Sandhill Wines
We were proud to feature Sandhill Wines in October 2020.
Each bottle of Sandhill wine is made from grapes that come from one of six unique BC vineyards – Sandhill Estate, King Family, Phantom Creek , Osprey Ridge, Hidden Terrace, and Vanessa Vineyard. Each and every vineyard possesses its own magical combination of soil type, microclimate, exposure, drainage and other geographical idiosyncrasies. The complex, subtle, unique character of each vineyard reveals itself in your glass.
Sandhill’s winemaking techniques are designed to enhance, not interfere with, the naturally occurring fruit flavors in our wines. Two words you will hear frequently from Sandy Leier to describe her winemaking technique are “gentle” and “non-interventionist.” Great fruit, helped along only when necessary using a soft touch, will result in great single vineyard wine from BC.
Tasting Notes
SMALL LOTS VIOGNIER, 2018
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Osprey Ridge Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.6%
Residual Sugar: 8.5 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 520
Appearance: Pale straw in colour.
Nose: Lightly floral, peach bouquet with a thread of minerality.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, ripe peach and lemon flavours; beautifully balanced and long on the palate.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Grilled peach and chicken salad with raspberry vinaigrette, prawn linguine with saffron cream sauce, roasted carrot and ginger soup, corned beef hash, and honey garlic meatballs.
SMALL LOTS SANGIOVESE, 2016
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Sangiovese
Vineyard: Sandhill Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.9%
Residual Sugar: 0.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 900
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour.
Nose: Cedary, cherry bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, tobacco, and cherry flavours with an earthy note. Nicely balanced and fresh on the palate. Good length. Great mouth-feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drinking well now, but will reward cellaring for 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Italian sausage pasta bake with marinara sauce, falafel and beet burger with parmesan truffle fries, beef short ribs with charred leek risotto, sirloin steak with black pepper sauce, and oxtail stew with dumplings.
PINOT GRIS, 2018
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Vineyard: King Family & Hidden Terrace vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 9,866
Appearance: Light straw in colour.
Nose: Peach pit nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, green peach flavour with racy acidity and a touch of almond bitterness on the finish for added interest.
Quality: Very Good+. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 88.5 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Herb-crusted salmon with Asian vegetables, roasted eggplant pomodoro, baked asparagus with chili aïoli, chicken and pico de gallo pizza, and pork skewers with pineapple and sesame-sprinkled broccoli.
CABERNET FRANC, 2017
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Similkameen Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Vineyard: Vanessa Vineyard, Similkameen Valley
Alcohol: 14.8%
Residual Sugar: 0.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,022
Appearance: Deep, dense purple colour.
Nose: Warm, cedary, green tobacco nose with oak spice and a lifted floral note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, savoury, blueberry, green herbs, black olive, and dark chocolate flavours. Firmly structured with evident but ripe tannins.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. Open in 2021 – 2022.
Critic Rating: 89-92 points (dependent on cellaring, 89 now; if cellared 90 – 92) – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Crispy duck with hoisin sauce, coffee-infused braised lamb shanks, plum-glazed pork belly, stuffed cabbage rolls with cauliflower rice, and black olive-crusted venison with pearl onions.
HARVEST SERIES CHARDONNAY, 2017
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Sandhill Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.4%
Residual Sugar: 0.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 150
Appearance: Clear, bright. Light golden core.
Nose: Vanilla, green apple, hint of oak and baking spice, and citrus.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Oak spice, vanilla, pear, green apple, hint of citrus. Well-structured and balanced with a smooth finish.
Quality: 90 points. Outstanding. Drink now or hold 1-2 years.
Food Pairing: Beef carpaccio with arugula and truffle oil, masala butter chicken with cucumber raita and basmati rice, wild salmon with pecan romesco sauce, curry-roasted cauliflower with black lentils, and veal scallops with pear purée.
SYRAH, 2018
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA British Columbia
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Sandhill Estate, Hidden Terrace & Vanessa vineyards
Alcohol: 13.7%
Residual Sugar: 0.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 5,220
Appearance: Dark purple-ruby colour.
Nose: Cedary, tobacco, black fruit nose with vanilla oak spice and notes of sweet herbs.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, savoury, blackberry flavour carried on fresh acidity. Lovely mouth-feel.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now and through 2021.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Jalapeño burgers with bacon and pepper jack cheese, grilled vegetable medley with balsamic vinaigrette, pappardelle veal shoulder ragù, aged prime rib with creamy horseradish, and cherry-smoked strip steak with potato skins.
CHARDONNAY, 2018
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Sandhill Estate & Hidden Terrace vineyards
Alcohol: 14.1%
Residual Sugar: 2.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 2,459
Appearance: Clear, bright. Light golden-coloured core.
Nose: Green apple, lemon, vanilla, and a hint of peach and baking spice.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Lemon, pear, baking spice, hint of toast, vanilla, and oak spice.
Quality: 89 points. Very Good+. Enjoy now or hold 1-2 years.
Food Pairing: Mushroom and goat cheese flatbread, sake-steamed mussels with coconut cream sauce, chicken fajitas with red peppers and sweet corn, salmon sandwich with tangy mustard slaw, and pumpkin and sausage penne.
SMALL LOTS TWO, 2016
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietals: Merlot (52%), Cabernet Franc (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (18%)
Vineyard: Sandhill Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 14.5%
Residual Sugar: 0.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,225
Appearance: Deep ruby-purple in colour.
Nose: Spicy, fruitcake nose of blackcurrant and plum with floral and black licorice notes.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry and savoury, firmly structured with a warm alcoholic finish.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. A beautifully balanced wine, but still tight. Hold two years.
Critic Rating: 89-91 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Smoked turkey and cranberry sandwich, skirt steak with hazelnut picada, chicken and swiss chard casserole, bison burgers with blueberries and goat cheese, and portobello mushroom fries.
SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2019
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Sandhill Estate & Hidden Terrace vineyards
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 555
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale straw core.
Nose: Tropical fruit, green apple, pear, hint of citrus. Light floral note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Grapefruit, green apple, lime zest, minerality.
Quality: 88 points. Very Good+.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Polenta cakes with fresh salsa, spinach and artichoke-stuffed sole, spicy crab tacos with tequila-lime dressing, chicken thighs in orange sauce with rice pilaf, and grilled lamb crostini with crème fraiche.
MERLOT, 2018
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA British Columbia
Varietal: Merlot
Vineyard: Vanessa & Sandhill Estate vineyards
Alcohol: 14.3%
Residual Sugar: 1.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 6,364
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Brick red core.
Nose: Dark cherry, blackberry, violets, pepper spice, and smoke.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Dry. Plum, dark berries, smoke, black pepper, green vegetal and herbal note. Well-balanced with ripe tannins.
Quality: 88 points. Very Good+. Drink now or hold 2-3 years for added complexity.
Food Pairing: Grilled striploin with goat cheese mashed potatoes, beef wellington with corn succotash and blackberry jus, cannelloni stuffed with ricotta and grilled vegetables, herb-marinated lamb chops with bread pudding, and dark berry cobbler.
SOVEREIGN OPAL, 2019
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Sovereign Opal
Vineyard: Casorso Vineyard, Kelowna
Alcohol: 11%
Residual Sugar: 17.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 2,044
Appearance: Clear, bright. Very pale straw-coloured core.
Nose: Tropical fruit, peach, orange, lemon, green apple, hint of minerality.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Green apple, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pineapple, hint of minerality. Well-balanced and refreshing.
Quality: 90 points. Outstanding. Drink now.
Food Pairing: Roasted chicken with chanterelles and peas, baked brie garnished with honey and almonds, Thai-style curry with grilled venison, pan fried trout with bacon and kale mashed potatoes, and ahi tuna-stuffed avocados with mango salsa.
SMALL LOTS BARBERA, 2017
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Okanagan Valley
Varietal: Barbera
Vineyard: Sandhill Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 12.2%
Residual Sugar: 0.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 325
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Light brick red core.
Nose: Black pepper, violets, black cherry, plum, herbal note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Black pepper, plum, dark cherry, hint of licorice. Earthy, green vegetal note. Well-balanced with a smooth finish.
Quality: 90 points. Outstanding. Drink now.
Food Pairing: Roasted parmesan kohlrabi, black eyed peas with ham and collard greens, spiced orange marmalade flank steak, turkey stuffing with sage, and duck confit salad with radishes and endives.
SMALL LOTS ONE, 2016
Sandhill Wines, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: BC VQA Similkameen Valley
Varietals: Cabernet Franc (37.6%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34.8%), Merlot (21.6%), Syrah (6%)
Vineyard: Vanessa Vineyard, Similkameen Valley
Alcohol: 14.9%
Residual Sugar: 1.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 875
Appearance: Semi-opaque. Deep ruby core.
Nose: Plum, dark berries, smoke, spice, with an herbal note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Dry. Savoury. Plum, blackcurrant, black pepper, black tea, smoke, and a hint of green pepper. Well-balanced with a smooth finish.
Quality: 90 points. Drink now or cellar for 1-2 years. Decant well.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Cheese ravioletti in a creamy tomato sauce, beef and cannellini bean minestrone, sweet and sour pork sliders, baseball top sirloin with asiago rice, and oven-roasted beef brisket.