While Champagne has traditionally dominated the global sparkling wine scene, a quiet revolution has been brewing in British Columbia's vineyards. According to wine expert Anthony Gismondi, the progress made since the early 1970s launch of Baby Duck is nothing short of remarkable—the difference is like day and night.
The Rise of British Columbia Bubbles
British Columbia's cool climate provides the essential foundation for exceptional sparkling wine: vibrant acidity. Over the past fifty years, local producers have mastered every detail of the process, from vineyard management to secondary fermentation in the bottle and extended aging on lees at levels previously unseen in the region.
Top B.C. Sparkling Wines for Your Holiday Table
Given the challenges of British Columbia's distribution system, Gismondi recommends ordering directly from wineries. Here are his top picks for your early holiday shopping:
The Stewart Family's Ailm Brut Reserve 2020 represents Quails' Gate's new sparkling project in East Kelowna. Priced at $85, this wine ages for 40 months on its lees, resulting in fresh, vibrant citrus notes with delicate brioche and complex autolytic characteristics.
Blue Mountain NV Gold Label Brut has long been the standard-bearer for quality entry-level local sparkling wine. At $35, its consistent style features red and green apple notes with toasted almonds, enhanced by reserve wine aged in 2,000-litre oak casks.
Fitz Blanc de Blancs 2020 ($47.50) rests for a minimum of 36 months before bottling, creating a creamy palate rich with complexity. Tasters will discover notes of red apples, almonds, and saline-washed minerality, all carried by tiny, persistent bubbles.
Garnett Valley Ranch 2016 Sparkling ($50) undergoes an impressive 72 months aging on its lees. This Chardonnay-Pinot Noir blend from Summerland offers serious complexity with creamy textures, brioche, air-dried apple chips, wild desert sagebrush, and citrus notes that will delight sparkling aficionados.
A New Era for Canadian Sparkling Wine
British Columbia's sparkling wine producers have clearly arrived on the world stage. With attention to traditional methods and ideal growing conditions, these wineries are creating bubbles that not only compete with international counterparts but establish a distinct Canadian identity in the world of premium sparkling wine.
