An icon: Ingo Grady is a BC wine legend, from hatching Burrowing Owl and Sandhill while running his namesake agency to leading some of the Okanagan’s top estates over his 40+ year career.
His way: Now he’s ventured out on his own with Hermit Wine Co., which offers Ingo’s unique take on the Okanagan with thoughtful blends like The Hermit, which is inspired by a traditional practice known as hermitagé.
Tasting Note
In the not-so-distant past, Bordeaux producers would bolster their wines with a dollop of rich, deeply coloured Syrah from Hermitage, perhaps the most famous sub-region of the Rhone Valley. Ingo has brought that technique to the Okanagan with The Hermit, which is a blend of 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Syrah, 25% Malbec, and 11% Petit Verdot. It's drinking beautifully on release, which is true to Ingo's mantra and winemaking philosophy. It's suave and polished, with ripe, inky fruit – ranging from black raspberry to blueberry – that's accented by Okanagan sagebrush and spice. Distinctive and authentically Okanangan at the same time, this is a fantastic discovery if you haven't tried the wines from Hermit Wine Company yet.
Food Pairing
Traditional French Cassoulet or grilled lamb chops with mint chimichurri