Behind the Scenes: The Butcher, The Baker, The Wine & Cheese Maker

By Leeann Froese In case you missed it, our #withTownHall person this week is Jennifer Schell, international best selling author of two collaborative cook books... go say hi here.

We are super proud that Jennifer's newest book, The Butcher, The Baker, The Wine & Cheese Maker-By the Sea, was released last Thursday, October 8th and features a few of Town Hall's clients, including winemaker Bailey Williamson from Blue Grouse Estate Winery in Cowichan Valley.

Blue Grouse Estate Winery's philosophy is "What really matters?" and this relates directly to their new facility, the experience they create at the winery and the wine making process. Bailey's process in creating Blue Grouse wines is working harder in the vineyard and playing shepherd to the grapes through the process from vine to bottle, letting the natural state shine through in the final product.

We wanted to share a few behind the scenes shots from the cookbook photo shoot for you.

Want to see even more?

For more behind-the-scenes action from the book and photos from the book launch, head over to Town Hall's Facebook page were we've uploaded an album for you to enjoy!

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase Monte Creek Ranch

On September 16^th, the British Columbia Wine Institute will host Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting and ChefMeetsBCGrape at Canada Place to showcase VQA wines of British Columbia. To learn more about these two events, please visit our earlier post here. On each day leading up to the events, we introduce you to wineries in attendance with unique stories and flavours that you will not want to miss. Today, we would like to introduce...

Monte Creek Ranch, Monte Creek BC

• Learn more about the Monte Creek Ranch space which serves as both a winery and a ranch that has developed a harmonious ecosystem of livestock, grape vines, and wildlife.
• Learn more about this wineries commitment to flavourful, fruit forward, and approachable wines, and how this guides their every decision from shoot shining to cluster thinning.
• Taste Monte Creek Ranch’s phenomenal new VQA releases while immersing yourself in the rich history behind the vineyard sites.

Founded in 2009, the Sidhu family were intrigued Monte Creek land’s rich history of ranchers and farmers as they were established garden nursery owners and blueberry farmers. After more exploration, the conditions of arid lands and ample sunlight gave the promise of a terrior that would allow for unique and flavourful grapes, and Monte Creek Ranch was born.

Monte Creek Ranch continues the land’s tradition and alongside their vineyards which promise an emphasis fruit forward, flavourful, and approachable wines, they produce farm fresh products including; purely grass fed black angus beef, haskap berries, and all natural honey. The winery is beautifully designed with modern materials and design aesthetics applied to the traditional “mission style” and regional barn structures which culminates in a stunning space with authentic historical sensibilities.

This winery’s commitment to the land’s historical roots and delectable wines make it a must visit on any trip to the Thompson Valley.

To Learn More:

www.montecreekranchwinery.com | Twitter: @montecreekranch | Instagram: @montecreekranch

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase SpierHead Winery and Serendipity Winery

On September 16^th, the British Columbia Wine Institute will host Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting and ChefMeetsBCGrape at Canada Place to showcase VQA wines of British Columbia. To learn more about these two events, please visit our earlier post here. On each day leading up to the events, we introduce you to wineries in attendance with unique stories and flavours that you will not want to miss. Today, we would like to introduce two wineries to you: SpierHead Winery in Kelowna, and Serendipity Winery in Naramata...

SpierHead Winery, Kelowna BC 

• Enjoy the amazing award winning wines that have made this young winery one of the best in the Okanagan.
• Learn how Bill Pierson, winemaker, and his team’s commitment to showcasing specific terriors of the central Okanagan Valley have shaped the way they produce site specific wines.
• Explore the fresh VQA wines behind this relatively new winery that has garnered international attention and an award winning wine catalog.

SpierHead Winery is named for its stunning location along Spiers Road on the benchlands in South East Kelowna. Part of the East Kelowna Wine Trail, also known as the Fab Five Wineries, SpierHead has been turning heads since opening in 2010, and was named “Best New Winery” at the 2012 BC Wine Awards. The winery’s focus is on wine produced from a combination of sustainably farmed, estate-grown grapes, and premium fruit sourced from vineyards in the Okanagan. Their focus on single vineyard Pinot Noir is paying off, with accolades from the press and public alike.

To Learn More:

www.spierheadwinery.com | Twitter: @spierheadwinery | Instagram: @spierheadwinery

Serendipity Winery, Naramata BC

• See why the international wine community has had such a positive reception of this marvelous young winery, including their success at the New York and San Francisco International Wine Conferences.
• Learn more about the mother-daughter team behind Serendipity, this is a family operated winery in every sense of the term.
• Acquire an understanding of the intriguing life stories behind each bottle of wine. 

Serendipity Winery was conceived during a serendipitous moment that occurred while owner Judy Kingston embarked on a holiday wine tour of the Okanagan with the intention of finding a retirement property and instead, ended up finding an old orchard in that would become the home of Serendipity Winery.

In the spring of 2006, the orchard was completely re-landscaped to provide optimum slope and orientation and Kingston selected wine varietals to suite the micro climate and the vineyard’s four distinct soil types. All of the hard work and toil put into the land paid off when their first harvest in 2009 was of exceptional quality and cemented the winery’s dedication to producing quality of quantity, a tradition that has led Serendipity winery to be named BC Winery of the Year at the New York International Wine Competition.

To Learn More:

www.serendipitywinery.com | Twitter: @winespiration | Instagram: @serendipitywinery

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase Mt. Boucherie Winery

On September 16^th, the British Columbia Wine Institute will host Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting and ChefMeetsBCGrape at Canada Place to showcase VQA wines of British Columbia. To learn more about these two events, please visit our earlier post here. On each day leading up to the events, we introduce you to wineries in attendance with unique stories and flavours that you will not want to miss. Today, we would like to introduce...

Mt. Boucherie Winery, Kelowna BC

• Enjoy award winning VQA wines produced with 100% percent family-owned grapes from one of the oldest vineyards in the Okanagan.
• Explore the dynamic and diverse list of varietals that Mt. Boucherie boasts.
• Gain insight into the viticulture techniques and tips employed to maintain this historic family-owned vineyard

Led by winemaker Jim Faulkner, this winery offers a diverse portfolio of well-loved reds, whites, and desert wines which allows wine lovers to select a bottle of Mt. Boucherie for any occasion. Incredibly food friendly, the variety of Mt. Boucherie wines available ensures there's a bottle to match any palate, plate and mood.

Their history and passion for wine is yours to enjoy. Your way.

To Learn More:

www.mtboucheriewinery.com | Twitter: @mtboucheriewine

What you will taste:

• Pinot Gris 2014 $11.95 –Crisp, bright and refreshing on the palate.
• Semillon 2011 $11.57 – You’ll love this wine for how fresh and crisp it is on the palate, with lemony aromas and citrusy flavours combined with granny smith apple.
• Summit Reserve 2012 $21.52 – Aromas of cassis, red currant, raspberry and a hint of coffee. On the palate this full-bodied red offers firm tannins with a rounded and smooth finish.
• Pinot Noir 2012 $16.22 – A lighter red, slightly smoky with aromas of raspberry jam, vanilla bean and candied apple. On the palate strawberry coulis and fresh cherries.

Who you will meet:

Jim Faulkner, winemaker, Mario Rodi, sales manager, will be on hand to answer any questions that you might have.

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase Evolve Cellars

On September 16^th, the British Columbia Wine Institute will host Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting and ChefMeetsBCGrape at Canada Place to showcase VQA wines of British Columbia. To learn more about these two events, please visit our earlier post here. On each day leading up to the events, we will to introduce you to wineries in attendance with unique stories and flavours that you will not want to miss. Today, we would like to introduce...

Evolve Cellars, Summerland BC

• Learn about industry pioneer Harry McWatters’ new lifestyle brand winery which focuses on producing fresh, fruit-forward, crisp, approachable, and well-balanced wines.
• Try the fresh, clean, and crisp award winning 2014 Pinot Blanc.
• Use the hashtag #RaiseAGlassTo to share your experience tasting Evolve Cellars' wine selection during the event.

Evolve Cellars was born from the concept of the celebration of self, your successes and growth in life. This winery, and winemaker Lawrence Buhler, know that the Okanagan Valley has evolved to produce some of the best wines on the planet and intends to gently transform the fruit that mother nature creates in this beautiful region to create wines that are fresh, fruit-forward, crisp, approachable, and well-balanced.

See what makes this winery, with its beautiful design and breathtaking vineyard overlooking the Okanagan Lake, the perfect place to raise a glass to friends and family and mostly importantly, yourself.

To Learn More:

www.evolvecellars.com | Twitter: @evolvecellars | Instagram: @evolvecellars

What you will taste:

• Pinot Blanc 2014 $14.99 -Granny Smith apple, white peach, and pear - fresh from the orchard. Mingling melon and tropical fruit flavours that linger with minerals and grapefruit.
• Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $15.99 -Tropical fruits with lime and nectarine. Bright, lively citrus and summer fruit flavours of melon, nectarine, and pear.
• Pinot Noir 2014 $19.99 -Easy drinking, fruit-forward with pleasing aromas of cherry. This dry, harmonic blend of black cherry and a touch of vanilla leaves a lingering, soft finish.
• Cabernet Merlot 2013 $18.99 - Pretty and seductive, with a spicy nose of black cherry and cassis. Soft and complex, with mouth-filling flavours of plum, cherry, and wild red berry from start to finish.

Who you will meet:

Lawrence Buhler, director of winemaking, and Christa-Lee McWatters Bond, director of sales and marketing, will be available to answer any questions you might have.

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase Summerhill Pyramid Winery

In case you missed it, on September 16^th, the British Columbia Wine Institute will be hosting Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting and ChefMeetsBCGrape to showcase VQA wines of British Columbia. To learn more about these two events, please visit our earlier post here. On each day leading up to the events, we would like to introduce you to a winery in attendance with unique stories and flavours that you will not want to miss. Today, we would like to introduce:

Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Kelowna BC

• Understand the biodynamic and organic practices that allows this winery to shape a diversified and healthy ecosystem that promotes healthy crops and balanced wines.
• Become fascinated by the history behind the Summerhill Pyramid Winery, including their award winning sparkling wine and the enchanting story behind the pyramind.
• Try the 2012 “OM” Organic Meritage, which just won the gold medal at the 2015 InterVin International Wine Awards.

Founded in 1991, the Okanagan Valley’s Summerhill Pyramid Winery is Canada’s largest certified organic winery, BC’s first Demeter certified biodynamic vineyard, as well as Canada’s foremost producer of sparkling wine. Winemaker Eric von Krosigk oversees the portfolio of BC VQA wines that have earned the winery the title of ‘Canadian Wine Producer of the Year’ from the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, England. From the vine to the finishing process within the pyramid cellar, a space designed with precision sacred geometry and aligned to the stars to create a structure of stillness and harmony, these wines are crafted with love and great attention.

To Learn More:

www.summerhill.bc.ca | Twitter: @summerhillwine | Instagram: @summerhillwine

 What you will taste:

• Cipes Brut $26.95 - Aromas of apple, lime, pear, almonds and grapefruit. On the palate Cipes Brut exhibits crisp acidity, a soft, creamy mousse, and a long finish.
• Cipes Rose $26.95 - 100% Pinot Noir cuvee grown at multiple vineyard locations around the Okanagan Valley that were planted and are maintained specifically for sparkling wine production to express a crisp, bright style. Notes of raspberry, strawberry, kiwi, blood orange, vanilla, almond, and white toast.
• 2014 Summerhill Vineyard Riesling $29.90 - Based on biodynamic principles, this wine was fermented with the ambient yeasts that came in from the vineyard, resulting in an absolutely beautiful natural wine.
• 2012 "OM" Organic Meritage $65.00 - The conditions in 2012 were perfect for the growth and ripening of Cabernet Franc grapes, which was nature’s hint to produce a meritage blend that showcases this under-appreciated grape. A blend of 56% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and 2% Malbec, aged in French and American oak barriques.

Who you will meet:

Summerhill's sales manager, Tom Walmsley, will be on hand to answer all of your questions about this majestic winery and their fantastic wines.

Delicious BBQ, Live Music, and Family Fun at BBQ off the Bypass

If you love delicious BBQ, live music, and all around family fun then don’t to miss the 10^th Annual Barbeque Off The Bypass (#BOTB2015), happening this Sunday, September 13^th, from 10 am – 4 pm at #117-20353-64 Avenue in Langley. If you still need more convincing that BBQ off the Bypass is definitely the best way to spend this Sunday, we have compiled a list of the top ten reasons to attend:

1. It's been a decade in the making! 10th Annual event with even bigger prizes.
2. Wear your stretchy pants and sample some of the best BBQ in the Pacific Northwest.
3. You can bring the kids! It's free and family friendly.
4. You can groove while you taste. Local Band, The New Shackletons will be playing live.
5. Buy and eat local- Local Pork, Local Chicken, Local Beef, Local Turkey.
6. Food trucks onsite: The Chili Tank & Bambino's.
7. Watch the BBQ showdown with 25 competing BBQ teams from Alberta to Oregon.
8. Chef Dez, Red Seal Chef, Chopped Canada competitor and food columnist, emceeing the competition.
9. Charitable partner TinyKittens Society to be on site taking donations & talking about Kitten Reality TV.
10. A chance to meet local lifestyle celebrity Black Box and BC Bake Off Judges.
11. (Bonus) See Town Hall Brands' own Andrew von Rosen judge the 6th Annual Great BC Bake-Off.

To learn more, please visit: www.bbqoffthebypass.com

We hope to see you there!

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase TIME Estate Winery!

On September 16^th, the British Columbia Wine Institute will host Colour BC VQA Fall Release Tasting and ChefMeetsBCGrape at Canada Place to showcase VQA wines of British Columbia. To learn more about these two events, please visit our earlier post here. On each day leading up to the events, we will to introduce you to wineries in attendance with unique stories and flavours that you will not want to miss. Today, we would like to introduce:

TIME Estate Winery, Oliver BC

• Learn more about the winery’s two fundamental elements, time and place, that guide their production of wine.
• Ask about the new hospitality centre and winery, to be finished by 2016, which will welcome visitors with a stunningly modern design.
• Taste the generous textures and spicy flavours of 2012 Mertiage that wine critics have been raving about.

The TIME Estate Winery received its winery license in 2011 but the story behind the vineyard dates back to 1993. Harry McWatters and Bob Wareham purchased the then fallow lands of the Monashee Vineyard and in an amazing feat planted the entire property, now named Sundial Vineyards, in 20 days. Since it’s inception, TIME Estate Winery has allowed nature to guide the decisions on which grape varieties would be best suited for their vineyard, where Richard Cleave, the vinyard’s viticulturist, nurtures the vines to produce fruit rich in aroma, strong tannin structure and full flavours. TIME is not only the name but also the main concept that drives this winery’s success; the investment of time into documenting and studying each vintage, paying attention to each vine, and noting that which is discernable only when one takes a moment to pause.

Sundial Vineyard continues to demonstrate why it’s the right place in the south Okanagan to grow premium grapes and reveal the best of TIME.

To Learn More:

www.timewinery.com | Twitter: @timewinery | Instagram: @timewinery

 What you will taste:

• Meritage (white) 2014 $25 - Classic aromas circle in the glass: honeydew melon, pear, and a hint of tangerine. Taste graceful hints of apricot and mango, swirled with ripe gooseberry. This wine is mellowed by barrel aging, resulting in a sturdy vibrant finish with delicate traces of oak.
• Chardonnay 2013 $27.99 - Luscious aromas of pineapple, ripe melon, and honeysuckle. The palate is citrus and tropical, with buttery characteristics balancing a bright acidity. Butterscotch and vanilla linger in a long, elegant finish. This wine will age gracefully through 2018.
• Meritage 2012 $29.99 - Classic aromas envelop the glass with red berries, black cherries, and peppery nuances. Fragrant characters of rose petal and sage mingle with the darker fruit elements. This wine is rich and structured, with excellent depth and silky well-integrated tannins.
• Cabernet Franc 2013 $19.99 - On the nose, classic aromas of red berries, black cherries, and hints of pepper and sage. On the palate, well-rounded flavours of plum and blackberry. Tannis are softly structured; however, this wine should continue to develop in bottle through 2020. 

Who you will meet:

You will be greeted by;

• Harry McWatters, owner and a leader in the BC wine industry for more than 40 years.
• Lawrence Buhler, director of wine making and a dedicated wine lover.
• Jeannette Montgomery, manager of wine clubs and administration.

Town Hall Clients & Top Drop Vancouver

By Kathleen Beveridge Top Drop Vancouver is two weeks away.

This celebration of terrior-influenced and handcrafted wine is only in its second year its impact is large inviting trade and consumers to participate for the love of wine. By bringing 33 honest wines and their principals directly to Vancouverites this is a wine event that educates about wine regions, biodynamic farming and natural wines. All hot topics in the wine industry at this time.

Along with supporting wine education, tasting, and alternative farming practices Town Hall has two clients connected with Top Drop Vancouver. Proceeds from the event will go to our amazing charity client the BC Hospitality Foundation, which provides financial assistance to those in the hospitality industry facing a major medical crisis.

In conjunction with the Top Drop tasting event there are various dinners being hosted, including one at Edible Canada featuring our winery client Blue Grouse Estate Winery and a rare chance to taste their 2012 Paula sparkling wine.

Learn more about Top Drop Vancouver here.

Buy tickets for Edible Canada’s dinner here.

Fall Events to Plan For in the Lower Mainland

What’s Happening this Fall We have been trying to find dates to plan activities for our clients and it has become obvious to us how BUSY the schedule is and everyone's calendar is.

We find the best way for you to know about a client or project is to meet them in person, and the best way to do that is to hold an event, so everyone is hosting something.

We like to use PlanitBC which has a public face as well as an industry planning back end, so we advise anyone who both wants to plan or attend something look there. It's not expensive and helps keep everything in one spot, and then has a way to publicize the events that are public.

For whatever reason, we have found that not everyone is signing up for Planit, so we have gathered everything we know of as of the beginning of August.

Note: this is for planning purposes and will change - check back often.

September 10, Top Drop Vancouver (featuring Town Hall clients Blue Grouse and Haywire)

September 10, Design Event (Story PR)

September 11, Top Drop Vancouver (featuring Town Hall clients Blue Grouse and Haywire)

September 13, BBQ off the Bypass (hosted by Town Hall client Angie Quaale of Well Seasoned)

September 14, Chile Sommelier Challenge (Trade only)

September 15, IVSA New Product Salon (Vancouver)

September 16, Colour BC Fall VQA Tasting (Industry)

September 16, ChefmeetsBCGrape Signature Tasting

September 18, 5th Annual Fraser Valley Cork and Keg, Wine, Beer and Food Festival

September 19, Lilloet Beer and Wine Festival

September 21, Invite Only Trade Wine Event

September 22, Sparkling Wine Event (invite only featuring Town Hall clients Summerhill Pyramid Winery)

September 22, Kate Colley PR Event

September 22, IVSA New Product Salon (Victoria)

September 23, Lifestyle, Fashion, Fitness Event

September 25, Victoria Wine Festival

September 26, Victoria Wine Festival

September 27, Slow Fish Dinner (hosted by Town Hall clients The Chefs' Table Society of BC)

September 27, Victoria Wine Festival

September 30, Lifestyle Event

October 1, Discover BC VQA Tasting (Calgary)

October 1, Lifestyle and Fashion Event

October 1-11, Fall Okanagan Wine Festival (featuring Town Hall clients Summerhill, SpierHead Winery, Mt. Boucherie, TIME, and Okanagan Crush Pad.)

October 5, Town Hall media event-by invitation only

October 5-9, Tourism Vancouver Open House

October 7, Town Hall trade event - by invitation only

October 8, Home and Lifestyle Event

October 15, Town Hall wine media event- by invitation only

October 15, Abbotsford Circle Farm Tour

October 17, BC Uncorked (featuring Town Hall clients Summerhill and Mt.Boucherie)

October 18, CONNECT Food + Drink + Lodging Expo 2015

October 19, CONNECT Food + Drink + Lodging Expo 2015

October 21, Vancouver Magazine Judging

October 22, Vancouver Magazine Judging

October 22, Vancouver Home + Design Show Opening Party (invite only)

October 22, 2nd Annual Tea Sparrow Tea Festival

October 23, Vancouver Magazine Judging

October 26, A Taste of Wines from Italy (Trade)

October 28, Wine, Food & Lifestyle Tasting

October 29, Design & Lifestyle Event

November 7, 26th Annual Fraser Valley Wine Festival

Looking Ahead to the Grape Harvest in BC

By Leeann Froese As we ease back into our work week after a long weekend to celebrate this great province, we reflect on how it has been a long, warm spring and summer across BC.

Weather, growing conditions, watering restrictions and threat of fire all could impact the upcoming grape harvest, depending on which grape growing region you are in.

Could this be one of the earliest harvests on record in BC? How are things looking so far?

Laura Kittmer, media relations manager at the British Columbia Wine Institute states “It's been a very hot summer in BC this year; many wineries are reporting their grapevines to be about two weeks ahead right now, which could mean early wine harvest.”

We checked in with our clients in different parts of the province for an update, which follows.

Let us know if you need more info, photos, or wish to interview anyone quoted below. Amy @ townhallbrands.com / 604-321-3295

Okanagan - Summerland - Okanagan Crush Pad - Christine Coletta, owner

“At Okanagan Crush Pad we are more than half way into yet another great season in the Okanagan. But as we like to remember, it isn’t over until it’s over, and the next three months are the most crucial to shaping vintage. Will we get those cooler fall days with cold nights that allow for hang time that creates the phenolic* ripeness and natural acidity that we all crave? Or will there be a quick, sharp finish to the growing year that leaves us with high sugars, resulting in wines with higher than normal alcohol levels? Time will tell.

An early spring and unseasonably warm summer has challenged viticulturists throughout the valley. We did not get the typical rainfall we expect in June and the rest of the summer has been dry and hot. A careful watch on irrigation levels has been required.

Bountiful crop sets with large cluster formations and small berry size should result in some excellent wines next year. The early spring start will guarantee that most crops will finish on time and viticulturists will surely be pleased about that. With veraison** starting we anticipate a late September /early October harvest. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that the weather continues to co-operate as we eagerly anticipate yet another outstanding year.

As far as water use goes, vineyards used significantly less water than tree fruits, and vineyards with drip irrigation, even less than vineyards with overhead irrigation. Our home organic vineyard, Switchback Vineyard, used seven inches of irrigation water a year compared to the standard 19 inches. At this point the Okanagan is on water restrictions, but this is an annual occurrence and nothing out of the ordinary as is being experienced in the lower mainland.

From the forest fire situation, there has been absolutely zero impact from fires and smoke in our area. A few people have said on social media that they are concerned that the smoke can impact the harvest. This kind of talk is a little on the sensational side as smoke would have to be within close proximity (not 50 km away) and for an extended period of time (not a day or two) to have any impact on grape quality.”

Vancouver Island - Blue Grouse - Bailey Williamson, winemaker

"Many in the Cowichan Valley have long stood by the ideology of dry farming, and this year they may reconsider this dogma.

At Blue Grouse we hope to have drip irrigation throughout the whole vineyard by next season; we have been irrigating where we can, and it shows a marked difference in the vine health.

Smoke has not been an issue for us as the fires are not burning close by or the smoke is blowing the other way.

Our issue is that vineyard labour has always been a huge issue and will be for the foreseeable future. In a small grape growing region it is even more of a challenge because there is no labour pool to draw from: seasonal, foreign or otherwise.

Very often we pick the grapes based on disease pressure, and hope for phenolic ripeness. At this moment the extreme heat has given way to more seasonal averages which could very well have us harvest a bit early, but not super early. If the rain holds off and the grapes are a week ahead of usual we could be picking in the sun rather than the rain. This would be a great boon for both quality and morale.

I generally don't like to count my chickens before they hatch, and Mother Nature always has a trick or two up her sleeve, so I am cautiously optimistic, and hopeful."

Okanagan – Naramata – Serendipity Winery – Judy Kingston, owner

“At Serendipity we are lucky that there are no water restrictions on agricultural properties in the Naramata bench.

The smoke cover here was far less than in most parts of the province, almost to the point that it was less than normal. We had maybe five days of smoke, and the kind of smoke damage that CedarCreek and St Hubertus had in 2003 is not anticipated at this time. That was a rare occurrence.

We have seen few if any 40 degree days on the Naramata bench, we had a few that were kissing 40 degrees. The south valley has seen a few. We haven’t seen the vines shut down yet, but we have in past seasons. At this point, veraison is just kicking in, showing up in our Pinot Noir field and our Syrah field. Southern regions have veraison in full-swing.

Everyone needs to take a reminder that grape vines are one of the most adaptive species out there. They can withstand stress or difficult conditions.

This year’s harvest looks great. We knew at the beginning of the season that it was going to be an early start to the growing year and a hotter year, so we have taken measures to make sure that the grapes mature properly and not too quickly. Without careful farming practices, there could be a risk that the brix*** accumulate in the berries faster than the phenolics do. This year’s harvest could be fantastic, but it is impossible to say how the harvest is going to be until the grapes are in the press. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

We look forward to picking the Pinot for bubble in the last week of August. Katie is looking forward to harvesting in shorts and a tee shirt, as we anticipate harvest for our regular table wines to start in early September, well ahead of schedule.”

Fraser Valley - Singletree - Andrew Etsell, viticulturist

"This year has the potential to be the best year I have seen in a decade. The grapes are 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule. At Singletree our Siegerrebe is already at verasion and the lack of rain has made mould a non-issue. This is the first year I have seen the Fraser Valley grapes keeping pace with the Okanagan. The only issue I foresee is that with so little rain our tonnage will be down from last year, but the quality of grapes will be far superior to what we have seen in the past from the Valley."

Kamloops - Monte Creek Ranch - Galen Barnhardt, winemaker "The 2015 at Monte Creek Ranch season got off to a roaring start, bud break arrived 10 days early and an unbelievably hot start to the summer has pushed us 2.5 to 3 weeks ahead of schedule at veraison. The period between veraison and harvest is the most crucial by far, we are hoping for more moderate temperatures so that phenolic ripeness will occur before sugar levels get too high.

Though there have been many water restrictions in the province, we are fortunate that grapes are quite drought resistant. We practice deficit irrigation within our own vineyards and typically only use 20% of our water license in any given season. We have also been quite lucky and have avoided any smoke taint so far - a bit of recent rain should help matters. If Mother Nature can play nice for another six weeks then we should have a phenomenal harvest."

So there you have it; no one has a crystal ball, but things are looking good so far for the 2015 BC grape harvest.

*Phenolic - are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in grapes, which give a wine its profile; includes tannins that occur in grape skins, seeds and stems as well as other complex chemical compounds that will help to define a wine’s character

**Veraison – a grape-growing term meaning when the grapes change colour – the onset of ripening in the grapes.

***Brix – the measure of sugar

Celebrating Canadian Cuisine on Food Day Canada

By Kathleen Beveridge Saturday is Food Day Canada, which means we get to celebrate by eating delicious Canadian cuisine.

And we share it @FoodDayCanada with #CanadaISFood #FDC2015

Canada is known across the globe for a variety of things: saying “sorry” and “eh”, maple syrup, and being cold (although that idea is out the window lately), but what is often forgotten is how delicious and diverse our local food is across the country. And let’s be honest, that’s silly, considering we eat every single day.

At Town Hall we couldn’t be more proud to have clients that are a part of this movement, from Langley’s Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store’s owner and local food queen, Angie Quaale, who buys local whenever she can and uses it in her recipes; to the members of the Chefs’ Table Society who all stand behind sustainable and local foods, to our winery clients who produce wine sourced from BC grown grapes.

We also have some clients who source locally and sustainably for their restaurants, including Summerhill Pyramid Winery’s Sunset Organic Bistro, the new restaurant at Evolve Cellars, and the soon-to-open Perch Restaurant, located in the beautiful new AMS building at UBC. These restaurants support local farms and are Ocean Wise.

Top this list off with our client, the BC Hospitality Foundation, who supports those working in the Food and Beverage industry with financial support for industry workers when the need arises, keeping the Canadian food and beverage movement on its feet.

It’s more important than ever to buy local and support Canada’s economy, but more importantly the people, who put so much into growing and creating nutritious food to fuel us through each day.

Now I’ll go celebrate by picking local blackberries and raising my glass (full of BC wine) to Canadian cuisine.

How will you celebrate Food Day Canada? In Kelowna, celebrate at Summerhill Pyramid Winery's Sunset Organic Bistro, one of the 250 participating restaurants in Food Day Canada.

Try wine from one of these BC wineries this Food Day Canada:

Blue Grouse Estate Winery

Coolshanagh

Evolve Cellars

McWatters Collection

Monte Creek Ranch

Mt. Boucherie Winery

Okanagan Crush Pad

Serendipity Winery

Singletree Winery

SpierHead Winery

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

TIME Estate Winery

Look out for these BC Wineries at Bloom

by Ali Harris

Celebrate the arrival of fresh, local, home grown wine and sunny spring time, with the annual Bloom: Wines of British Columbia Spring Release Tasting.

Explore more than 90 BC wineries showcasing over 360 BC VQA wines! The event is sure to provide a wonderful overview of the capabilities of BC's terroir.

We encourage trade and media who are attending to stop by the tables of our clients, and we have provided you with a bit of intel about each.

A note to Journalists: we can help you with any interview requests for the visiting winery principals.

Winery: Evolve Cellars 
Located: Summerland
Who you will meet: Harry McWatters (founder), Christa-Lee McWatters Bond (founder), Steve Jones (hospitality) 
What you will tast
2012 Cabernet Merlot 2014 Rosé 2013 Sauvignon Blanc
2013 Pinot Blanc
Need to know fact: Evolve is the newest winery on Summerland's Bottleneck Drive. In fact, it opened to the public on May 16th! Led by Christa-Lee McWatters Bond and Harry McWatters, their goal is to gently transform the fruit that Mother Nature creates, into wines that can be enjoyed by all.

Winery: Mt Boucherie Family Estate Winery
Located: Kelowna
Who you will meet: Jim Faulkner (winemaker)
What you will taste:
2013 Riesling
2013 Gewürztraminer
2012 Pinot Noir
2012 Merlot
Need to know facts: At Mt. Boucherie Winery, there’s a wine country experience for everyone. Whether it’s a picnic, yoga or a family-style dinner in the vineyard, you’ll want to bring a friend because everything is better in two. 

Winery: Okanagan Crush Pad
Located: Summerland
Who you will meet: Christine Coletta (owner), Amy Hollenbach (sales), Alison Scholefield (brand manager) and Rebeka Eriksson (sales)
What you will taste:
2014 Haywire Rose
2013 Haywire Switchback Pinot Gris
2013 Haywire Pinot Noir
2012 Haywire Canyonview Pinot Noir
Need to know facts: Okanagan Crush Pad is the first in Canada to extensively use concrete tanks, and wines that are fermented and aged in concrete carry the Raised in Concrete™ designation. See what differences you think the use of concrete makes!

Winery: Serendipity Winery 
Located: Naramata Who you will meet: Judy Kingston and Katie O'Kell (owners)
What you will taste:
2013 Pinot Grigio
2013 Rose
2012 Voignier
2010 Devil's Advocate
Need to know facts: Judy Kingston makes her every wine with food pairings in mind. Be sure to stop by and try their wines and chat about the stories behind each wine... because there's a story in every bottle. 

Winery: Singletree Winery
Located: Abbotsford  Who you will meet: Andrew Etsell (owner)
What you will taste:
2013 Pinot Noir
2014 Siegerrebe
2014 Sauvignon Blanc
2014 Pinot Gris
Need to know facts: Singletree Winery is committed to showing the world what the Fraser Valley is capable of. The winery was named for a single harness yoke that was commonly used in the late 1800s. The Singletree was an essential tool that allowed fertile land in the Mt. Lehman area to be cleared to make way for farms.

Winery: SpierHead Winery
Located: Kelowna
Who you will meet: Marina and Bill Knutson (owners) What you will taste:
2013 Pinot Noir
2013 Chardonnay
2014 Riesling 
2014 Pinot Gris
Need to know facts: This small winery flies under the radar for many, but keeps capturing accolades and awards in every competition entered. For example, the 2014 Pinot Gris was just given 90 points from Beppi Crosariol!

Winery: Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Located: Kelowna
Who you will meet: Ezra Cipes (CEO)
What you will taste: Cipes Brut
2012 Organic Pinot Noir (first public debut!) 2014 Alive Organic White (first public debut!) 2012 Alive Organic Red (first public debut!) Need to know fact: Summerhill Pyramid Winery is fully committed to organic practices. Ask them about their nitrogen generator or their on premise pyramid cellar which is second only to the Great Pyramid of Egypt for alignment and precision!

Winery: TIME Estate Winery
Located: Oliver
Who you will meet: Harry McWatters (founder), Christa Lee McWatters Bond (brand manager), Steve Jones (hospitality)
What you will taste:
2012 Meritage
2014 White Meritage 
2013 Cabernet Franc
2013 Sundial
Need to know fact: TIME Winery is the next big winery project in the South Okanagan desert, with Harry McWatters, grandfather of the BC wine industry, coming out of ‘retirement” to make wines from the province’s most awarded vineyard. The visitor centre will open in 2016 but hard hat tours are available.

"We Are Looking for a Wine Sponsor"

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By Leeann Froese Let’s Explore the World of Wine Sponsorship Requests

Because we are lucky enough to promote wineries, we receive many requests to ask our clients for sponsorship. Before I talk about how your request might be a fit, I will first rant a little…

You might not believe this, but wineries get asked to give their wines away every single day. Can you think of another for profit industry that is asked to give their manufactured goods away on a daily basis? Why should a winery give you free wine?

Wineries are for profit businesses. Even when they contribute wines, they need to pay hard costs for the product, handling, and taxes on any wines they donate. If your request is for a for-profit business or ticketed event, then the wineries that we work with are generally not interested in making donations. They're generally only interested in making a donation if there's a charitable cause attached to it, or if there is a partial purchase to be joined by a donation. So don’t ask. Work the cost of wine into your budget and purchase it. Or get a license, buy the wine and sell it at your event and make your profit that way.

Experience tells me that unless wine is an integral part of an event, attendees don’t care or remember the wines they are served. So any wineries giving wine under these circumstances are giving it away without expecting anything in exchange. This is RARE. Again, wineries are for profit, just like shoe stores, spas, restaurants and charity fundraisers.

Due to wine being an adult and beverage alcohol, our clients do not consider partnerships or giving to youth athletic organizations, schools, projects or programs for minors under the age of 19, religious and denominational organizations, or motorized sporting events.

If you made it through the rant and still think you have a good sponsorship fit, then consider the following:

Wineries will sometimes go into partnership with other companies if they have the same target customer and collaboration makes sense. They may do this for personal reasons, or for reasons of social responsibility or maybe purely marketing. These sorts of partnerships are developed strategically and are usually a tactical part of a winery’s marketing plan.

If there is a charitable component to what you are doing, this might influence the winery’s situation. People that own wineries are passionate and caring people, and support community causes when they fit. There are myriad worthy causes but unfortunately not all causes make sense for our clients to support.

We scrutinize charitable asks on behalf of our clients, and to manage your expectations, many do not want ad-hoc requests at all, because as I mentioned, they have alliances with specific charities that they celebrate throughout the year.

Most wineries look for a minimum of three months before they make a decision on supporting an event. In order that you may work together with a winery in the most mutually beneficial way, we ask that sponsorship requests be made in writing preferably three months in advance of when your promotion begins. We will review your request and see if there is a fit with our clients and then get back to you as soon as possible.

To ensure we receive all the required information, as well as to assist you better, we request you include all of the following information in your proposal to us:

Detailed description of what the wine will be used for, including:

• Name of organization or association.

• History, purpose, type of event and what charity will benefit.

• What you are requesting from a winery (quantified): how much wine are you asking for and expected number of event attendees, if applicable.

• What you are proposing to offer as sponsorship benefits. How will the winery be recognized for their donation? From our experience, a logo and thank you in print is no longer sufficient to meet the marketing in exchange for this kind of support.

• Include a list of other promotion/event sponsors.

• What is the advertising support that will include the winery?

• The profile of your audience. Please be as specific as possible.

If you have a sponsorship package, please include it with your request.

It is important for the winery is to know how their wines will be handled. Please include:

• Who will serve the wine?

• How will it be served?

• What kind of glassware will be used?

• Who holds the special occasion license?

Any requests that are missing the components above will not be considered. We want to ensure that organizations requesting product give the donation as much thought as the wineries do.

Once all of the requested information is compiled, send your request in writing to info@townhallbrands.com

Start your summer sipping at a gala gathering of BC wineries

See you at the BCWAS 10^th Anniversary Gala Event! Happy #WineWednesday, British Columbia!

Help the BC Wine Appreciation Society celebrate its 10^th Anniversary, at a gala tasting overlooking the city. A whopping 48 BC wineries will be on hand to offer a true taste of the varied terroirs of BC.

April 16 at the Diamond Ballroom. Tickets are $49 and selling fast!

We are proud because many of our clients are going to be there to offer the attendees a taste, and, we will also have a Town Hall table! Come and visit us and taste wines from

40 Knots Winery

Blue Grouse Estate Winery

Mt. Boucherie Winery

Serendipity Winery

Singletree Winery

TIME Estate Winery

Join us at our table and meet Andrew Etsell from Singletree – Fraser Valley’s newest winery as well as Judy Kingston from Naramata's Serendipity.

Our lovely clients SpierHead will also be there, hosting their own table, so be sure to say hello to them and have a taste.

Below are all the details:

 Event Information

• What- BCWAS 10^th Anniversary Gala Event
• Date- Thursday, April 16^th, 2015
• Time- 7:00pm to 10:00pm
• Location- Diamond Ballroom, 1495 West 8^th Avenue, top floor of Masonic Centre
• Ticket Price- $49.00 per person. Tickets available online.

What to expect?

• Discover & Sip- Taste more than 95 SKUs from wine regions across BC, including the Vancouver Island, Fraser Valley, Naramata, West Kelowna and many more.
• Scenic View- Enjoy beautiful scenery of Vancouver as you mingle with like minded wine lovers inside the Diamond Ballroom.
• Meet & Greet- You will have the opportunity to meet winery principals from select wineries.
• Take home your tasting experience- Tasted a wine that you like but don’t want to order a whole case from one winery? No problem. Bring your credit card and you can buy as few as 3 bottles of wines from any winery to make a mixed case.

Winery Regions to Discover:

• Naramata Bench- Serendipity Winery
• Vancouver Island- Blue Grouse Estate Winery & 40 Knots Winery
• West Kelowna- Mt. Boucherie Winery
• Oliver- TIME Estate Winery
• Fraser Valley- Singletree Winery

BC wineries have so much to offer and these amazing vintners are making the trip to Vancouver to help the BC Wine Appreciation society kick off this milestone of 10 years of celebrating the wines of BC!

Wine and Food Event Season is Upon Us in BC

By the Town Hall team Events to celebrate - mark your calendar now!

Since March 25th's #bcwinechat was about events, we thought we should share our clients' events - but there is far to much to say for 140 character!

Check back often for updates...

Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store - BBQ Book Signing & Tasting - April 10 You are invited to celebrate the book launch of Grilling with House of Q, written by BBQ expert Brian Misko, at Well Seasoned in Langley, BC, on April 10th. Mark your calendar for a smoking hot evening of BBQ tasting and book signage by Brian.

 BC Wine Appreciation Society - 10th Anniversary Gala Celebration - April 16

Join the BC Wine Appreciation Society on April 16 at 7:00pm for their 10th Anniversay Gala celebration! While you walk around and admire the view that the Diamond Ballroom has to offer, you can sip on wine of over 35 BC wineries, savour some delicious cheese and socialize with your fellow BCWAS members.

And as a bonus it will be super easy for you to add new favourites to your cellar. Order as few as three bottles from any winery – an easy way to get a start on your summer sipping! Get your tickets here!

BC Hospitality Foundation - Dish 'N Dazzle - May 7 Taste more than 80 wines from Argentina and bites from some of Vancouver’s most celebrated chefs at the annual Dish N Dazzle party at the Convention Centre East. Presented by the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation, the annual fundraiser also includes a cocktail competition and an amazing silent auction. Reserve your tickets now.

Chefs' Table Society - Spot Prawn Festival - May 17 The Chefs’ Table Society of BC, in partnership with the Pacific Prawn Fishermen’s Association, and Fisherman’s Wharf, present the 9th annual Spot Prawn Festival May 17. The FREE celebration includes live entertainment, fun activities for children, and free cooking demos by top local chefs.

When the boats come in, live, local prawns are for sale at the dock, or buy tickets to the Prawn Boil or for local beer and wine, all while enjoying the dockside atmosphere and live entertainment.

Blue Grouse Estate Winery - Grand Opening - May 23 You're invited to attend the grand opening of Blue Grouse's new tasting room and winery facility. Nestled in the heart of Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley, Blue Grouse is one of Vancouver Island’s first wineries, working with vines originally planted in 1977. Winemaker and vineyard manager Bailey Williamson will be in attendance to showcase the latest vintages from the historic estate, and you will be treated to snacks and live music.

Okanagan Crush Pad - Mother’s Day Brunch - May 10 Mother’s Day is May 10 and Okanagan Crush Pad has teamed up with three Summerland businesses to provide a casual and fun Mother’s Day treat! They will be serving True Grain waffles, drizzled with maple Roch syrup, and My Chocolate Crush will be on-site providing luxury handmade chocolates. Enjoy all this with Haywire’s The Bub!

Bottleneck Drive - Wine in the Garden -May 28 Celebrate spring with Bottleneck Drive wineries on May 28th at 6:00pm in VanDusen Botanical Gardens (Vancouver) to taste over 75 wines with food pairings from Truffles Fine Foods. Enjoy live music, a silent auction and wander the beautiful gardens.

Wines of Provence Tasting - June 6 Get patio ready! Be transported to the beautiful, sunny south of France in a glass, at a complimentary tasting of rosé wines from Provence. Visit the 39th and Cambie BCLDB location on June 6 (exact time TBD) and sample a selection of refreshing and delicious rosé wines from Provence, on feature throughout BC in the month of June.

Bottleneck Drive - Heard it Through the Grapevine - June 13 – 14 Join Okanagan Crush Pad along with Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive members to kick off the summer tasting season! Enjoy live music throughout the day, free tasting and great deals on great wine. The tasting room will be open 7 days a week hereafter.

Mt. Boucherie Winery – Lobster Fest - June 27 Join Mt. Boucherie Winery on June 27th for Lobster Fest and enjoy the panoramic view of Okanagan Lake as you dine in the winery’s picnic area for a three course meal of fresh lobsters paired with Mt Boucherie wine. Please check back on the Mt. Boucherie's events page for more information.

Mt Boucherie Winery – Stretch, Sip and Savour - Every Sunday from May 24 to September 13 What’s more relaxing than unrolling your yoga mat, and getting out a glass of wine. Starting May 24th, visit Mt Boucherie every Sunday (11am to 12pm) for a relaxing outdoor yoga class followed by a glass of wine and a light lunch. To register, please call the winery at 250-769-8803 or email sales@mtboucheriewinery.com. 

Mt. Boucherie Winery- Mt. Boucherie Presents Becca T. - Second Saturday of Every Month from June 13 to October 10 Dance to the beat of pop and jazz singer, Becca T. as she performs live under the Mt. Boucherie white tent on the second Saturday of every month (1pm to 3pm). Starting June 13th until October 10th, bring a friend, your favourite snack and sip a glass of wine as you enjoy a musical afternoon out in the vineyard. Please check back on the Mt. Boucherie's events page for more information.

Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store – Weekly Cooking Classes - Weekly Well Seasoned offers weekly cooking classes with various exciting themes taught by professional chefs. See the full list of classes from Date Night to Modern Indian and many more!

Meet Town Hall's participating BC wineries and more at the International Wine Festival

 

The Vancouver International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine event, will be returning for its 37th year with wine tasting, performing arts and delicious food to create a super fun event from Friday, February 20 to Sunday, March 1.

The festival will showcase 170 wineries from 14 countries, pouring more than 1750 wines and hosting 53 events throughout the city. This year, the focus of the festival is Australia, with Syrah at the heart of all festivities. The event promises to be educational and entertaining for all visitors.  

We encourage all attending public, trade and media to stop by the following wineries to experience what BC wine has to offer your taste buds. 

Journalists and bloggers: Interview opportunities are available with visiting winery principals listed below and Alan Sacks of the BC Hospitality Foundation.

BC Hospitality Foundation

Of special note:

• Visit the BCHF booth to get your digital caricatures done courtesy of Cruelty Free Cartoons, available throughout the trade tasting days: Thursday 1:30-5pm, Friday 1:30-5pm.
• In 2014, with the support of a number of dedicated volunteers and partners, the BCHF raised more than $85,000 to support current and future industry members.

Who will you meet:

Alan Sacks has worked or been involved in the Hospitality Industry for over 30 years. Educated in the UK he has an Honours Degree in Hospitality Administration. His Canadian Hotel career with Delta Hotels and Resorts included positions as General Manager of three properties and Corporate Director of Food and Beverage. Alan formed his own business in 1991 and has worked exclusively within the hospitality industry providing a variety of services focused on procurement and project management. He joined the BCHF team in October 2009 and now serves as executive director. 

About BCHF:

Formed in 2006, the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation is the industry's charity of choice, providing support to individuals within the hospitality community in their times of financial need as they cope with any extraordinary health or medical conditions. The BCHF raises funds through various fundraising events in order to support the industry’s next generation by providing scholarships to selected students enrolled in hospitality, culinary and wine programs in partner post-secondary institutions in BC.

For more information, visit bchospitalityfoundation.com, Like on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Kelowna BC

Of special note:

• Summerhill Pyramid Winery will pour Cipes Brut, awarded Best Sparkling Wine in Canada at the All Canadian Wine Championship. 
• The winery is known for organically and biodynamically growing grapes from the pristine Okanagan Valley.

Wines to taste:

• Cipes Brut
• 2010 Syrah
• 2011 Spadefoot Toad Syrah
• 2013 Organic Syrah Rose
• 2011 Syrah Icewine

Who you might meet:

Ezra Cipes is proud to carry on the family legacy at Summerhill Pyramid Winery as CEO. Like his father Stephen, Ezra has a multitude of passions and talents. At Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Ezra Cipes is responsible for day to day operations, marketing, and leadership. He is a talented musician, and has completed courses in vineyard management and in permaculture design.

Eric von Krosigk is winemaker and viticulturist at Summerhill, and as the winery’s first winemaker, has been associated with Summerhill since its inception. Leading the winery’s organic growers, von Krosigk works with some of the Okanagan’s best grapes to produce world-class wines. Despite the fact he wins numerous awards each year, Eric remains one of the most approachable and humble BC vintners. Also notable is that Eric is president of the Okanagan Wine Festival board.

About Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Summerhill Pyramid Winery, located in the Lakeshore district in Kelowna, BC, is Canada’s largest biodynamic and organic winery, producing more organic wine than the rest of the Canadian wine industry combined. In addition, Summerhill is Canada’s most visited winery and foremost producer of sparkling wine. Winemaker Eric von Krosigk oversees the portfolio of BC VQA wines that earned the winery the Canadian Wine “Producer of the Year” trophy at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, England in December 2009 as well as a trophy for “Best International Bottle Fermented Sparkling Wine” from this same competition in 2010. The winery, owned by the Cipes family, is also home to Summerhill’s organic Sunset Bistro, serving food grown and raised by local organic producers, including an onsite permaculture-style vegetable garden. The mission of the entire Summerhill team is to produce exceptionally good tasting wines organically, support local organic food growers in the bistro and provide unforgettable experiences for all its guests.

For more information, visit summerhill.bc.ca, Like on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

Haywire Winery, Summerland BC

Of special note:

• Okanagan Crush Pad is the first winery in Canada to extensively use concrete tanks during fermentation, and carry the raised in Concrete designation.
• The Haywire Canyonview Pinot Noir 2012 was recently featured in Wines in Niagara and was awarded 92 points by wine expert Rick VanSickle.
• Haywire is co-owned by Christine Coletta, who is leader in BC's wine industry.

Wines you will find at the Haywire table:

• Haywire Canyonview Pinot Noir 2012
• Haywire Syrah 2012
• Haywire Sauvignon Blanc 2013 
• Haywire Switchback Pinot Gris 2012
• Haywire Free Form 2013

Who you might meet:

Alison Scholefield is arguably the youngest winery principal you will find in the room and she has been in the wine industry since birth. Now as the winery ambassador and sales team liaison for Haywire, it's her job to communicate with customers, the public and wine club members. You can ask her about where to find the wines, and anything that's happening at the winery. Also find out why she has Haywire’s Sparkling wine the Bub named after her.

Julian Scholefield is the operations manager at the winery, and also president of the Summerland area Bottleneck Drive winery association. Julian oversees the coordination in the cellar of Haywire, Bartier Scholefield, client Bartier Brothers as well as several other client wines, including bottling, deliveries, on-site activities, as well as liaising with the vineyard teams, including the team that is planting the new Garnet Valley Vineyard.

Matt Dumayne is the winemaker for Haywire. Originally from New Zealand, and with 25 vintages under his belt crafting award-winning wine in Central Otago, California, Australia, and Oregon, Matt brings unparalleled insight and passion to the winemaking program. You can speak to Matt about the ways that he is approaching the Haywire portfolio, as well as some of the special projects he's working on which *sneak peek* include an orange wine…

You can also meet their enthusiastic sales representatives including Mike West, Amy Hollenbach, Rebeka Eriksson and Whitney Law.

About Haywire

Haywire is an old Canadian term that refers to wire once used for baling hay, which tended to tangle in a chaotic way. It is also an apt description of Christine and Steve’s transition from the city to owning a vineyard and winery. The learning curve was steep, but as the first wines hit the market (in 2010) it became apparent that the journey was the reward. Since planting the 10-acre Switchback Vineyard, Christine and Steve have gone on to open Canada’s first purpose-built custom crush facility (Okanagan Crush Pad Winery in 2011) and are now getting ready to plant the first 20 acres of vines at their 312-acre Garnet Valley Ranch. Haywire is committed to crafting wines that tell the story of the New Okanagan.

For more information visit haywirewinery.com, Like on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.

TIME Estate Winery, Oliver, BC 

Of special note:

• All TIME Estate wines are grown and made on Canada's most-awarded, Sundial Vineyard in Oliver, BC.
• Harry McWatters, owner, will launch the inaugural TIME Estate Syrah at the Vancouver International Wine Festival. Only 100 cases of the Syrah have been produced.

Wines you will find at the TIME Estate Winery table:

• TIME Estate Winery Syrah
• TIME Estate Winery Meritage (Red)
• TIME Estate Winery Meritage (White)
• TIME Estate Winery Sundial (White)
• McWatters Meritage (red)

Who you might meet:

Harry McWatters is the owner and winemaker of TIME Estate Winery and is a leader in the thriving British Columbia wine industry in which he has been involved for over 40 years.  He was the founder of British Columbia's first estate winery and has been the driving force in the development of British Columbia's wine industry. In 1980 he led a group of wineries and local businesses to establish the Okanagan Wine Festival Society and acted as the founding president. Harry was also instrumental in founding VQA Canada, a trade association that spearheaded the development of national wine standards for Canadian vintners and served as the first Chairman.

About TIME ESTATE Winery:

A progressive new building is currently under construction for TIME, which will feature an extensive hospitality centre (including a commercial kitchen) and luxury guest suites, all with stunning Valley and lake Osoyoos views. When completed, the winery will focus almost entirely on Bordeaux-style premium wines created from the estate parcels. Harry's vision to create the very best wines in the Okanagan is about to be realized. Its about time.

For more information on TIME Estate Winery, visit timewinery.com, Like on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.

 For more information

If you are unable to attend the Vancouver Wine Festival but would like to learn more about our clients, please contact Sujidner Juneja at sujinder@townhallbrands.com or 604-367-6745

Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône

The 8th edition of the touring wine fair Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône is now launched!
On this occasion, from Monday 2nd to Thursday 5th March 2015 come and meet near 750 exhibitors, who will present to you their AOC wines from the Rhône Valley On 2nd March: You will discover the Crus from the Northern Côtes du Rhône area that are tucked away in the vineyards of Ampuis, France.  

On 3rd March: Appellations from Northern Rhône will be presented at the heart of the vineyard in Tain l’Hermitage and Mauves, France. 

On 4th & 5th March: wine producers and merchants from Southern Rhône Valley will exhibit in Avignon Historic Center, France.
 
Don’t wait and register now at www.decouvertes-vins-rhone.com
 
Contact:
The Team Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône - decouvertes@inter-rhone.com
Tel.: +33 (0)4 90 27 24 53
 
Free access – Wine fair strictly for trade visitors – Online reservations only

Five Good Reasons to Visit VINEXPO 2015

By: Amy Chen With Vinexpo 2015 quickly approaching on June 14th to 18th, this year's show has been entirely revamped to offer you improved services, a new layout and an unprecedented programme of talks, tastings and networking events.

If that's not enough to convince you to visit this flagship international exhibition in Bordeaux, here are five good reasons you will want to attend:

1. Be part of the biggest global wine and spirits event- 2, 400 exhibitors - 30, 000 brands from 44 countries
2. Meet the major players, decision-makers and estate owners in-person and build a special business relationship
3. Be at the heart of things and keep pace with the latest international market trends
4. Take this opportunity to attend some of the 80 special events over 5 days (tastings and talks given by world-renowned experts)
5. Take new contacts at Vinexpo's evening networking events at venues in Bordeaux city centre

Let us know if you'll be attending Vinexpo 2015 or if you have other good reasons to attend.

The year that was 2014 With Town Hall - Part 2

By Leeann Froese Picking up from last week's Wine Wednesday, today I finish a recap of what we did in 2014.

I repeat how grateful we are for the support we receive from our clients, colleagues and the trade. You all bring the awesome, and I can't wait to see what 2015 unfolds for us all.

Here we pick up the last half of the year...

August

Road Trip #withTownHall

As our team grew throughout 2014 two new people with no previous wine experience joined us (Laurisha Bardal and Amy Chen) so a tour & learn was in order. We visited Okanagan Valley clients SpierHead winery, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Mt. Boucherie Family Estate Winery, Okanagan Crush Pad and Serendipity winery.

Each winery client welcomed our team with open arms and in addition to learning a lot, we had a lovely time!

September

BBQ OFF the Bypass

Our client, the amazing Angie Quaale, hosted the 9th annual BBQ On The Bypass (it became OFF the bypass after Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store moved to a new location). The free public event offered music, unique displays, tasty vendors and delicious BBQ samples.

15 teams gathered and the winner was House of Q, who then went on to win for the World’s Best Ribs from the World Food Championships in Las Vegas!

Celebrity Dim Sum

Raising funds for Aids Vancouver was the annual Celebrity Dim Sum. What fun it was to have politicians, media, and other personalities from Vancouver serving up yummy dim sum to an enthusiastic crowd.

Haywire was the official wine sponsor and sneak previewed its next release of the Lunar New Year wines.

Jurgen Gothe Celebration

Our team was proud to help organize the event to celebrate the 70th birthday and achievements of Jurgen Gothe’s lifetime. Many in the industry came together with wine, food, and stories. Our team was thrilled to be part of the planning, event execution and friendship for a memorable afternoon with an unforgettable man and those close to him.

Fall Colours

The British Columbia Wine Institute held its annual fall tasting event Colours. A few of our lovely BC winery clients were in town to showcase their newest releases to an enthusiastic crowd of trade and media.

October

Let's hear it for the Girls!

In time for breast cancer awareness month was the promotion of The Girls wine - a rosé and a red - with 100% sales proceeds of to charity. Note these wines are available year-round and make a wonderful choice for gifting or entertaining, knowing that all proceeds go to a great cause. The red would could be a nice Valentine wine.

November

Meet Monte Creek Ranch

We were pleased to announce that the wines are now available from Canada's next wine region and the newest winery in Kamloops, Monte Creek Ranch. Stay tuned for summer 2015 when this winery opens its doors.

Samanatha Syrah

Each year Vancouver’s sommelier of the year is invited to make 100 cases of wine through Okanagan Crush Pad’s Okanagan Wine Campus program. From this $5,000 is donated annually to the BC Hospitality Foundation to support wine education scholarships. 2013 Sommelier of the year Samantha Rahn of Araxi in Whistler created a delicious Syrah. Our team was proud to do the packaging and the publicity.

We are thankful to the media for the great press for sommelier Samantha Rahn's wine project. This has been the most publicity we have received to date for one of the Okanagan Crush Pad Wine Campus wines. Girls rule!

Previous Wine Campus releases include Kurtis Semillon 2011 (Kurtis Kolt), Owen Cabernet Franc 2011 (Owen Knowlton) and TNT Chardonnay 2012 (Terry Threlfall). In progress and up next is Mike Bernardo (2014).

Skills n Spills

The second Skills N Spills competition benefiting the BC Hospitality Foundation took place. Hospitality trade teams competed for bragging rights and more. Our team's role was media communication and coordinating the amazing media judges.

A New Look for an Older Wine

We were proud to bring to life the new packaging for Cipes Ariel 1998 premier cuvée.

This critically lauded wine now looks as beautiful as it tastes. The artwork and calligraphy were done by Helen Menyes, who also hand painted each of the original Cipes Gabriel 1991 bottles. The layout and design were led by our Andrew von Rosen, and inspiration for the design also came from the winery's winemaker Eric von Krosigk. The artwork depicts the archangel Ariel (lion of god), descending down the cone shaped bottle. On the back, two ethereal lions are nose to nose, creating the impression of angel's wings.

Andrew and I had a bottle of this wine on New Year's Eve (thank you team for the gift!) and it was absolutely delicious. No other way to put it. A truly special BC wine.

December

One Faith Vineyards

Our team announced the newest project in British Columbia wine: One Faith Vineyards, and not without controversy, so with this project we will expand...

In the past I have been lucky enough to do media work in Canada with Penfolds Grange and Mondavi's To Kalon Vineyard, and I was proud to be the publicist to launch Osoyoos Larose. These wine labels are all bold, high end, aspirational projects. Those in the Canadian wine media might recall that when Osoyoos Larose was launched it was met with skepticism before it earned fanfare. Critics said it showed promise but were slow to get 100% behind the project. In the case of One Faith Vineyards I am suggesting the case is the same. However today, the conversation is more rapid, as in 2001 there was no online platforms for social dialogue. And a tempest in a decanter is taking place because Bill Lui dreams for One Faith Vineyards, an expensive wine, to become a first growth wine for Canada.

Sujinder Juneja from our team, a French Wine Scholar, assembled this text:

"Let’s first talk about what First Growth actually means. Translated as “Premier Cru” in France, the First Growths were established in 1855 when Napoleon III classified the best wines of Bordeaux for the Exposition Universelle de Paris, based at the time on selling price and overall reputation. The top-ranked wines, named the Grand Crus Classés (Great Classified Growths) were placed in one of five categories from first to fifth, each of which carried a high mark of prestige and suggested a higher quality product.

The fact that these classified growths were now perpetually allowed to charge more per bottle than their close neighbours meant that greater financial resources could be potentially allocated to produce the best possible wine, year after year, even in challenging vintages.

Even inside France, the term First Growth is not a regulated term, but remains a title that lends distinction and perceived quality to the associated wine. Premier Cru is now also used in other appellations in France, including Burgudy, Alsace and Champagne, for example. More often than not, the term merely means the top wine (price and quality) of a particular estate.

Outside of France, the term has been used by other wineries who hope to establish a connection to old world traditions or perhaps build a higher reputation for quality in their home country.

In Canada, there is not yet a legal or binding definition for First Growth but it is the vision and the goal of One Faith Vineyards to produce a First Growth-level wine in the Okanagan Valley, an exceptional wine of unparalleled quality. Everything to do with the wine, from vineyard to winery, from grapes to bottle, must be only the very best.

To be fair, Bill Lui, the proprietor of One Faith Vineyards has never said that his wines are Canada’s First Growth. It is only his goal. His ambition. And only time will tell if that honour is given to One Faith in a formal way. And to be sure, Bill Lui has never once suggested that One Faith Vineyards is above the other great vineyards or wineries of the South Okanagan, but rather that the wine represents the fully-realized potential of excellent quality Bordeaux grape varietals, which have been growing in that site for more than 20 years."

Interestingly, many people talking about this wine and Bill Lui have an opinion when they have not met Bill, (a generous, humble, husband and father), or tasted the wine. Bill has invested his retirement resources to the project. Despite this, whatever does not make the final blend of only 144 cases is used in the 100% charitable The Girls Wine project.

How does the 2012 wine show? People might expect a big, extracted, tannic and masculine wine, as it is made from Bordeaux varietals, but the inaugural release of the wine is a delicate, fruit forward blend that expresses the south Okanagan terroir beautifully. With the meticulous care, attention, hand crafting and detail that go into production and the resulting limited quantity made, the wine retails in a custom made bamboo box of three for $495. At the time of this post the wines had been selling steadily, but a few cases remained.

Wild Sweets

Also in December we were proud to welcome Wild Sweets by DC Duby as a client. I worked with them when I was at Coletta & Associates back in… let's just say it was more than a decade ago. It's fun to reconnect with these two passionate chocolatiers and pastry artists. I encourage you to take a look at their website as their chocolate creations are truly remarkable.

#30 Days of Kindness

Our last project of 2014 was a team one: we took part in #30DaysofKindness

Our team met 30 Day Adventures chief adventurer Marc Smith at the Skytrain station to take part in 30 Days Of Kindness by surprising 20 lucky strangers with the gift of a smile, a positive note and a free ride on Translink. (Just so you know no transit laws were broken in the committing of this act of kindness as we had full approval from Translink.)

This is our 2nd year in a row participating in 30 Days Of Kindness. I am so proud of my hard working and generous-spirited team. Check out our little video and the post with detail on Marc's site

Wrapping Up

Whew!

It was so nice to end the year on a kind note, making people smile, and spreading good will.

Let me know how YOU enjoyed 2014. Did you attend any of these highlighted events? What were the highlights of your year?

2015 already promises some projects and exciting events to emerge so stay posted. Things are already getting busy in the industry with tastings and events.

If you do not already follow us on social media, we'd love for you to join us. Or sign up to receive updates to see what we are getting up to with our clients. You can do this at the top of the website.

We can't wait to share what else our clients are going to be up to, keep all dialogue going, and I hope we see you in person very soon!

Happy New Year - and on behalf of myself, Andrew, Sujinder, Amy, Laurisha, Felicia, Lindsey, Ali and Ritika, let’s all #gogetit!