Today we were in Langley to visit Chapter Estate Winery. My friend Jeannie recently visited and upon stepping through the threshold, immediately texted me that we had to come back to enjoy a meal here. Today was that day.
The lattice across the front pavement was immediately eye catching, making the boutique winery feel so unexpected. Whereas other properties are rustic, this felt like a country club. The staff even dressed in white and khaki to match the vibe.
The elevated space included dining room, tasting bar, gift shop, covered patio, picnic era, and seasonal domes. Given the warm day and clear skies, we took a seat on the patio, overlooking the golf quality green grass, white patio umbrellas, and wicker furnishings. This backyard makes for a great event locale.
The name and literary theme of the winery is meant to bring people together, like books and stories do. However they hope to not be bound by it (intentional pun). A couple of their bottles of wines references this, the others are given their names based on how inspiration struck the owners. More often then not, it was the first thing they thought of when they took a sip and tasted the wine for the first time.
The best way to discover them all is with a flight. You choose five you want to try from a selection of eight available in white, rose, and red. The following are what I tried, in the order of lightest to boldest. I found the entire collection approachable and a friendly introduction for any non-wine drinker. Like this is the start of their Chapter, the wine can be the beginner level start of your own wine journey.
Fuming Mad 2022 is made from Madeleine Angevine grapes grown in the Fraser Valley. At 12% ABV its listed tasting notes includes passion fruit, nectarine, and fuzzy peaches. I got dried apricot and ripe melon, plus some smokiness. I later leaned that the latter was due to the grapes that were sourced from the Okanagan, and were effected by that year’s fires. Majority of their grapes are grown in their backyard, with the need to supplement some deep reds from the Okanagan.
The 2022 Thoroughbreds was 100% Pinot Gris and given its name as a nod to the history of the property and the horses it once stabled. I got crisp apple, baked peaches, and an overall sweet bouquet of citrus.
They have two different types of rose, I got the bolder of the two, given my name preference for big reds. The Mockery is a 2022 dark rose. I got the fresh tartness of green strawberry mingled with candied berries, and a lemony finish.
As for the reds the 2022 Young & Restless was a blend of Merlot and Syrah. This was juicy with tannins, reminding me of a moist Black Forest cake with notes of cherry and hints of cocoa.
Coveted was a blend of Merlot and Petit Verdot. This was the deepest of their reds, and full bodied enough to pair with the blue cheese of our charcuterie board below. The wine was jammy with berries that also offered a nice contrast to all the smokey and strong cheeses.
With our five sips we also had some small plates. Chapter Estate is one of the only wineries with a dedicated food menu, which is available all year long. As a result, it is open later than any of the other surrounding wineries. They have even recently introduced brunch, and it has been well received.
All the bistro’s food is prepared to the property’s stationary food truck. Meaning, you can book your own private event here and the chef creates a personal and private menu for your occasion. This makes them a stand out along Langley’s winery row.
Today we got mini bites to get a taste of what they can do. It wasn’t a true tell, but we did like what we had. Although it might be because we came hungry expecting lunch and instead shared a charcuterie board.
The Artisan Charcuterie & Cheese board included Local Cheeses, Cured Meats, Fruit, Artisan Pickles, Olives, Antipasto, and Seasonal Preserves with Fresh Baked Bread and Nut and Fruit Crackers. This was a lovely way to graze and discover the best sip for each morsel.
As for the samples we tried we got a bite of Heirloom Tomato Tart, Bruschetta Toast, Tiger Prawn, and Smoked Duck Breast. Not enough to taste or enjoy, but enough to have us wanting to return for a full and proper experience. The tomato tart and bruschetta were similar due to their sweet and tangy tomato topping, just the bases differed between crumbly tart and crunchy toast. Despite its delicate look there was nothing particularly unique about the shrimp. I was most intrigued by the duck given how tender and flavourful the thin slices of meat we had were.
In short, this was a lovely visit and at only 1 year old I can only imagine how much more growing and advancing they would do in the years to come. This is one to watch out for.
Chapter Estates Winery
1212 216 St, Langley Twp, BC V2Z 1R3
(604) 265-6869
chapterestates.ca
