Calona Vineyards

This white wine is unique to Calona Vineyards and, indeed, to the Okanagan Valley. The Sovereign Opal grape variety was developed by Agriculture Canada’s research station at Summerland and was first released to growers in 1976. Initially know as Summerland Selection-166, the grape is a cross of Maréchal Foch and Golden Muscat. The former parent gives the variety hardiness and the latter gives it character. Any of the varieties that the research station offered for commercial use were assigned names starting with Sovereign. Most of the successful varieties from that program were table grapes. Sovereign Opal is the only wine grape that was commercialized.

Today, it is grown exclusively for Calona by the Casorso family, vineyard owners in the Kelowna area for nearly 75 years. Calona released its first Sovereign Opal as a named varietal from the 1987 vintage. Only enough is planted to yield about 1,500 cases annually, which sells out before the next vintage. That’s as it should be. This wine is best when it is fresh.

In the Okanagan’s superb 2005 vintage, Calona was able to make the classic Sovereign Opal: floral aromas of rose petal, along with spice and dill notes. On the palate, the wine tastes of peaches and apples touched up with exotic spices. The core of Muscat spiciness provides a nice backbone and ties up the wine’s pleasingly off-dry finish. 86 points.

Reviewed August 21, 2006 by John Schreiner.