Elephant Island 2015 Cherry Wine

Make sure your bottle comes
with liquid inside

Ever since my parents moved to the Okanagan, I've had a sneaking suspicion that our family's become a bit spoiled. Case in point: my mum entered me in a draw for a gift basket at her salon and won! However, because the salon is located in Penticton, BC, not only was it packed with amazing Aveda beauty products, there were also three bottles of wine.

My mum drank the bottle of white before I arrived in the Okanagan, but she kindly kept the two reds for me, including this delightful bottle of Elephant Island cherry orchard wine.

While the words "cherry wine" might conjure images of bad songs about teenagers drinking in fields on hot summer nights, don't let this tacky image I've conjured for you sully your expectations.

Enjoying an outdoor tasting circa 2013

This is a solid, medium bodied red with a gorgeous nose (lots of cherry, obviously) and a subtle sweetness. It pairs well with pizza, pasta, or any delicious dish slathered in tomato-based sauce. It's also extremely satisfying on a Monday night in early fall when the weather is just beginning to cool off and you're looking to transition away from your favourite whites and roses.

While I didn't have the pleasure of purchasing this bottle directly from the winery, I have visited in the past and I couldn't recommend it highly enough! They conduct tastings in their beautiful orchard courtyard, under a canopy of cherry trees and you can even rent their "tree house" — a private loft-style apartment above the tasting room with two queen-sized beds and a full kitchen.