Gold Hill Winery
We were proud to feature Gold Hill Winery in March 2021.
Established in 2009, Gold Hill is a family-operated winery. Gold Hill’s focus has been to produce wines that reflect the charm of the South Okanagan. With over three decades of farming in the Okanagan, the Gill Brothers believe great wines start with understanding the unique terrior each of the vineyard sites and the Okanagan offers.
Gold Hill focuses on Bordeaux varietals well suited to the warm climate of the South Okanagan, with attention on Cabernet Franc as the flagship varietal. Cabernet Franc has quickly become the preeminent varietal in the portfolio, with a loyal following. Gold Hill arrived on the scene with a bang, receiving the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in BC Wines with their first official release, a 2009 Cabernet Franc, and numerous prestigious awards have followed.
Tasting Notes
CHARISMA WHITE, 2019
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Gewürztraminer (42%), Pinot Gris (30.3%), Sauvignon Blanc (27.7%)
Vineyard: Oxbow Reach, Osoyoos
Alcohol: 13.1%
Residual Sugar: 1.7 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 552
Appearance: Light straw in colour.
Nose: Aromatic, honeysuckle nose with a note of ginger.
Palate: Medium-bodied, just off-dry, perfumed, lychee, mango and pink grapefruit flavours, exotic and easy drinking. Great length.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now and through 2021.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Stuffed artichokes with ricotta and walnuts, fried sole with chilli and lime sauce, sweet corn and cilantro steamed mussels, pork souvlaki with tzatziki, and broccoli and cranberry salad.
MERLOT, 2013
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Gold Hill Estate, South Oliver
Alcohol: 15.7%
Residual Sugar: 1.8 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 500
Appearance: Dense purple-ruby in colour.
Nose: Spicy, cedary, plum bouquet.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted, juicy black plum flavour with toasty-smoky notes and a delightful floral note on the end taste. Well-balanced and firmly structured with ripe tannins.
Quality: Outstanding. Drinking well now and can hold well for 3 – 4 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Roast beef sliders on Hawaiian rolls, blue cheese and garlic bread, lamb kofta with beetroot hummus, beef and pumpkin stew, and raspberry balsamic chicken wings.
CHARDONNAY, 2019
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Cracked Granite Vineyard, Peachland
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 1.1 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 339
Appearance: Light straw in colour.
Nose: Apple with a floral pear skin top note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, fresh, winter apple and lemon flavours. Beautifully balanced and lingering.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Grilled asparagus pizza with gremolata, caprese salad, chicken caesar wrap, pear tartlets, and honey-glazed veal.
SYRAH, 2014
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Syrah (97%) & Viognier (3%)
Vineyard: Gold Hill Estate, South Oliver
Alcohol: 15.6%
Residual Sugar: 2.07 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 500
Appearance: Deep ruby-purple colour.
Nose: Cedary, smoked meat nose with vanilla notes.
Palate: Full-bodied, dry, rich and ripe mulberry flavour with oak spice carried on lively acidity to a rose petal finish. Great length.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or hold for 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Braised beef calzone, lamb and potato curry, chickpea ratatouille, cracked pepper beef jerky, and pork belly udon.
CHARDONNAY, 2015
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Mirror Lake Vineyard, Oliver
Alcohol: 15.1%
Residual Sugar: 0.55 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 293
Appearance: Medium straw colour.
Nose: Apple nose with an apple blossom note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, richly extracted, apple and pear flavours with a thread of minerality. Unctuous on the palate with a long finish. Shows the warmth of the vintage.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Salmon burger with wasabi mayo, chicken tamale burrito bowl, baked feta pasta with cherry tomatoes, pita chips with roasted red pepper dip, and poppy seed chicken bake.
CHARISMA RED, 2016
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot (40%), Cabernet Franc (26%), Cabernet Sauvignon (21%), Malbec (8%), Syrah (5%)
Vineyard: Gold Hill Estate, South Oliver & Haynes Point Vineyard, South Osoyoos
Alcohol: 13.8%
Residual Sugar: 3.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 297
Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, smoky, blackcurrant bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, sweet black fruit flavours. Rich and mouth-filling, fleshy but well-balanced and firmly structured. Evident tannins on the finish.
Quality: Very Good+ to Outstanding. Hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 89 – 91 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Baked BBQ pork turnover, fried blue cheese-stuffed olives, steak and cheddar melt, meatballs in plum sauce, and ham and marinara pasta.
ROSÉ, 2019
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Haynes Point Vineyard, South Osoyoos
Alcohol: 14.6%
Residual Sugar: 7.9 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 137
Appearance: Clear. Bright. Salmon-coloured core.
Nose: Strawberry, cranberry, raspberry, candied cherry, white flowers, and a hint of green herbs.
Palate: Medium acid, light tannin, medium body. Red cherry, strawberry, and raspberry, with a hint of orange. Citrus zest on the finish.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points.
Food Pairing: Margherita pizza, couscous salad with salami and giardiniera dressing, feta and salmon quiche, bruschetta with figs and prosciutto, and chocolate dipped strawberries.
CABERNET FRANC, 2016
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Gold Hill Estate, South Oliver
Alcohol: 14.9%
Residual Sugar: 0.02 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 152
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark garnet red core.
Nose: Violets, plum, dark cherry, blackberry, and vanilla.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Sour cherry, dark berries, black pepper, green pepper, and a hint of vanilla. Savoury and well balanced.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Chicken tortilla soup, sweet and sour meatballs with grape jelly, cream cheese-stuffed venison backstrap, green pepper and mushroom pizza, and pickled eggplant and mushroom salad.
MERLOT, 2014
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Gold Hill Estate, South Oliver
Alcohol: 16.1%
Residual Sugar: 0.55 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 100
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Dark ruby red core.
Nose: Dark cherry, violets, and plum with a hint of spice and an herbal note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Plum, dark berry fruit, licorice, hint of smoke and spice. Green vegetal note.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Well balanced.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Bavarian onion soup, stuffed pasta shells with roasted red pepper sauce, pork dumplings with red berry sauce, steak frites with béarnaise gravy, and braised turkey with cranberry wild rice.
CHARISMA RED, 2017
Gold Hill Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Merlot (33%), Cabernet Franc (25%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%), Syrah (16.5%), Malbec (3.5%)
Vineyard: Gold Hill Estate, South Oliver & Haynes Point Vineyard, South Osoyoos
Alcohol: 14.9%
Residual Sugar: 0.38 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 227
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Light ruby red colour.
Nose: Cherry, raspberry, and vanilla with a hint of smoke and spice, and an herbal note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Sour cherry, dark berry fruit, red licorice, green herbs, smoke, and black pepper spice with a touch of green pepper.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points.
Food Pairing: Spice-rubbed beef sirloin, pineapple pork ribs, butter chicken roti, kimchi rice, and chicken-fried rabbit.