Skip to main content

Harry McWatters, the warm-hearted granddaddy of British Columbia's wine industry and founder of Sumac Ridge and See Ya Later Ranch, is back with a new winery after 48 years in the business. It's called Time Estate, with an all-caps red logo that looks straight off the cover of Time magazine. Grown on the sun-drenched soils of the south Okanagan's Black Sage Bench under the direction of master viticulturist Richard Cleave, this white – my first sampling from the Time venture – scores where many of today's sweetish and trendy white blends miss the net. A mix of pinot blanc, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, it was made entirely in stainless steel to preserve primary fruit characters. Medium-bodied and dry, it displays fleshy texture and hints at pear and green melon, with balanced acidity. Satisfying on its own, it would pair well with pork or medium-weight fish dishes. Available at select private B.C. stores and VQA outlets in the province.

Interact with The Globe