See you there?
Canada’s premier food and wine event, Vancouver International Wine Festival, returns this week at the Vancouver Convention Centre and other venues around the city.
This year, the event will feature 680 wines from 14 countries, while raising funds for Bard on the Beach.
AT A GLANCE
When in the tasting room these are your must-stop BC wine booths:
· Blasted Church Vineyards
· Chronos
· Evolve Cellars
· Free Form
· Haywire
· McWatters Collection
· Monte Creek Winery
Have some time to read?
TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT EACH:
Blasted Church Vineyards
Principals:
Evan Saunders - Winemaker
John Bayley - Vineyard manager
Tanya Martin - General manager
Take note:
Blasted Church is celebrating 20 years in 2022!
Blasted Church has been chosen as #2 winery in BC in 2021 and #3 winery in Canada by WineAlign
Evan Saunders’ wines have been collecting huge accolades - be sure to taste Viognier, Syrah, Small Blessings Refosco, Small Blessings Teroldego-Lagrein, and the OMFG
Background Information:
In the heart of the revered Skaha Bench Sub GI is Blasted Church Vineyards...
Named for the Okanagan Falls-based house of prayer that was dismantled and rebuilt in 1929, Blasted Church, with its gently blasphemous stance, has become one of BC’s most notable and awarded BC wineries.
The team applies progressive farming practices to produce handcrafted, small-lot wines that have gathered accolades from the most respected wine critics in Canada and beyond.
Chronos
Principal:
Lynzee Schatz, winemaker
Take note:
Chronos is the TIME Family of Wines premium BC VQA portfolio.
Named after the Greek primordial god of time
Taste the heavily-lauded Brut, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé as well as the TIME Cabernet Franc
Background Information:
Chronos is made at TIME Family of Wines in Penticton This collection of wines is created for lovers of pure Okanagan terroir. Wine enthusiasts who value wines crafted with depth, complexity, and character.
Evolve Cellars
Principal:
Darrien McWatters, operations manager
Take note:
Meet the *new* Evolve Cellars!
Evolve Cellars has been given a visual refresh that includes a light, casual aesthetic.
In addition to the lineup of Evolve bubbles (White Effervescence & Pink Effervescence ), try the white blend Spontaneity and the red blend Momento.
Background Information:
Made at TIME Family of Wines in Penticton. All Evolve Cellars wines made by winemaker Lynzee Schatz are supple, with a zippy zing and offer the purest expressions of grape, to awaken the five senses into celebrations of every moment.
Free Form
Principal:
Matt Dumayne, chief winemaker
Take note:
Made using state-of- the-art concrete tanks, native yeast and minimal winemaking intervention.
First winery in Canada to use label paper made from stone
Organic. This portfolio of wine is typically bottled unfiltered.
You will want to taste Free Form Blanc de Noir, Free Form Vin Gris, Free Form Sauvignon Blanc, Free Form Cabernet Franc Rosé, and Free Form Cabernet Sauvignon
Background Information:
Free Form is made using organic grapes, natural yeast ferments, with nothing added or changed. From this place Free Form wines find their own path.
Haywire
Principals:
Christine Coletta, founder
Kat D’Costa, winemaker
Take note:
OCP’s original flagship brand
Consistently garners high accolades. The quality and reputation of the brand grows from strength to strength each vintage.
Taste Haywire The Bub, Haywire Switchback Vineyard Pinot Gris, Haywire Gamay Rosé, Haywire Gamay, and Haywire Pinot Noir
Background Information:
Haywire, made in Summerland, BC, offers pure lively wines that reflect the spectacular setting of Canada's Okanagan. The vineyards and winemaking facility are organic certified with concrete tanks for fermentation and ageing
McWatters Collection
Principal:
Christa-Lee McWatters
Take note:
The premium wines under the Chronos label at TIME Family of Wines
Named for the late grandfather of BC wine, Harry McWatters
The legacy brand for TIME Family of Wines
Taste the McWatters Collection traditional method Brut, Chardonnay, White Meritage and Meritage (Harry brought Meritage to Canada)
Background Information:
The McWatters Collection remains the legacy brand for TIME Family of Wines with a limited series of wines that reflect the philosophy of the late founder Harry McWatters. These ultra-premium wines are luxurious and refined, and appropriately include a tribute to Harry McWatters on each bottle.
Monte Creek Winery
Principals:
Erik Fisher, general manager
Galen Barnhardt, winemaker
Ashley Demedeiros, marketing manager
Take Note:
Monte Creek Winery is a leader in sustainable winemaking, using regenerative agriculture techniques to create wines that are good to the earth and to the wine lover.
The winery has rebranded to better align its labels with the brand’s overall commitment to sustainability.
Try the three new wine tiers: Ancient Waters, Living Land, and Pioneer Series.
Featured are the Ancient Waters Chardonnay, Living Land Riesling, Living Land Pinot Noir, Living Land Sparkling Rosé, Living Land Cabernet Franc
Background Information:
Through quality, innovation, and sustainability, Monte Creek Winery in the Thompson Valley, is turning unique growing conditions into award-winning premium wines.
Situated on a biodiverse 1,200-acre property, the winery offers vineyard views with 75 acres of grapes planted in the Thompson Valley, plus 40 planted acres in the Similkameen Valley.
The winery’s Ancient Waters series reflects the geological history of the land. Living Land series represents the biodiversity and regenerative agriculture techniques used today.
When in the Vancouver International Wine Festival tasting room these are your must-stop BC wine booths: Blasted Church Vineyards, Evolve Cellars, McWatters Collection, Free Form, Haywire, Chronos, and Monte Creek Winery