Blue Mountain Brut: A Sparkling Introduction to British Columbia Wine
By: Jameson Fink
Published: July 27, 2013

If you're looking to explore the wines from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, Blue Mountain Vineyards and Cellars Brut is an elegant and refreshing way to begin your journey. I recently had the pleasure of tasting this sparkling wine at an event sponsored by Destination BC. Held at a famous Seattle restaurant with an equally famous view, Canlis, the Blue Mountain Brut was the highlight of a quartet of BC Wines selected for the evening.
Sometimes, however, it is easy to be caught up in the moment of putting on a coat and tie, heading to a legendary location, dining in a noteworthy locale, and be left wondering, "Gee was the wine really that good or was it just a lovely and memorable part of a great evening?" Now don't get me wrong. Some of my all-time most pleasurable glasses of wine have come when atmosphere and company combine to elevate everything about an evening to heights unknown. But with my instinct and experience as a guide, I was confident that this was one sparkling wine to keep on my radar. Enough with the flavor hand-wringing!
Little did I realize that Blue Mountain Brut comes from a vineyard with a breathtaking setting that even Canlis would salute. I could lay on the hyperbole, but I think the above photo speaks for itself. I will say this: the word "amazing" gets trotted out a lot, especially for things that, frankly, seem less than amazing. But I feel pretty comfortable calling this view amazing. As in "causing wonder or astonishment". (Thank you, dictionary.)
I did get a second crack at trying Blue Mountain Brut, thanks to a sample bottle left for me by the British Columbia Wine Institute. And it confirmed my original sentiment. This charming blend of 57% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay, and (a somewhat unusual) 6% Pinot Gris is a supremely pleasurable sparkling wine to drink.
Where you enjoy a wine and who you enjoy it with does make a difference. Context is certainly a part of pleasure. But your view does not need to be dramatic nor your clothes fancy to enjoy a transportive sparkling wine like Blue Mountain Brut.
For more knowledge about British Columbia wine, check out my BC Wine 101 post. Want more photos of British Columbia? Visit Gunter Marx Photography.