Stoneboat, on the Black Sage Gravelbar in Oliver, is now owned by Rudy Verhoeff and Kyla Richey, former professional volleyball athletes. They also own Valley Commons, is a winery established in the District Wine Village in Oliver in 2021. Both wineries fall under the Verhoeff Group of Companies, which is headed by Paul Verhoeff, Rudy's father. The family also owns a flooring company, a brewery and restaurants in the Fraser Valley.
However, the grapes for this wine come from Yakima Valley in Washington State. The wine spent 4 months in neutral oak.
Despite the oak being neutral I find it distracting in this wine, it's absorbed more than like for a Gris. It comes through on the nose and the palate, oak soaked pears and smoked dried flowers, grass clippings and white grapefruit aromas lead to a zesty, mineral-focused palate with lemon and oak flavours. The finish suggests spice and tobacco leaf.
Pair this wine with pastas in mushroom sauce, strong cheeses, chicken salad or salmon.

©copyright 2025 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 12th, 2025