"Saturna winery does much better with all-estate-grown grapes"
Edmonton Journal
August 29, 2007

Quiet Saturna the place to kick back and relax
Times Colonist
Published: Saturday, August 11, 2007

Globe and Mail, June 13, 2007
Temptation Island
By Beppi Crosariol

Saturna Island Vineyards Pinot Noir 2005 $16.95
Swiss-trained winemaker Daniel Lagna, formerly of Mission Hill, has crafted a superlight yet remarkably authentic tasting pinot noir at an affordable price. Classic pinot flavours of crushed berries and underbrush come through in this ethereal, silky, slightly smoky red. Keep it away from big steaks, though. Try it with grilled salmon or mushroom risotto.

More Than Just Okanagan
Vancouver Province Newspaper, May 3, 2007

Recommended Wines feature, AppellationAmerica.com
PDF Version

Uncorked
Little island winery plays hard to get
By Jurgen Gothe
Click on the link above or here for the PDF version.

March 15, 2007

Anthony Gismondi
Saturna Island Pinot Noir 2004
86/100
Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, Canada
Produced By: Saturna Island Family Estate Winery
Distributed By: Vino Allegro Wine Imports Incorporated
Winery Direct Looks like pinot, yes Virginia pinot can be very pale in colour. It smells like pinot… and it tastes like pinot. After so many disappointments Saturna seems headed in the right direction. The ’04 comes under screwcap that seems to have saved its delicate fruit. It’ light and easy sipping, with a spicy celery salt edge but it’s clean and has a place at the lunch table with a simply prepared salmon dish. The price is right too.

Northwest Palate Magazine
January/February 2007
“Saturna 2005 Pinot Gris, VQA, Gulf Islands, B.C.-Dry. Delicate aromas and flavors of floral, herbs, honeydew, and apple/pear. Soft acidity, light-bodied, and rather neutral profile, yet refreshing and delightful. Versatile with a variety of salads. Recommended.”

Anthony Gismondi December 30, 2006
Saturna Island Pinot Gris 2005
85/100
“Clean green apple skin with a slightly nutty undercurrent reminiscent of Northern Italy. Fresh and round on entry with grassy, chalky, slate-y, green apple fruit flavours. Certainly the most technically sound wine we have had from Saturna and a big step in the right direction. Good value.”

Wine Diva tasted-September 21, 2006
White
Saturna Island Pinot Gris, Saturna Island BC 2005

When the price is right, the price is right! Creamy and smooth the newest vintage of Saturna's Pinot Gris is a pleasing addition to the under $14 offerings in the BC wine section. Nicely spiced with grapefruit, fresh chalky minerality, citrus and a hint of white blossoms. Crisp and refreshing with a surprisingly long finish. $13.95 BC (+235077)
UPC #00626990053873

July, 2006
Wine Diva Newsletter
“ Saturna Island Winery recently launched their new look! New packaging, new labels and all new screw-cap toppers. The outcome is  positive for this Gulf Islands winery. The wine is now made from all estate grown island fruit and the resulting wines may surprise you!

Appellation America
Reviewed July 27, 2006 by John Schreiner

Saturna Island Vineyards 2004 Pinot Gris Gulf Islands (British Columbia) Opened in 1998, Saturna Island was the first of the wineries to be established on one of the Gulf Islands in the strait between the British Columbia Mainland and Vancouver Island. While its 60-acre vineyard was developing, Saturna also bought Okanagan grapes. That practice stopped in 2004 since enough grapes are now grown on the island to yield 12,000 cases of wine annually. Swiss-trained winemaker Daniel Lagnaz, the winemaker at Mission Hill from 1981 through 1991, now makes Saturna Island’s wines.

This Pinot Gris presents an interesting expression of the island’s cool terroir. By limiting production to just two tons an acre, the winery gets good ripeness and vivid fruit. This wine is fresh and crisp, with zesty lemon flavours and a lean mineral structure – quite a contrast to the soft, peachy Pinot Gris wines that sometimes emerge from the Okaganan. This is a wine for shellfish, quite appropriate since one can see the ocean from the vineyard. 87 points.

White-
Breezy Bay , Gulf Islands B , 2005- From Saturna Island winery the Breezy Bay blend (say that five times fast) is an easy summer quaffer, light, fun and fresh. Aromas of chalky mineral and candied 'rockets'-honeyed pear and melon topped with sweet spices. Off-dry style with an oily-mouth-feel.
$9.95 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted- June 8 2006

Crowd Pleaser, Patio wine

White-
Saturna Island Pinot Gris, Gulf Islands BC, 2004- Baked apples and orchard fruits, spiked with nuts and creamy vanilla. Leesy-rich mouth-feel with sweet citrus crispness on the finish.
$13.95 Private and VQA wine stores
Wine Diva tasted- June 8 2006

Crowd pleaser, Patio wine

Rosé
Saturna Island Rosé, Gulf Islands BC , 2004- This brilliant ruby rosé is a blanc de noirs style blend of chardonnay and pinot noir. This was Wine Diva's favorite wine at the recent Saturna Island new product launch. Ripe berries, cherries, earth and sweet spices, bright acidity with a light silky body and just a hint of sweetness.
$9.95 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted- June 8 2006

Crowd pleaser, Patio wine”

June 30, 2006
Vancouver Courier

“Relaunched recently at Lift Bar & Grill were wines from Saturna Island Family Vineyards-and this time the wines really are all made from grapes grown on the southerly Gulf Island . Overall, the style is lighter, which is understandable and more appropriate to the region's growing conditions, says winemaker Daniel Lagnaz, who held senior winemaking and various other positions at Mission Hill for over 20 years.

Among the winners released through private wine stores is an easy sipping, light Pinot Noir that could make for a pleasant salmon match. Saturna has also embarked on a private label program, offering several wines to Lift, including a strawberry-toned Pinot Noir Rose, arguably the most interesting of the current wines released, and currently available only at the restaurant.”

Georgia Strait
May, 2006

“The charm of Saturna Island Pinot Noir 2002 ($15.95) is in the very Frenchness of the wine. Whatever's in the ground in the vineyards there, it's doing these grapes a world of good. This is the one we've been looking for--hoping for; the first home-grown vintage of Saturna Island red grapes. And such an elegant Pinot Noir it is: great fruit, lovely and bright and clean and fresh from the first sniff to the last sip. Close your eyes, turn the bottle around, and you'd think you were somewhere in Burgundy . That's the style of this wine, but its lovely little lilac aroma burst is unique.” PDF Article