We were in the vicinity and had 2 gifted vouchers, so decided to stop by Langley’s Backyard Winery for a complementary wine tasting.
Our visit coincided with a bachelorette party on a busy Saturday, and we were without reservations. However, luck was on our side, and we would be slotted in for an at the bar tasting immediately.
For any wine tasting, each guest is allotted 4 tasters, where you are able to choose what you want from their entire portfolio. This includes a long list of sparkling, rosé, white, red, and even Reserve labels, poured one glass at a time.
Between myself and my guest we would try 8 different wines, sharing sips. They are as follows, along Backyard’s own descriptions of their wine, followed by my tasting notes.
We would start with two glasses of the sparkling, each made with their own Langley Estate grown grapes.
This Blanc de Noir Brut Sparkling white is Fraser Valley from beginning-to-end and handmade the hard way (“Méthode Traditionelle”) from 100% estate-grown Pinot Noir grapes. Borrowing from the Methode Champenoise, the Blanc de Noir Brut offers delicate hints of apples on the nose, while the fine streams of bubbles in the glass are the hallmark of a naturally well-made sparkler. Ideal for all occasions. It reminded me of a classic, effervescent, dry white.
Their Sparkling Rosé is a traditional method Estate wine that is delicately textured, aromatically nuanced and versatile for all occasions and dishes. I found it had a dry berry-like finish that is sweeter on the nose
The 2020 Pinot Gris has a bouquet that is characterized by high-toned citrus fruit. The growing season for their Pinot Gris allowed them to pick this batch earlier than usual, but still with a higher degree of ripeness.
This and the other non-Reserve bottles are named and classified as a “social wine”. This is Backyard’s designation meant to highlight their easy, at the table drinking wine. I found this white dry with a sharp acidic flavour, where the grapes almost had a citrus note to them.
2020 yielded a brilliant BC Viognier that is described as being vibrant with aromas and flavours of ripe peach, tangerine and tropical fruits. Finished with a heavy floral component of honeysuckle and cherry blossom. I am a fan of Viognier, so knew I would like this one too. The Backyard Winery version had plenty of tannis that coated the mouth and made it an easy going down. For me this ended in peaches.
The 2021 Social Rosé was described as being dry and fresh with a fruit-forward finish of grapefruit and pomegranate. I found it tasted young and was more like a white.
The 2019 Nosey Neighbour Red is the ideal introduction to Backyard Vineyards’ red wine lineup: complex and smooth with soft tannins and notes of blueberry, blackberry and dark cherry. Sadly, I was less impressed than their description. I found this blend watered down. and could immediately tell I was missing depth, when compared to the pours before.
I preferred the 2018 Reserve Cabernet Franc from Backyard Vineyards, which is their most structured and age-worthy red wine, showcasing the best of South Okanagan Cabernet Franc. This was full-bodied with plenty of oaky smoke, and had a long life of aging still ahead of it.
Their Porch Wine is a fortified port-style wine, described as a BC homage to the great dessert reds of Portugal. As a dessert wine, this was naturally on the sweeter and heavier side, and would serve as a lovely way to end any heavier meal.
We were only here for a brief time, but should we return, we could have the option of enjoying full glasses and coloured flights either within their tasting room, or on their outdoor picnic table, should the weather permit. And with either you have the choice you have the option of adding on small bites, like a cheese and meat, charcuterie to your experience and/or passing the time with one of their communal board game. Backyard Winery is a destination for some light drinking on a nice day in Langley. I wish Vancouver and Burnaby had such leisurely options, as they would be more convenient for me to travel to without a vehicle.
Backyard Vineyards
3033 232 St, Langley Twp, BC V2Z 3A8, Canada
+1 604-539-9463
backyardvineyards.ca
