Episode Notes
What a wonderful wine gift Kathy Malone brings. For those of you looking for less or no oak in your white wines.
Since it’s introduction in 2008 , the Hillside unoaked Pinot Gris has been an over-the-top favourite!
Joining the series this year are
2025 Un-Oaked Pinot Gris – grown in vineyards around Naramata Bench. Some of the vineyards share slopes with tree fruit orchards.
Kathy believes that the Pinot Gris picks up aromatics from the peaches, apricots and apples close by. Once harvest begins, Kathy and team gives the yield 2-4 hours of skin contact to bring all the flavours to the mid-palate. As Kathy says
” the 2025 un-oaked Pinot Gris makes a triumphant return to our portfolio”
In our interview Kathy admits that she and Hillside were very much ABC people – Anything But Chardonnay!
Not this year..
Grown in the “Wildwood” vineyard, right at the start of Naramata Road, this wine is true to it’s origin as the fermentation kicked off on wild yeasts.
“while I generally prefer carefully selected commercial yeast for whites, I decided to embrace this renegade, and it paid off in spades. A reslly
Interesting citrus nose is followed by amazing weight and flavour mid-palate!
Unlike the popular Heritage Sauvignon Blanc from 2018 and 2021, this version is Kiwi in style, with lots of grass and boxwood on the nose and palate.
Kathy also gives us the dates for opening, when the bistro kicks in – with new Chef Brandon Frederick (co-founder of the fabulous Row 14 Restaurant in Cawston) With Chef Brandon leading the kitchen, Hillside dining promises to be a fine new experience this year.
We also get a date for the Naramata Bench annual Vancouver “new releases” pour and a list of events to expect this year.
And congratulations to Kathy. After more than 50 years in Canada, she has now become a Canadian Citizen.
Van Wine fest
Fort Berens
Hester Creek
Wine BC
September 16, 2026
