b'THE CORKBOARD| FALL 2023BLACK SAGEComes ofAGEDISCOVER PREMIUM POURS FROM THISPIONEERING OKANAGAN WINERY AND APPELLATION.BY D E B O R A H F U L SA N GSalvia mellifera grows wild all over coastal California and north into British Columbias Okanagan Valley.Better known as black sage, its so synonymous with the region, in fact, that it inspired the name of theBlack Sage Benchthat terrace which runs along the eastern side of this renowned, wine-growing appellation. You can even taste it in the glass, says Jason James, winemaker at Black Sage Vineyard. "The sage plays a big part in the ecology in this area. You pick up that sagey note, especially in the Cabernet Franc and the Merlot, and to a lesser extent the Cabernet Sauvignon. Its sort of like in Australia when you get a eucalyptus type of note in the wines. Its not a green note or unripe note; its more of an herbal spice character. It certainly influences the terroir and flavour of the wines.Cabernet Franc and Merlot are two of the key varietals grown by Black Sage, which came into being 20 years agowhen then-owners Harry McWatters and Bob Wareham bought 115 hectares of fallow land on the Bench. The pairproceeded to plant a selection of noble grape varietals imported from FranceMerlot, Cabernet Franc, but alsoCabernet Sauvignon, plus a few Bordeaux-style whitesthat they believed would thrive.visiTiNg BLaCk sagE viNEYaRd|16'