What to Open for Mother’s Day: Vessel’s Spring Picks

The Goods from Vessel Liquor

Victoria, BC | Mother’s Day is coming up, so whether you’re celebrating your mom, yourself, or Mother Earth, here are fresh spring picks to toast with.

MADE IN BC

Nichol Vineyard Pinot Gris 2025, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC. $27.99
How wonderful to have this iconic BC wine back in production after a devastating couple of vintages in the Okanagan. This special Pinot Gris was long known for its peach hue long before skin contact / orange / amber Gris was the IT thing. This saw up to 36 hours skin contact before a native ferment in stainless and neutral French oak. Juicy tangerine, peach fuzz, pink grapefruit, lime pith streams along the sleek palate, finishing with a lingering sherbet / saline note. Perfect for spring feels. Find it online.

TELL HER HOW YOU FEEL

Brass Monkey Brewing Dammit, I Love You Hefeweizen, Victoria, Vancouver Island. $4.99 /
473mL

From the brewery space formally known as Moon Under Water, Brass Monkey Taproom is strong out of the gates with a series of clever brews like this stellar Hefe. A shining amber hue, with a creamy palate of wheat, banana, and subtle cloves, this pairs well with a sunny patio. Find it online.

FIT FOR AN EMPRESS

Victoria Distillers Empress 1980 Cucumber Lemon Gin, Victoria, Vancouver Island. $56.99

Inspired by the flavours and traditions of afternoon tea, this blends eight fresh botanicals into a gin that’s perfect for spring sunshine (and a G&T). In addition to classic juniper berries, look for bright lemon peel, fragrant cucumber, subtle cardamom, and fragrant jasmine. It’s G&T o’clock, fit for an Empress. Find it online.

MAMMOLO FOR MAMA

Koerner Mammolo 2022, Clare Valley, Australia. $64.99

Brothers Damon and Jono Koerner show classic and alternative Clare varieties through a variety of winemaking vessels and styles, all from estate fruit, and all with low intervention. Sciacarello – aka Mammolo – is an Italian red variety that is grown primarily in Corsica, known for its haunting floral perfume. Such a charmer, with wild strawberries, tayberries, wild flowers, peonies, wax, cracked mustard seed filling the slight frame, scented with pink peppercorns, tart with rhubarb acidity, and layered with mineral salts over a finely buzzy base. Tannins are lengthy and whisper fine, taking this finessed lighter red to a haunting, saline laced finish. Find it online.