When you visit Da Silva Vineyards & Winery on the Naramata Bench, it feels like you are transported to Portugal.  The tasting room is beautiful, with bone-white walls and chandeliers, giving off a European feel.  The wines are equally special.  Richard and Twylla da Silva own the winery, with Richard coming from a Portuguese background. The names of some of the wines have Portuguese wording on the labels.

The winery’s goal is to produce small production wines and to be clear about the vineyard, or vineyards, where the grapes are sourced.  Many of the grapes come from their home vineyards.  To underscore the importance of provenance in their wines the names of the growers, the latitude and longitude of the vineyards, as well as the vinification are detailed on every bottle.  The vineyards:

• Outwash Vineyard, Oliver BC GROWER: Mr. & Mrs. Khair
• Hidden Hollow Vineyard, Penticton, BC GROWER: Richard and Twylla da Silva
• Blenheim Vineyard, Penticton, BC GROWER: Richard da Silva and Twylla da Silva
• Lazy Dog Vineyard, Penticton, BC GROWER: Dean and Liz Marchand
• Avila Family Vineyard, Oliver, BC GROWER: Jorge and Manuela Avila
• CBR Vineyard, Penticton BC GROWER Paul and Kerrie Grewal

My Wine Tasting Notes

Da Silva Vineyards & Winery Isabella Espumante 2022 (BC $33.99) – Isabella is the first person, their Grandmother, from Portugal to move to Canada from Richard da Silva’s family.  This sparkling wine is made with 50% Riesling and 50% Muscat.  Quite a unique blend.  It has a light, pale lemon colour.  Medium-plus intensity aromas of oranges, lemon and citrus rind.  It is fuller-bodied, dry, round and mouth-filling.  Higher acidity.  Salty minerality.  A mix of tiny creamy and biting bubbles.  It has a light orange flavour.  Medium-plus length.  –

Da Silva Vineyards & Winery Vinho Branco 2022 (BC $25.99) – A field blend of Pinot Gris, Viognier, Pearl of Csaba, and Chardonnay stainless steel fermented. A field blend is made of grapes that are picked at the same time, crushed, and fermented together.  This wine has a pale colour.  Nice light aromas of oranges, stone fruits and some grape stem and grape skin.  It is dry, fuller body with a thick, very smooth mouthfeel.  Lower acidity.  Light flavours of stone fruits and wet stones.  Not a fruity wine, just getting hints of stone fruits. A touch of honey on the finish. –

Da Silva Vineyards & Winery Fume Blanc 2022 (BC $33.99) – After stainless steel fermentation, this wine spends 8 weeks to mature in new American oak barrels.  It has a very pale lemon colour in the glass.  Medium-intensity aromas of green fruits and green chillies.  A nice nose.  Medium-plus body, smooth and round.  It is quite fruity with crisp green fruit flavours.  Smooth texture.  Medium length.  Elegant. 

Da Silva Vineyards & Winery Legado Chardonnay 2021 (BC $64.99) – “Legado” is their top tier of wines.  This wine is stainless steel fermented, aged 15 months in French oak barrels.  Partial malolactic fermentation.  Painstakingly selected over 15 months from 4 of the most exceptional barrels of the 2021 vintage.  This truly is an exceptional wine.  It has a deeper, bright lemon colour.  Nice, medium-intensity aromas of pineapple and cedar.  Wow, it has a thick, viscous mouthfeel.  Ripe, rich pears and pineapple flavours plus sweet spices and cedar.  Medium-minus acidity.  Medium-plus to long length with a touch of sweetness on the finish.  Smooth to the end. 

Da Silva Vineyards & Winery Merlot 2020 (BC $37.99) – This wine spent 20 months ageing in American and French oak barrels.  It has a deeper, dull garnet colour. Medium-intensity deep aromas of ripe cherries, plus touches of sweet spices, toast, vanilla, and cedar.  It is dry, full-body, round, mouth-filling.  Ripe berries, raspberries, ripe cherries, plus lovely sweet spices.  A touch of cedar as well.  Medium acidity.  It has a long lingering finish.  Some tart fruit on the finish, but mostly sweet spices. –

Da Silva Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Franc 2021 (BC $49.99) – The grapes for this wine come from Oliver. This wine also spent 20 months ageing in American and French oak barrels. It has a deeper, dull garnet colour.  Light aromas of black fruits and vanilla.  It has a medium body, silky soft, smooth and round on the palate.  Rich ripe black fruit, plus nutmeg and a butter texture.  Medium tannins and acidity.  A touch of coconut and pepperiness toward the finish.  A firmer tannic finish. –

Da Silva Vineyards & Winery Malbec 2021 (BC $39.99) – Grapes for this wine come from Osoyoos. Again this wine spent 20 months ageing in American and French oak barrels. It has a deeper, dull ruby colour.  Light ripe berries and cedar on the nose.  Dry, medium-plus body, smooth and round.  Juicy ripe berries, cranberries, cedar and a touch of candied cherries on the palate.  Medium acidity and tannins. Medium-plus length.  A mix of tart and sweet fruit on the finish.  –

Tapas!

Besides the fantastic wines from Da Silva Vineyards & Winery, they also have a patio restaurant, serving tapas, and a great view overlooking the vineyard and Lake Okanagan.  Here are some pictures of the delicious bites I enjoyed on their patio.

Where Can I Buy These Wines?

These wines are available for purchase online via the Da Silva Vineyards & Winery website.

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