WITH TOWN HALL
STORIES, NEWS, AND BEST PRACTICES
Okanagan Crush Pad Winery has become the first Canadian winery to attain silver membership with International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), joining a prestigious list of global wineries committed to addressing climate change. Additionally, the winery has made history by converting to Fortis BC's Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) program.
Singletree Winery, nestled amidst the lush vines of Abbotsford, is gearing up to host two sensational events that promise an unforgettable experience for all attendees. With a backdrop of breathtaking vineyard vistas, these events offer an opportunity for guests to bask in live music, delectable cuisine, and the finest wines.
The team at Solvero Wines is excited to invite the public to visit and take in the inaugural wine releases.
Located in the beautiful Garnet Valley in the Summerland Valleys Sub GI, among the Bottleneck Drive tourist route, Summerland’s newest winery is the place for wine lovers to indulge in some of British Columbia’s most special wines.
Macaloney’s whisky maker Graeme Macaloney may be Scottish by birth, but this esteemed whisky maker has more than a touch of that famed roguish Irish twinkle in his eye. Which is why it makes perfect sense that Macaloney’s Island Distillery is launching a quartet of Irish-style Triple Distilled Single Potstill Whiskies – and just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!
TIME Family of Wines is getting ready to debut its new OROLO Restaurant + Cocktail Bar and Chronos Tasting Room in downtown Penticton
TIME Family of Wines is gearing up for a big 2023:
Their newly created Chronos Tasting Room and OROLO Restaurant + Cocktail Bar in Penticton is scheduled to open in Spring 2023; newly appointed culinary director Kirk Morrison and executive chef Damian Cole are cooking up exciting new menus and food items to be served at OROLO and the TIME Family of Wines District Wine Village location; TIME Family of Wines District Wine Village location is open for business and ready to rock the season.
In a celebration of BC’s agricultural bounty, the BC Blueberry Council has teamed up with Wines of British Columbia to showcase a carefully curated selection of BC blueberry recipes paired with BC wines.
The campaign which will run during February and March of 2023, aims to champion local BC blueberries and BC wine.
Okanagan Crush Pad Marks Changes to its Business Model with A New Name, Look and Visitor Experience
It’s been an exciting start to 2023 at Okanagan Crush Pad: after 11 years running Canada’s first purpose-built custom crush winemaking business successfully, the team is saying goodbye to its original business model by renaming to Haywire Winery.
Whether you’re starting off in the wine world or a seasoned sommelier, Cabernet based wines find their way onto any palate. BC wineries such as TIME Family of Wines, Blasted Church Vineyards, Blue Grouse Estate, and Okanagan Crush Pad, all boast impressive selections that represent the best of Canadian wines.
The Okanagan’s Favourite Great Pyrenees have been cooking up something new in the winery
Bizou + Yukon recently released their sparkling wine cans and we’re excited to share the news with everyone.
If you follow along you will know that two Great Pyrenees guard Garnet Valley Ranch and sometimes sneak off to make their own wines. In their lineup of fun and tasty wines, they have also taken a step to be more environmentally friendly too, packaging them in 1.5-litre easy-serve bags (Pooch Pouches). Noticing that humans love to bring drinks on their adventures, Bizou + Yukon came up with the Pinkie Rosé and BEE-zoo Pink Bubbles sparkling wine in cans.
Now with summer at its peak, bring the taste of the Okanagan with you wherever you go! Bizou suggests that the wine pairs perfectly with digging a giant hole, wandering through fields of daisies, or chasing bees and butterflies. On the other hand, Yukon watches Bizou do all those things while sipping wine and lounging on a patio chair.
What’s more important than these vegan and gluten-free wines in convenient canned form? The way it tastes, of course! With bright and refreshing flavours, you’ll notice toasty and creamy notes that round out a medium-bodied mouthfeel.
You can find packages of four at select stores or you can order a pallet of 24 cans from Okanagan Crush Pad’s online store.
For a list of stores:
Okanagan Crush Pad Tasting Room
Sechelt Lighthouse Liquor Store
Thrifty Foods Liquor – Salt Sprint
Vintage Spirits (Hotel Rialto)
SEE WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY
Wine lovers are invited to help Blue Grouse toast #TheBlueGrouchDecade
Blue Grouse Estate Winery credit Derek Ford
In short:
This summer the team at Blue Grouse Estate Winery commemorates ten incredible years since Paul, Cristina and Paula Brunner purchased the property from the Kiltz family, who owned and operated the winery from 1989 to 2012. Over the past decade, many things have evolved at this Island winery including a beautiful, modernized tasting room, vineyard expansions, and a celebrated visitor experience.
To mark #TheBlueGrouchDecade, special offers are available this summer including celebratory glasses of sparkling wine for only $10, a special flat shipping fee of $10 for online purchases, as well as, a “bubble bar” pop-up on the mezzanine in August. To keep up with all the offers, sign up for the newsletter or simply reserve a tasting and join the party.
A deep look into the last 10 years:
Paul, Cristina and Bailey at Blue Grouse's Grand Opening event in 2015 credit Derek Ford
A new Blue Grouse Winery
From 2012 to 2017 many renovations took place at Blue Grouse. In 2015 a bright, airy, modern tasting room that opens onto a sun-drenched patio was inaugurated. In alignment with the winery’s philosophy, many sustainable features were incorporated into the space.
Green touches include the thoughtful placement of windows that align with the sun/seasons and keep the heat out during summer but allow the sun to naturally warm the building in the winter. Barrel and sparkling wine rooms are placed underground to take advantage of the Earth’s natural cooling potential, and a geothermal system which captures the Earth’s energy potential for heating and cooling.
Water is drawn from two on-site wells for irrigation and potable needs. After use, the winery and domestic wastewater are processed through a series of in-ground bioreactors and allowed to percolate back to the aquifer. In addition, the roads and parking areas are not paved, to allow between 5% and 10% of rainwater to soak into the ground and help recharge the aquifer below ground.
A new winemaking program
Blue Grouse sits among one of the oldest vineyards on Vancouver Island. The Kiltz family released the first commercial vintage in 1992. After the Brunner family took over, a new label, Quill, was launched in 2014 to give winemaker Bailey Williamson a chance to experiment with other varietals and favour profiles outside of the Estate vineyard.
Over the past ten years, including many awards and accolades, Bailey has added special wines to the winery’s lineup. In 2015, Blue Grouse released its first sparkling wine, the Paula Sparkling. In 2021, for wine club members only, a special red blend was curated, and in spring 2022, Quill Rosé Frizzante was added to the portfolio. This pink wine is produced with 100% Cowichan Valley grapes and has become a best seller. Finally, coming fall 2022 will be the first vintage of the winery’s Cowichan-grown Chardonnay.
The winery team is also proud to have led the efforts to establish the first Sub-Geographic Indication (Sub GI) on Vancouver Island and they are now proud to label Estate wines as Cowichan Valley Sub-GI. A Sub-GI is an official and protected term in BC. Wines labelled with this indicator let people know that the wine was made with at least 95% grapes grown from the Cowichan region – a true commitment to the local-first focus Cowichan is known for.
A new way of caring for the land
The first new plantings in more than 20 years at Blue Grouse winery took place in 2017 under the supervision of vineyard manager, Michael Abbott. Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir were planted to increase the winery’s portfolio, and more plantings came along in 2021 and 2022.
Blue Grouse is proud to be transitioning from traditional agriculture to organic. All vineyard and winery practices will comply with the Organic Production Systems, General Principals and Management Standards by the end of 2023.
A new future
In 2021, the Brunner family purchased another 43 acres and a large barn approximately half a kilometre north of the winery. This property will be one more vineyard expansion with a focus on cool-climate whites and rosé.
The Blue Grouse team’s commitment to the future is to never stop learning or experimenting. They believe if they are not evolving, they are dying. Winemaker Bailey Williamson says it nicely: “Mother Nature is a fickle mistress. You don’t get the same results every year no matter how hard you try. You must plan to be flexible. You must be humble enough to learn and change.”
Blue Grouse Estate Winery credit Derek Ford
About Blue Grouse Estate Winery
Blue Grouse is a family-owned winery in the Cowichan Valley Sub GI on Vancouver Island, with a commitment to stewardship. The idea is that we leave everything we touch better than it was when we found it.
The lineup of wines are offered under the Blue Grouse and Quill labels from sustainably farmed estate-grown vines, as well as from partner grape growers. Quill wines, part of the Blue Grouse family, are fresh, approachable, and made to be enjoyed with friends. Varietal wines include Ortega, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir, as well as a traditional method sparkling wine, “Paula” named after the owners’ daughter, and on occasion small lot experimental wines. The wines are bright, crisp, and well-balanced, showcasing where they are grown.
The winery and surrounding vineyard are an awarded, sought-after destination. Visit this celebrated winery by booking your appointment to enjoy cool climate wines or tasting flights with cheese or charcuterie, and take in the surrounding views of nature and vines. Book online here.
Originating in Burgundy, France in the Middle Ages, this white grape variety is a mutation of pinot noir and has medium acidity with flavours of citrus, green apple, and white peach.
To help celebrate Pinot Gris Day, here are 6 locally made, delicious Pinot Gris!
1. Blue Grouse Quill 2021 Pinot Gris - $22.99 online or select wine stores in BC. The Cowichan Valley gives this wine its fresh acidity and the presence of some malolactic fermentation adds a medium body, with a nice touch of creaminess on the palate. Expect flavours of apple compote and lemon curd. This “sipper” is ideally paired with halibut, shellfish, an endive salad or a hard cheese like Manchego.
2. Evolve 2020 Pinot Gris - $22.99 online or at Save-On-Foods. Light as air, and soft as silk. Lovingly made for the heat of the day and the heat of the moment. Floral and fragrant, an Okanagan summer in a glass. Aged sur lie for an extra textural flair, to set it apart from the rest.
3. Blasted Church 2021 Skaha Bench Pinot Gris - $24.00 online or at the winery in Okanagan Falls, BC. Rich stone fruit on the attack through into the beautifully textured mid-palate. The pear, apple, and citrus pile on into the vibrant finish. Pairs well with roasted chicken, grilled fish, or salty cheese.
4. Haywire 2021 Pinot Gris - $27.99 online or at the winery’s store in Summerland, BC. Intensely textured and very fruit forward with juicy acidity, this wine was pressed and fermented in concrete, stainless steel and oak foudre using natural yeast. The wine stayed on its lees for six months before being filtered and bottled.
5. Singletree 2020 Pinot Gris - $19.10 online or the winery’s store in Abbotsford, BC. Cool-fermented in stainless steel to result in aromas of pineapple, peppers, and tangerine. Flavours of Asian pear and honeysuckle.
6. Singletree 2019 Pinot Gris - $17.40 online or the winery’s store in Abbotsford, BC. This year the winery team blended two valleys of fruit. 75% of the fruit came from the winery’s Mt.Lehman vineyards while the other 25% comes from the Naramata bench vineyard. It has tropical flavours of pineapple, mango and lime.
Happy International Viognier Day!
Here are 5 locally-made BC Viognier wines to help you celebrate.
Viognier is a full-bodied white wine that originated in Southern France, dating back to the Roman Empire. After almost becoming extinct in the 1960s, Viognier has made a comeback and is now widely enjoyed around the world.
With its softness and natural low acidity, Viognier pairs well with everything from seafood to spicy Asian food.
You will want to seek these out so you can compare and contrast:
1. Singletree 2020 Viognier, $20.75 online or at the winery in Abbotsford, BC. Aromas of ginger, mango, rose. Flavours of tangerine, peach and honey. Off-dry stainless steel fermented.
2. Narrative 2018 Viognier, $24 At Steamworks Liquor Store in Vancouver, BC. Oily and rich with deep tropical notes and a very lengthy finish.
3. Evolve 2018 Viognier, $19.99 online or at Save-On-Foods. Aromas of peach, apricot, honeysuckle, with floral accents. Flavours of delicate stone fruit and light spices; juicy.
4. Blasted Church 2020 Viognier, $20.75 online or at the winery in Okanagan Falls, BC. Tasting notes of stone fruits, tropical fruit, blossoms, and orange.
5. TIME 2018 Viognier, $19.99 online or at Save-On-Foods. Aromas of pineapple, orange, apricot, citrus, and floral notes. Lush tropical flavours with coconut from oak barrels. Finishes with a long, textured mouthfeel.
Friday, April 22, 2022 is Earth Day! If you’re gong to open a bottle of something bubbly and delicious, reach for one of the following BC wines, all made sustainably and locally.
credit: David Bain photography
Blue Grouse Estate Winery’s 2020 Amphora Collection Bacchus
Blue Grouse Estate Winery bottles with Eco Glass, which uses uses 25% less glass than a typical wine bottle. The 2020 Amphora Collection Bacchus is not only made with Eco Glass, but also uses grapes from the winery’s estate vineyard. Purchase this wine online at bluegrouse.ca.
Monte Creek Winery’s Haskap Fruit Wine
Monte Creek Winery’s Haskap Fruit Wine is made with Haskap berries that are grown at the winery. The Haskap berries were planted so that the winery’s Honeybees could feed on the Haskap flowers and pollinate the plants. The winery then produces Haskap fruit wine and all-natural honey so that nothing goes to waste. Purchase this wine online at montecreekwinery.com.
Okanagan Crush Pad’s 2018 Free Form Rosé
Okanagan Crush Pad’s Free Form wines are made with organic grapes, native yeasts, and are free from additives. The 2018 Free Form Rosé is made with certified organic Cabernet Franc grapes from Osoyoos, and the label uses eco-friendly stone paper. Purchase this wine online at okanagancrushpad.com.
Blasted Church’s 2020 Unorthodox Chardonnay
Blasted Church’s vineyard team has planted cover crops (which are plants that grow between the rows of the vines), to naturally balance the vineyard. Since the winery’s 2020 Unorthodox Chardonnay is made with estate grown Chardonnay Musque, all grapes in this wine came from the winery’s home vineyard, where the soil was enriched through the cover crop program. Purchase this wine online at blastedchurch.com.
April is BC Wine Month, so it’s the perfect time for Blue Grouse Winery to celebrate its Island winery and get charitable. For the third year in a row, $1 from every bottle of Blue Grouse or Quill wine sold anywhere in BC goes to Nourish Cowichan to feed hungry children. Added to this, $1 from every bottle sold will e matched dollar for dollar in a donation from the Brunner family, owners of the winery, to a maximum of $10,000.
