Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Summerhill ages its wines in a scale replica of the Great Pyramid, hence the winery’s name. Owner Stephen Cipes holds views somewhat inclined to Oriental mysticism, including a belief in the restorative power of pyramid energy. He says he has staged many blind tastings over the years matching pyramid aged wines with similar wines not so aged – and most tasters choose the former as best.

Cipes also holds strong environmental values. He moved his family 20 years ago from New York to the Okanagan Valley because he perceived the valley as comparatively pristine. Consequently, he was alarmed to find that pesticides and herbicides were being used on the valley’s orchards and vineyards. Cipes banned chemicals from Summerhill’s vineyards, adopted organic practices and converted most of the winery’s growers to organic viticulture.

This wine is made from grapes grown in Summerhill’s organic vineyard. The juice was fermented without skin contact to achieve a clear wine. The wine spent six years en triage. To balance the Krug-like over-yeastiness, winemaker Eric von Krosigk dosaged the wine with Summerhill’s Zweigelt Icewine sweet reserve (unfermented icewine juice). The result is a light gold wine with a vigorous play of bubbles and a toasty aroma. It tastes of green apples over the nutty notes from its long lees contact. The wine’s acidity gives it a crisp, almost austere finish of a classic lean bubbly. 86 points.

Reviewed December 20, 2007 by John Schreiner.