett pear, passionfruit, guava and mango, so silky and fresh. Dry, medium-bodied and youthful, the wine lingers on the palate as it slips down the throat with soft lemony goodness. Made for spring, chill and enjoy with seafood or a grilled pork tenderloin and mango salsa. Drink through 2027. Tasted February 2026.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 94/100

Absolutely freakin' stunning! And I should stop here because I really cannot do it justice with words. You do need to try it yourself. Take some time to enjoy it to really appreciate it. It can be a hearth wine, food wine or a gorgeously seductive meditative wine, enjoy it now through 2030+ Tasted January 2026. Fort Berens Reserve Merlot is a 100% estate-grown, medium-plus-bodied Merlot produced from grapes sourced from the winery's Dry Creek and Red Rock Vineyards in Lillooet, British Columbia. Dry, seductive with dark plum, fresh red berry, strawberry, blueberry, soft, sensuous and finishing long on a smoky vanilla note and a French oak kiss. The wine was aged 15 months in French oak barriques.

Deborah Podurgiel scored this wine: 94/100

Fort Berens Estate Winery Small Lot Grüner Veltliner 2024 is bright, zesty and super expressive! Super fresh with aromas of lime, melon, kiwi, roasted nuts, white pepper and a titch of toasty oak flavours on the palate, this is a beautifully rounded, silky Grüner with a brilliantly long finish. I have to say, since the first harvest of the winery's small lot GV (about three or so years ago), it just keeps getting better and better! Grapes for the 2024 vintage were sourced from the winery's Red Rock Vineyard. "This Small Lot wine was handcrafted from a very small batch of hand-picked estate grown grapes from a select block in our Red Rock Vineyard. Grapes were whole-cluster pressed and naturally fermented in neutral French oak barrels with four months of lees contact giving lovely aromatics and a great mouthfeel. This wine pairs perfectly with fresh oysters, Greek salad, or even freshly baked Bannock." Tasted January 2026. Chill and enjoy it through 2027.