Anthony Gismondi: B.C. wine for the week of June 9

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Summerland’s Okanagan Crush Pad Winery is the first Canadian winery to join the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA).

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The IWCA is open to any winery from any country and employs a three-tiered membership system that allows a diversity of wineries to join. Okanagan Crush Pad has been accepted as an applicant member, committing to an ISO-14064 audited baseline greenhouse gas inventory. The winery team has one year to meet the requirements to become a silver- or gold-level member.

OCP founder Christine Coletta says: “We started our sustainability push in 2011 by converting our vineyards to organic farming and then in 2014 obtaining organic certification for our winemaking facility. We can now push this commitment beyond farming and winemaking to incorporate all aspects of our business.”

The IWCA has quickly become one of the most important international wine organizations, and OCP’s membership shines an intense light on Summerland and the rest of the Okanagan Valley.

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• Congratulations to winemaker Caroline Schaller on receiving the honorary title of Chevalier (Knight) in the Ordre du Mérite Agricole, a prestigious recognition granted by the Ministry of Agriculture of the French Republic. The award honours distinguished members of the agricultural community.

Schaller has been recognized for her special merits in her field and her contribution to disseminating French culinary culture. She joins only four other members of the order from B.C.

Schaller has been working for six-plus years at Osoyoos Larose, and recently joined Rainmaker Wines.

B.C. Wine of the Week

Lunessence Cabernet Merlot 2019, Okanagan Valley

$34.95 I 89/100

UPC: 793588413170

The 86/14 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot fruit is grown in the Oliver area and aged in French, Hungarian and American oak for 14 months. The wine opens with savoury black fruits, licorice and cedar notes. The attack is round with a slurry of dusty tannins streaked with red fruit and a supple back end. Although it would effortlessly age three to five more years in the bottle, it’s surprisingly forward. Drink now with grilled beef or mushroom risotto.

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Wine for the cellar

Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2017, Tuscany 

$31.99 I 91/100

UPC: 8001935005407

Don’t confuse the Marchesi Antinori Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva with lesser Villa Antinori that made the rounds in monopoly stores in the ’80s and ’90s. The Marchesi Riserva delivers as it should for its DOCG rating. The fruit is dense and ripe with spicy blueberry and balsamic upfront and rich, at least for sangiovese, black cherries and licorice, with a complexing touch of bitterness in the finish. Impressive and age-worthy that should hold well through 2027-28. Try this with spaghetti bolognese or grilled lamb chops and spring vegetables. The label is historic, issued first in 1928 and brought back to coincide with the new Antinori nel Chianti Classico cellars at Bargino.