Master The Public Wine Tasting Like a Boss: 7 Tips for the Vancouver International Wine Festival

  by Leeann Froese

The Wine World Is Here So says the tagline, for the upcoming Vancouver International Wine Festival. And given our 17 years of involvement in the wine industry, of course we are involved too! Canada’s premier wine festival runs from February 24 to March 2 at the Vancouver Convention Centre and other venues across the city. The spotlight is on France as the 2014 theme country, with a global focus on Bubbly wines. The festival will feature 178 wineries from 14 countries, attracting 23,000 participants to 54 events over eight days. For full program details, visit VanWineFest.ca

#withTownHall – our firm’s involvement Our Town Hall team will be attending various events throughout the festival, and we have two winery clients that are exhibiting: Haywire, and Summerhill Pyramid Winery. Both will have amazing VQA wines and bubbles you HAVE to try! We will also be onsite in the festival tasting room representing the BC Hospitality Foundation. If we see you in the room, we are happy to take you over to these tables.

Also, we have recently been doing some behind-the scenes work with Wines of France. They return as theme country for the 2014 festival, with 52 wineries representing France’s diverse wine regions: Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Champagne, Loire, Rhône, South of France and Southwest France. All 52 wineries will be highlighted in the France Bon Appétit section of the tasting room, grouped by region, with three regional tasting stations—Alsace, Rhône and the Languedoc-Roussillon—providing guided flights and showcasing their unique wine styles.

When you read the amazing, free tasting booklet you receive when you attend the festival tasting, you will see the section on France, which our design team had the pleasure of doing the design and layout for. (Speaking of, there are numerous other printed materials, invitations, and tasting booklets that will find their way into festival goers hands at various events, all created by our design team.)

Get Your Tickets Dinners with international vine stars at some of Vancouver’s best restaurants, seminars with wine experts, access to the Acura International Festival Tasting Room and other exciting events are available. All ticket sales support VanWineFest’s charitable partner, Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. Tickets may be purchased online at VanWineFest.ca, in person at 305-456 West Broadway, or by phoning the box office at 604-873-3311 or toll-free at 1-877-321-3121.

Behave Yourself - 7 Tips to Master the Tasting Like a Boss

With the Vancouver International Wine Festival coming up in week, there are many of you that are going to put on your finest, head on downtown, and get ready to taste as many wines as you can... well let me stop you right there! There are certain rules, how-tos, and etiquette that you should know before you encounter a wine tasting. So, let me walk you through how to taste wine, from when you arrive at the convention center all the way through until the end of the night… check out these seven tips to keep in mind so you can take on the tasting room with confidence:

1. Before You Go Make sure that you have eaten something substantial before you even head to the tasting. Alcohol is absorbed more slowly on a full stomach than an empty one, and you want to make sure that you are prepared for the tasting that lies ahead.

2. What to Wear? Anything goes when it comes to these tastings but let's just keep in mind that the room this tasting is taking place in contains 178 wineries, and is a large room to navigate. You're going to be on your feet for a while, so this is not the time to wear your Manolos; this is the time to wear something a little bit more practical a lot more comfortable on your feet.

Also keep in mind that you may be bumped into by other people or there might be some splashes that happen; this is a wine tasting event after all, so we do not recommend that you wear something very light in color or something that you're going to be super disappointed by if you get splashes of wine stain on it. We suggest darker clothing here and something that is not made in a fabric that is too precious.

3. Don't Stink! Don't wear perfume, or smoke a cigarette and go into the tasting room. Tasting wine is an olfactory and sensory experience; you want to keep things as neutral as possible. There's nothing more sensitive to a winemaker who is trying to check the aromas of his wines to make sure that they have traveled soundly all the way from France, than to have you step up to his table and overpower his nose with your stinky eau de whatever. Wear deodorant, but not stinky deodorant; you don't want to smell like BO either, because again, crowded room, lots of people…

3. One Glass, Many Wines When you enter the room you will be greeted and handed a wine glass. This is your glass to use for the entire tasting, so hang on to it; don't set it down and lose it. If you are concerned about flavours of wine mixing from one tasting into the next, each table has a convenient pitcher of water on it. which you can rinse your class out with between tastings.

5. Spit or Swallow? Now let's talk tasting. When you're approaching the winemaker or the representative from the winery they will pour a small amount of wine into your glass; this is when you are to take a step back from the table to let the person waiting patiently behind you have access to the same precious liquid. At this time you take that wine, put it in your mouth swish it around to taste it, and then spit it out into the provided spit bucket.

Spit? Did I say 'spit'? That seems like sacrilege to many, but let's just understand that you are being poured a tasting pour. (You're not going to get a full glass of wine and it's not proper etiquette to ask for more wine, because the expectation is that you're going to swish and spit out this wine like a responsible wine taster).  You might find as you taste along that some of this juice is just too delicious to spit out, so you may want to enjoy one or two samples that you actually drink, but trust me, if you start drinking every single wine you taste, you'll be blotto before you even make it through the first few tables, and that is going to ruin the experience for you, as well as everyone around you.

Also, on the note of tasting, to make sure that your palate doesn't become fatigued it's also a good idea to spit; and I would not suggest that you chew gum or breath mints during the wine tasting because they will alter the taste of the wine.

6. Offer Positive Feedback If you have an opinion on the wine that is less than positive, please keep it to yourself although if you really enjoy it please do let the winery (who is putting at least a year of effort into that bottle in front of you) know how you enjoy having them visit us from however far away they've come, and that you like tasting their wine.

7. Take the Experience Home Now we've covered spitting and how you should try not to get tipsy at the wine tasting (or ‘sloshed’, as Ali from our team likes to say), but I leave the most important tip for now: at the end of all this tasting, make sure that you have a designated driver, or transit, or cab, so you get home safely.

Lastly, as you're leaving the tasting room, make sure that you pick up something in the onsite store on the way out. Many special bottles that are not regularly available in stores are available for a limited time for the festival, right there in the tasting room. Grab something special and re-live your tasting experience again later at home.

Are you planning to attend? Come back to this post and tell us how you enjoyed your festival experience.

Or talk to us about it on Facebook or Twitter.

The Drink Business includes Globe and Mail review of Perseus Invictus

Client news: Perseus Winery posted by Leeann Froese

As we head ever further into the new year, we remain thankful for the attention and accolades our clients have been garnering in the press.

In addition to the local support, it is encouraging to note the increased amount of international attention and praise for our world-class BC wineries as well.

Of particular note, in case you missed it, is this recent example for our client Perseus, a small BC winery based in Penticton.

You may be aware that The Drinks Business is the leading European drinks trade publication; and recently Lauren May, web editor at the venerable publication, curated a round up of the 'Top 10 Wines in the US Press', choosing to include The Globe and Mail's Beppi Crosariol, who recommended Perseus Winery's "powerful" 2010 Invictus, a $32.99 Bordeaux-style blend.

Crosariol said: "With a name like Invictus, Latin for invincible, this red creates high expectations. I don't know about the invincible part (depends on the wines it's competing against), but it's impressive stuff. A classic Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, it's powerful yet velvety, with succulent berry fruit, chocolate and dark coffee, held together by lots of sticky tannins. Decant and serve with hearty winter food such as braised short ribs, lamb shanks or stews. 91 Points."

As the Drink Business presents their roundup, it is also interesting that many of the most talked-about wines are generally lower priced and produced in higher volumes than this $32.99 wine that is crafted lovingly and in limited quantities from select premium vineyard sites in the Okanagan.

Planning to visit the Okanagan this summer? You can visit Perseus and taste the Invictus yourself. The winery tasting room is open from May 2, 2014 until October 19, 2014, from 10am - 7pm daily. If you can't wait until May to try their wines, visit their website to find a store near you.

Follow the conversation about Perseus on Facebook and Twitter.

Lots of love for the Pink Bub from Haywire winery

Client news: Haywire winery Posted by Leeann Froese

Last year at this time, Haywire released an experimental lot of their sparkling wine, the Bub, with a pink dosage and released it just in time for Valentine’s Day. The wine was a hit beyond expectations and sold out in a week and a half!

Well, the Pink Bub is back, and this time, it has its own pearly white label (designed by our team) and we are so excited to share that the press is just as excited for this year's release.

There are many positive reviews and 'love' for the Pink Bub, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Thank you to the journalists, publishers and bloggers for all of your support! Read all about it...

Kurtis Kolt from WE | The Westender says "Pink peppercorns galore entertain raspberries."

Jurgen Gothe from The Georgia Straight says "A delicious and deep-fruited bubble."

Editor Jim Tobler's #WineWednesday Pick in MONTECRISTO Magazine "People will be impressed just looking at it [we'll take that], but even more so when they imbibe."

Treve Ring from WineAlign says "Forget flowers, buy rosés."

Treve also includes the Pink Bub in her regular column in EAT magazine and says "A fitting pick for St. Valentine’s Day and celebrating the sweethearts in your life."

Kayla Bordignon writes about it on her blog Uncork BC

In Stimuli magazine, Kristine Carrick includes the Pink Bub in her Valentine's Day roundup: "I’ve decided that the pink and red day on the calendar should be a reminder to treat yourself."

If you don't already know about the Pink Bub, this sparkling wine is a true labour of love and is a tribute to the lovely Alison Scholefield, known as the Bub, Bubba, Bubster, or Alibubba in her early days.

This wine was made with 51% Pinot Noir and 49% Chardon­nay grapes grown in a cool moun­tain vine­yard site near Oliver. Whole clus­ter pressed, fer­mented cool, and sec­ondary bottle-fermented. At dis­gorg­ing, a dosage made from red wine was added to give Pink Bub its lively colour.

Closed with a crown cap to ensure this wine tastes just as winemaker Michael Bartier intends. This wine bursts with crisp and elegant green apple with a slight cherry note – a lively expression of Okanagan freshness. At just $24.90 per bottle; get yours now!

Buy online or see the list of stores.

Have you seen a recent review of the Pink Bub that we've missed here? Tell us about it.

Happy New Year! Wishing you the best for 2014 and hope to see you #withTownHall

Happy New Year from Town Hall By Leeann Froese

At this time on behalf of our entire team I want to wish everybody the best of the holiday season as we turn the corner into 2014.

2013 has been a pretty challenging, yet amazing year. The easiest way to say it, is that it has just been incredible, full of change, positivity, amazing people, and hope for what lies ahead.

After spending 16 years with an agency that we did a vast body of work with, and that taught us so much, to go out on our own was a bigger move than I anticipated. It is our blessing that our clients have come with us, and new ones have joined us too, and we have a team of 7 professionals that step up to do their best every time they are on the job, yet, can celebrate life and have fun on the flipside.

As I write this all I can say is that I am filled with gratitude. I'm so thankful to everyone around me: my family, friends, coworkers, clients and the media who support us. Plus, everyone has just spread so much goodwill and been supportive over this year - this year that has been so big and so full of change as we launched Town Hall.

I would love to personally reach out and say to every single person how meaningful my relationship with you is, but I'm going to do this in a mass way right here on this blog and say very best of the season to you all.

I wish you a Happy New Year as we welcome 2014, and I can't wait to see you in person, talk to you on the phone, or swap an email with you and strengthen our relationship as time unfolds.

And so I don't leave you with a totally mushy ending - here is a fun how-to that we did just in time for the holiday season.

Cheers!

If you are on mobile and cannot see the You Tube embedded - here is the click through.

Create your kit - presented to YVR bloggers - what to include in your media kit

  By Leeann Froese

Are you a blogger? Do you have a media kit?

YVR Bloggers is a group curated by Daddy Blogger Ricky Shetty, and the objective of the group is to hold monthly networking events to educate and inspire bloggers in Vancouver.

The group, which I was invited to join on account of this little #withTownHall blog, is an awesome place to network with bloggers across different industries both offline and online.

At a recent meetup the topic was Marketing Your Blog using Social Media and SEO

Held at the luxurious Waterfall Building near Granville Island the event featured a panel of SEO experts who shared their insights and tips on how your blog can be found on search engines:

Bosco Anthony from Bosco Anthony, Emily Chow from Chow Communications, Christian Thomson from Marwick Marketing, Cijaye DePradine from Web Cash Coach, Keith Kidwell from Netsurf Marketing, Christine Nielsen from Ms Pixel, Chuck Anderson from Blissful Parenting, and Bonnie Sainsbury from Social Media Smarter.

Social media marketing educator Matt Astefan of Web Friendly gave a terrific and super useful keynote: "Facebook Hacking: How to Get Free (or Cheap) Reach with Facebook".

For fun, Victoria Clements sang a Christmas song to get us into the holiday mood, and the Salvation Army was also on hand to raise awareness for the work they do and collect donations. There was also music, and sponsors and so much more happening at this event - including a visit from Santa Claus! To learn more, do check out the YVR Bloggers website and social feeds.

I am proud to share that I also had a small role in the evening. I was invited to share some of my blogger relations expertise, so I shared a top line look at what to include when a blogger builds a media kit (can also be known as a rate sheet) - an essential if you are a blogger wanting to work with marketing and PR companies and sponsored posts and advertisers.

So click on through to see 5 things you need to include, and how to use the content.

[slideshare id=29134222&doc=yvrbloggermediakitslides-131212005336-phpapp01]

Want to talk bout how our team can build a kit for you?

Need more? Sign up to receive updates like this, and other interesting stuff. Or email leeann@townhallbrands.com

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Wins Gold in France and Rosé is Named in World's Top 10 Sparkling Wines

  Client News - photo download at end of story

Suggested Tweet:

Best bubble! @summerhillwine Cipes Rosé named in Top 10 in the world http://bit.ly/1dSKgbY #bcwine #organic

The News:

They have done it again! The Cipes Rosé sparkling wine from Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Canada's acclaimed organic and biodynamic winery, has been given a gold medal and named one of the Top 10 Best Sparkling Wines in the World at the 2013 Effervescents du Monde held on November 13-15 in Dijon, Burgundy, France.

Of the 46 gold medals awarded, the Cipes Rosé is the only North American wine to win a medal, as well as make the top 10. Other countries that placed in the top 10 included France, Italy, Spain, South Africa and Brazil.

The Effervescents du Monde, now in its 11th year, has established itself as the leading authority on quality sparkling wine. Utilizing strict guidelines, more than 100 international expert judges, including 50% from outside of France, sampled over 600 wines representing almost 30 countries.

The Cipes Rosé is a 100% organic 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.

Made in the traditional Champagne method, this wine offers notes of raspberry, strawberry, kiwi, blood orange, vanilla, almond and white toast. Extremely versatile, the wine pairs well with charcuterie, salmon, grilled chicken, duck, pork, quiche, roast turkey, or with family and friends.

Perfect for the holidays!

Download the bottle shot here.

British Columbia Icewine Harvest Begins

Client News - photo downloads at end of story

British Columbia Icewine Harvest Begins at Summerhill Pyramid Winery in Kelowna

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Team Braves Sub-Zero Temperatures For A Sweet Reward

Suggested Tweets:

Brrrr! The #icewine harvest began tonight @summerhillwine Superb grapes will yield delicious nectar. #bcwine #organic

or

Want to learn more about #bcwine and #icewine? @summerhillwine tells us more about it in Icewine: The Essence of the Grape

Here's The Story:

Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Canada’s acclaimed organic and biodynamic winery, started its harvest of Icewine at their Kelowna vineyard tonight. Following an already excellent growing season and table wine harvest, the ideal weather situation occurred that allowed the team to harvest Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zweigelt from the winery’s estate vineyard.

“To make superb Icewine, the first thing you need is superb grapes,” said Summerhill CEO Ezra Cipes. “The Okanagan Valley is singularly blessed because not only have we had a growing season that produced perfect grapes, but we had the temperatures that froze our grapes on the vine to produce this delicious nectar. It’s perfection in a glass.”

In the previous vintage, Summerhill picked grapes for the 2012 vintage Icewine on January 12, 2013.

Vineyard manager Willem Semmelink suggested, "After a challenging growing season that saw heavy rain in June, followed by damaging hail in some parts of the Valley, the weather ultimately delivered a long, warm Autumn that produced wonderful grapes. We are pleased that the arctic express has arrived so early, allowing us to capture this amazing fruit so early in the season and avoid damage to nature's gift."

So what exactly is Icewine?

Icewine is a style of sweet dessert wine produced from grapes that have frozen naturally on the vine to a level of at least -8 degrees Celsius. Grapes left on the vine late in the season begin to lose their stored water content and start to shrivel. The sugars within the core of the grape do not freeze, which produces a concentrated grape must at time of pressing, resulting in a small yield of sweet and concentrated juice. Ice wine usually offers mouth-coating balanced with high acidity and moderate alcohol.

Icewines are generally more expensive than table wines for several reasons. Labour costs are higher than normal as a large group of grape pickers must be assembled with sometimes little notice, who are able to pick the entire crop within a few hours before the grapes begin to thaw, often in the middle of the night. The potential for damage to grapes left on the vine also increases due to weather, predators, rot and disease. Conditions in the cellar are also more challenging as the grapes must be pressed while still frozen and special equipment may be used. Fermentation also takes months instead of weeks and unique varieties of yeasts must be used in the process.

Since many of the world’s wine growing regions will not experience such extreme temperatures, Canada and Germany produce most of the world’s Icewine, usually sold in 375 or 200ml bottles

Summerhill Winery has produced a short video titled Icewine: the Essence of the Grape which can be viewed HERE.

Learn About Summerhill Pyramid Winery:

Summerhill Pyramid Winery, located for more than 20 years in the Lakeshore district in Kelowna, BC, is Canada's premier certified organic winery, BC's first Demeter certified biodynamic vineyard, and Canada's foremost producer of sparkling wine.

Winemaker Eric von Krosigk oversees the portfolio of BC VQA wines that suit every occasion and has earned the winery the 'Canadian Wine Producer of the Year' award at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, England. The winery, owned by the Cipes family, is also home to the Sunset Organic Bistro, serving food grown and raised by local organic producers, including Summerhill's own on-site permaculture-style vegetable garden. The mission of the entire Summerhill team is to produce exceptionally good-tasting wines organically, support local organic food growers, and provide unforgettable experiences for all guests.

More background reading on Summerhill Pyramid Winery's organic and biodynamic farming practices can be found here.

For more information, visit www.summerhill.bc.ca, find Summerhill on Facebook or follow the winery on Twitter @summerhillwine.

Download photos:

1. Pickers bundled up to pick frozen grapes at Summerhill Pyramid Winery click here

2. Frozen grapes are poured into a bin at SummerhiIll Pyramid Winery click here

3. Frozen grapes are picked for Icewine at Summerhill Pyramid Winery click here

4. A bottle of Summerhill Pyramid Winery's finished Pinot Noir Icewine click here

Need something you can't find here? Email leeann@townhallbrands.com or sujinder@townhallbrands.com

Do Good Work: Town Hall does 30 Days of Kindness with 30 Day Adventures

  Do Good Work - Town Hall does a kind act for 30 Days of Kindness.

by Leeann Froese

Those that know me, know that each day I ask myself and my world: “have you been as kind as you can be today?”

So when blogger, friend, and client Marc Smith of 30 Day Adventures called for people to get involved in his latest blog series called 30 Days of Kindness, I leaped at the chance.

Presented by CHIMP and Provence, the second annual 30 Days of Kindness series sees Marc work with people and companies to spread 30+ acts of kindness.

For our act of kindness I asked my Town Hall team what they wanted to do; I said I wanted help those who are constantly helping others.

It was Andrew & Felicia from our design team that suggested we visit and recognize those who volunteer at Honour House.

So we went to Honour House. See the 30 Day Adventures blog post by Marc Smith on our act of kindness here.

It just so happened that Marc posted our kind act on World Kindness Day! How fitting. CTV spoke to Marc about his series, World Kindness Day and Honour House. If you want to watch the CTV coverage go here and check it out!

Honour House is a home away from home that offers temporary housing for Canadian Forces and Emergency Services personnel whose families or loved ones are receiving medical treatment in Greater Vancouver. This special refuge is almost 100% volunteer driven, and seemed like the perfect place to visit and show some kindness to the volunteers.

The house opened in 2010 and is a completely renovated heritage home in New Westminster that has 20 guest rooms, peaceful, brightly lit common areas and a shared kitchen. Craig Longstaff is the general manager, and Patti Graham, who looks after finances, are the only two paid staff members. Maintenance, upkeep and fundraising events are all managed by a group of dedicated volunteers. Craig gave our team a tour and we learned a lot about this unique facility.

A lot of care and love goes into Honour House on a regular basis; for example a group of quilt makers has sent over enough quilts for the entire house, as well as many child-sized quilts, which young guests of Honour House can take home with them when they return home.

Town Hall’s act of kindness was to take the volunteers some kind of a treat and help with some of their regular duties. Sally Koldenhof, owner of Custom Cookies by Sally, heard what we were planning, and made amazing maple leaf sugar cookies to fit Honour House’s theme. We then gave these to the volunteers and staff upon arrival.

As we learned more during our visit to Honour House we realized that this special facility needs more volunteers. Like any accommodation or B&B, when guests leave, things need to be cleaned and organized for the next set of people who will be staying.

With a number of VIPs set to visit Honour House on Remembrance Day for the parade and event to follow after in New Westminster, our timing could not have been better. The Town Hall team, along with Marc, spent a few hours working at Honour House on Friday November 8th.

I, Andrew, Felicia, Sujinder, Ali, Ben, and Marc raked leaves, made beds, vacuumed & mopped the floors over the course of an hour and a half alongside their volunteers and we were able to get the house cleaned from bottom to top.

After that was done the group posed for a photo and enjoyed the custom-made maple leaf Cookies by Sally. The volunteers, staff and the Town Hall team were super happy with the cookies.

During our time at Honour House we realized that the Honour House volunteers are amazing. No job was too big or too small, and they did everything with a smile. The ladies whom I helped were laughing and having fun pretty much the whole time. Their passion for Honour House is clear and they do whatever it takes to make sure the house is comfortable and clean when new guests arrive.

Craig was impressed with how much our team accomplished. He noted that they need five or six people to help them on a regular basis, to bolster their existing group of volunteers.

So, if your company, or you and a group of friends want to help those who regularly help others, check out the Honour House website at www.honourhouse.ca They would be very grateful for your help and so would the Canadian Forces and Emergency Services personnel, who stay there.

I especially send this note out to other companies - as a small business owner, if I and my team can find the time to do an afternoon of good work: I challenge you to do the same.

Okanagan Crush Pad's Latest Wine Release is Dynamite

Client NewsOkanagan Crush Pad's Latest Wine Release is Dynamite

TNT, the 3rd Wine From Okanagan Crush Pad's Okanagan Wine Campus Series, Released

Suggested Tweet:

The wine from Sommelier @terry_threlfall is released by @OKCrushPad #bcwine

The Story: November 6, 2013 [Summerland, BC] BC's Okanagan Crush Pad, producer of Haywire and Bartier Scholefield announces the release of 150 cases of BC TNT ($22.90) made by 2012 Sommelier of the year, Terry Threlfall.

TNT is the third wine release from the winery's Okanagan Wine Campus program. Threlfall's Chardonnay is named TNT after Terry Nicholas Threlfall, but of course the wine's name does offer a fun play on words.

Threlfall shares, "Yeah, that's a little cheeky, hey? First of all, my initials are TNT and a favourite reference for me from those that know me well. Secondly, do not expect an oak-bomb here - this wine is aged in steel and concrete. Where it does detonate is with its exuberant pure fruit, minerality, and vibrant natural acidity."

The TNT Chardonnay is pale yellow with a tinge of green; this wine has aromas of bright citrus fruit and apricot, with hints of green apple and a chalky minerality. Multiple layers of complexity from concrete and native fermentation keep this wine changing every time one smells it. The weight is amazing, with a lively, tangy acidity that is bolstered by a lovely, gentle creaminess and elegant fruit. A salty mineral character helps round out the refreshing finish. TNT cries out for a plate of freshly shucked BC oysters. Dynamite, one might say...

Okanagan Wine Campus, created in 2011 by Okanagan Crush Pad, is a mentorship program that provides the person named Vancouver's Sommelier of the Year a chance to make a small lot wine using the grape variety and style of wine they wish. In 2012 Vancouver Magazine, Vancouver International Wine Festival and California's Sunset Magazine each named Terry Sommelier of the Year. So when harvest 2012 occurred, Threlfall visited Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland and worked alongside chief winemaker Michael Bartier to create the wine.

"It was an absolute pleasure to work with Michael," says Threlfall. "His patience in describing some of the more technical parts of the process was legendary. I learned a huge amount about the winemaking process and the difficulties of trying to make a wine in as natural a way as possible. Also, I picked up so much while spending time with Michael and Alberto Antonini (who was in town), touring various vineyards of the Okanagan -- they were both inspirational in sharing their thoughts and experiences about the history, current state and future of viticulture in the Okanagan."

The proceeds from the sale of TNT Chardonnay will be given to the BC Hospitality Foundation wine scholarship fund to support students who are pursuing their higher level wine education certification. To date, $10,000 has been awarded to 11 individuals with further scholarships. Okanagan Wine Campus projects to date include Kurtis Kolt (2010), Owen Knowlton (2011), Terry Threlfall (2012), and Samantha Rahn (2013).

As of the time of this notice, TNT Chardonnay is available by contacting the order desk at 250-494-4445 ext 2 or orderdesk@okanagancrushpad.com

Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, located in Summerland, BC, is home to Haywire and Bartier Scholefield wines, and also makes wines for other BC vintners who are seeking to establish their own wineries. Haywire wines are directed by winery owners Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie, while Bartier Scholefield is a collaboration between OCP's chief winemaker Michael Bartier and wine advisor David Scholefield. The winery team focuses on crafting natural wines that are pure expressions of the vineyards they were grown on.  The winery is open seasonally June 1 to September 15 and by appointment off season. For more information visit www.okanagancrushpad.com.

Need a bottle image for TNT Chardonnay? RIGHT CLICK HERE, then save to your computer to download.

View the TNT information kit here. (To download the kit, RIGHT CLICK on the link).

Canadian Wine Culture Debated

Client News Canadian Wine Culture Debated Webcast Tasting & Discussion Trended Across Canada Suggested Tweet: WATCH highlights from Canadian #wine culture panel via @plwinescanada: http://bit.ly/plwines #plwines #Kelowna

The Story: A first-of-its-kind webcast tasting and discussion on Canadian wine culture took place last week. Organized by Australia's Peter Lehmann Wines, the groundbreaking event, called The National Tasting, featured writer and broadcaster Anthony Gismondi, along with a panel of top sommeliers and wine educators gathered from across Canada.

Seven minutes of video highlights from the 1.5 hour event are now online at www.nationaltasting.ca.

The panel discussion was webcast, with queries submitted via social media. Supporting this, a conversation on Twitter was fast and lively, making the #plwines hashtag a trending topic across the country at the time.

Topics covered included how Canadians can make wine fit into their lifestyle, whether or not the Canadian wine industry is driving our food culture or vice versa, how social media is humanizing the wine business, and how Canada needs to embrace a unified national wine culture in order to make itself stand out on a world stage.

A few users noted technical issues at the time of the webcast, so if anyone missed part of the discussion, they may catch up via the key points in the summary video.

It's an incredible accomplishment that a world renowned Australian winery held its inaugural mentorship retreat in the heart of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. The program was aimed at building bridges between Canada's thriving wine trade, industry professionals and wine enthusiasts. This gesture of selecting Canada to launch this international program, was made with the intention of giving back to the wine community and to help unite Canada's wine scene.

Due to feedback gained from the retreat, Peter Lehmann wines expects to hold regular online chats on the topic of the development and future of wine culture in Canada. Details will be announced soon.

About the Mentor Award and National Tasting:

The first-ever Peter Lehmann Wines Mentor Award was aimed at bringing together industry professionals and wine enthusiasts with an opportunity for up-and-coming Canadian oenophiles to grow and share their knowledge. A two-day retreat took place in Kelowna, BC on October 20-23 and was led by noteworthy author, internationally acclaimed wine expert and inaugural program mentor, Anthony Gismondi.

The following are the mentees for 2013: Britnie Bazylewski, student liaison & instructor, Canadian Food & Wine Institute at Niagara College, St. Catharines, Ontario Taylor Douglas, assistant manager, Kitsilano Wine Cellar, Vancouver, British Columbia Jonathan MacCalder, sommelier, e11even (Air Canada Centre), Toronto, Ontario Alex Keevil, assistant manager, Bin 905, Calgary, Alberta Michaela MacMullin, sommelier & manager, Bertossi Group, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Agostino Teixeira, sommelier & director of purchasing, 40 West Steakhouse & Raw Bar, Montreal, Quebec

This December one of the mentees willl be selected by a panel of esteemed judges to travel with Gismondi to Australia in 2014, and take part in the annual grape harvest. This five-day trip will further acquaint this year's recipient mentee with the Peter Lehmann winery and with Australia's famed Barossa Valley wine growing region - truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. For more information, visit mentoraward.ca or follow the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Why Not All Vegan Wines are Vegan

By Leeann Froese Recently we came across a question the question posed was whether a wine is also vegan. And so we thought this provided a great chance to discuss...

Most people might assume that all wine is vegan because, well, wine is made from grapes along with yeast to convert the sugars into alcohol. However, many wines are exposed to animal-derived products during production. It’s in the process called fining where the wine is clarified, by introducing a very small amount of protein to extract tiny bits of grape skin or stems, naturally occurring yeasts and various other particles. Typical fining agents are isinglass (fish bladder protein), albumen (egg white) and gelatin (animal protein). As the agent sinks down, the unwanted particles adhere to the agent.

Fining makes wine clear and gives it a smooth texture. While none of the fining agents end up in the finished product sold in the bottle, some vegans deem wine that has undergone this process unfit to drink because the animal products have been used. On the flip side, some winemakers skip the fining process entirely or use alternative fining agents and allow nature to take its course. Bentonite clay, limestone and vegetable plaques are among some of the natural agents.

Now no one on our team is a winemaker, so if you, dear reader, have more knowledge than we do on the winemaking process, that would be no surprise. However another topic of vegan interest that our team has been discussing with clients and other wine lovers is the packaging.

We asked our own Andrew von Rosen, if a wine is vegan, can the package also be vegan? Andrew shares "even if a wine is vegan, it’s difficult to guarantee that a label aligns with veganism. First off," he says, "recycled paper can’t be considered vegan because it is unknown what the paper has touched (a harsh reality that stuns many tree-loving vegans – it's only vegan if you chop down a tree). Secondly," he continues, "on the back side of that label is glue – possibly an animal–based gelatin glue. Lastly," he adds, "while many inks are vegetable based – opposed to the petroleum based inks of a decades past – pigments that colour those inks may be made from insect or animal products."

So how would someone know if their wine is actually 'fully vegan'? There are a few resources online that list wineries and their wines that have been deemed vegan. See www.vegans.frommars.org/wine/ and www.barnivore.com for some examples.

Regrettably, most wine labels in Canada typically do not identify whether the wine is suitable for vegans or what fining products were used. Contacting a winery directly is a way to know if animal products were used in the winemaking, but it is very challenging to know if all aspects of the wine you’re buying including the label align with the vegan lifestyle.

More Concrete Tanks for Okanagan Crush Pad

PRESS RELEASE October 21, 2013 Media Contact: Leeann Froese | Town Hall - 604-321-3295

More Concrete Tanks for Okanagan Crush Pad

Old practice made new again bears wines 'Raised in Concrete'

Suggested Tweet: New concrete fermenters debute @okcrushpad, celebrating their 2nd birthday. http://bit.ly/OCPconcrete

The Story:

(Summerland, BC) Okanagan Crush Pad Winery (OCP) just celebrated its second birthday at the end of September. To celebrate, the winery received a very heavy package, just in time for 2013’s harvest.

Six 4,400-litre concrete tanks, weighing a total of 39 tons, arrived from Italy to join six 2,000-litre black egg-shaped concrete tanks that the winery purchased from a supplier in Sonoma in 2011.

The new tanks had a long journey, which started at the Nico Velo factory in Vicenza, Italy, before arriving at their ultimate resting point in Summerland, BC.

Nico Velo, established in 1943, makes all types of concrete prefabricated structures, from bridge columns to wine tanks, and offers first class workmanship.

The decision to purchase the concrete tanks from Nico Velo came at the urging of Okanagan Crush Pad’s consulting winemaker, Alberto Antonini, who uses the same tanks at his Poggiotondo winery in Tuscany, and is very impressed with the results. OCP winemakers Michael Bartier and Matt Dumayne concur with the idea of using concrete fermenters. Concrete had been used for centuries in winemaking, but was more or less abandoned with the arrival of stainless steel. These modern day concrete tanks take a forward- thinking approach to the old world practice.

“Okanagan Crush Pad is my first experience using concrete tanks, and I am very impressed with the results. We now have just over 38,000 litres in concrete tank capacity,” notes Dumayne. “They have excellent fermentation kinetics such as temperature retention. The conical shape of the tank moves the fermenting juice around in a vortex, which produces wines with enhanced depth, complexity and roundness of tannins. We have found that the resulting wines have a complexity and an enhanced creamy mineral character.”

To date, Okanagan Crush Pad has made and released several wines that were fermented and aged in concrete, including the 2011 and 2012 vintages of the Haywire Switchback Vineyard Pinot Gris and the recently-released and much anticipated 2011 Haywire Canyonview Vineyard Pinot Noir. These wines were made in Canada’s first temperature controlled egg-shaped concrete fermenters. Each wine that was created in concrete carries the “raised in concrete” trademark on the front label.

Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, located in Summerland, BC, is home to Haywire and Bartier Scholefield wines, and also makes wines for other BC vintners who are seeking to establish their own wineries. Haywire wines are directed by winery owners Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie, while Bartier Scholefield is a collaboration between OCP’s chief winemaker Michael Bartier and Scholefield family member David Scholefield. The winery team focuses on crafting natural wines that are pure expressions of the vineyards they were grown on. The winery is open seasonally June 1 to September 15 and by appointment off season. For more information, visit www.okanagancrushpad.com.

Okanagan Crush Pad is a place for collaboration; we want to talk to you! Tweet with us: @okcrushpad Join the conversation on Facebook: facebook.com/okcrushpad

Click here to download this press release as a PDF.

Harper's Trail Named Best Winery In Kamloops

PRESS RELEASE October 15, 2013 Media Contact: Leeann Froese | Town Hall - 604-321-3295

Best Winemaker in Kamloops goes to Harper's Trail Winery

Suggested Tweet: #Kamloops public votes @harperstrail as the best, via @KamNews  #BCwine

The Story:

(Kamloops, BC) Harper's Trail Winery proudly shares that is has been selected by the readers of Kamloops Daily News, in their annual Readers' Choice Awards Survey, as best winemaker.

Vicki Collett, Harper's Trail winery co-owner, is delighted. "When we first opened our doors, we hoped the community would accept and welcome us with open arms. The people of Kamloops have done this, and well beyond our expectations. We are blown away, " she continues, "and so thankful for the ongoing support from our community."

The entire Harper's Trail team, while in the thick of the 2013 harvest now, would like to thank everyone who supported this winery thus far, and visited this summer.

The 2013 visitor season has now ended, and Harper's Trail is open only by appointment over the fall and winter. Please contact the winery at 250-573-5855 for operating hours or to schedule a visit.

About Harper's Trail

Harper's Trail, is the first estate winery from Kamloops. Tucked into the city outskirts on the bank of the South Thompson River, Ed and Vicki Collett's vineyard sits among rolling hills of sage and grass, home to bighorn sheep, bears, and myriad birds. The backdrop of limestone, hoodoos, and a natural spring in the vineyard contribute to the biodiversity of this rare place.

The wines, made by Michael Bartier of Okanagan Crush Pad, reflect this emerging region with minerality and crisp acidity. Enjoy the winery's current releases and taste the flavours that will soon be known as characteristic for the Kamloops region. For more information visit www.harperstrail.com

Click here to download this press release as a PDF.

Australian Icon Celebrates Thriving Canadian Wine Culture

Client News: [Kelowna, BC] October 8, 2013

Australian Wine Icon Celebrates Thriving Canadian Wine Culture

Aussie-hosted Interactive Wine Tasting Centres in Kelowna

Suggested Tweet:

Discuss #wine culture with renowned online panel, in the @plwinescanada www.nationaltasting.ca Oct 21, 4pm PST #plwines

In Short:

Those from the wine world and beyond are summoned to be online on Monday October 21 at 4pm PST and join the conversation on wine culture in an online interactive event.

Organized by Peter Lehmann Wines, this first-of-its-kind event features writer and broadcaster Anthony Gismondi, and a panel of top sommeliers and wine educators opening the floor to wine lovers across Canada.

Pose questions to the panel and RSVP at www.nationaltasting.ca.

The Full Story:

Every industry has its pioneers. Radio had Marconi. Phones had Graham-Bell. Automobiles had Ford. You can't start a fire without a spark...

The wine industry also has those that created legacies. Champagne had the widow Cliquot and Dom Perignon. The California industry owes a debt to Robert Mondavi. And there's Australia's recently-late Peter Lehmann.

During his 50-year career, Peter Lehmann inspired countless people by sharing his talent, wit and passion for winemaking. Peter Lehmann Wines was founded in 1979 to assist the grape growers of the Barossa Valley in Australia, who at the time were facing financial ruin; now, the winery and the region mutually enjoy an international reputation for excellence in wine production.

It is this continued spirit of collaboration and inclusion that brings The Mentor Award - a first of its kind event - to Kelowna, BC, from October 20-22, 2013.

The Mentor Award, a two-day intensive retreat and seminar series to take place in West Kelowna on October 20/22, features inaugural mentor, acclaimed BC wine writer and broadcaster Anthony Gismondi, along with a panel of top sommeliers and educators.

The program, aimed at building bridges in Canada's thriving wine trade, brings together industry professionals and wine enthusiasts from cities across Canada, and provides opportunities for up-and-coming Canadian oneophiles to share and grow their knowledge. Delegates will gather to learn international perspectives from Gismondi and other leading wine experts, gaining insight to share with customers and colleagues in their home cities, ultimately helping to shape Canada's burgeoning wine culture from coast-to-coast.

While the Mentor Retreat is small, wine lovers across Canada are invited to join a highlight event: a spirited online panel discussion on the business of wine and how to foster a world-class wine culture. Conversation will touch on the value of high-quality wines and what they add to life, the current state and future of wine in Canada, as well as encourage friends and family to gather and conduct their own tastings at home while linked online.

Participants are encouraged to submit questions to the panel via YouTube and Twitter for a chance to win prizes from Peter Lehmann Wines. Online guests will also be encouraged to taste along with the panel from home using the #plwines hashtag.

The live discussion will be webcast on Monday, October 21 at 4pm (PST) and wine enthusiasts and consumers from anywhere in the world are invited to join in. Moderated by Ben Macphee-Sigurdson, wine columnist at the Winnipeg Free Press, confirmed panelists include Gismondi, Zinta Steprans, manager and sommelier of Toronto's Soho House, Harry Hertscheg, executive director of the Vancouver International Wine Festival, Samantha Rahn, wine director of Whistler's Araxi Restaurant and Matt Lane, VP Americas for Peter Lehmann Wines.

While on the surface it would seem to be only for the wine engaged, this retreat is an event to be recognized and celebrated. It's a rare honour that a world renowned Australian winery is holding its inaugural mentorship retreat in the heart of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. This gesture of selecting Canada to launch this international program, and shoring up support for BC's rapidly-advancing wine industry, shows further leadership by Peter Lehmann Wines to propel an emerging wine region.

Aside from lively classroom-style seminars, and the webcast panel discussion on wine culture, one delegate will walk away having earned a five-day trip to Australia with Gismondi, to take part in the annual grape harvest. This will further educate this year's recipient with the Peter Lehmann winery and acquaint the mentee with Australia's famed Barossa Valley wine growing region.

"We want to give to the wine community, and help grow Canada's thriving wine scene," says Peter Lehmann's Matt Lane. "We see this program establishing lasting friendships, inspiring a new generation of wine lovers, and sharing the rich winemaking traditions of the Barossa Valley."

About the Mentor Award:

The first-ever Peter Lehmann Wines Mentor Award is aimed at bringing together industry professionals and wine enthusiasts with an opportunity for up-and-coming Canadian oenophiles to grow and share their knowledge.

A two-day retreat will take place in Kelowna, BC on October 20-22 and will be led by noteworthy author, internationally acclaimed wine expert and inaugural program mentor, Anthony Gismondi. Following the retreat, one participant will then be selected by a panel of esteemed judges to travel together with Gismondi to Australia, taking part in the annual grape harvest. This five-day trip will further educate this year's recipient with the Peter Lehmann winery and acquaint the mentee with Australia's famed Barossa Valley wine growing region - truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

In addition to the retreat, Canadians are invited to attend a spirited online panel discussion on the business of wine and how to foster a world-class wine culture. The event will be webcast on Monday, October 21 at 4pm PST.

[end]

Best Dessert Label in BC goes to Town Hall Client: Kamloops' Harper's Trail Winery

NEWS: on October 3, at the 2013 BRITISH COLUMBIA WINE LABEL AWARDS in Kelowna, BC, accolades were handed out for the best wine labels in BC. Our team  is proud to share the Harper's Trail Late Harvest Riesling has won the Best Dessert Label with a package that its design team created .

The BC Wine Label Awards are a component of the Okanagan Wine Festival. A complete list of the BC Wine Awards can be found here.

We're very proud of this accolade!

About Harper's Trail

Harper's Trail, is the first estate winery from Kamloops. Tucked into the city outskirts on the bank of the South Thompson River, Ed and Vicki Collett's vineyard sits among rolling hills of sage and grass, home to bighorn sheep, bears, and myriad birds. The backdrop of limestone, hoodoos, and a natural spring in the vineyard contribute to the biodiversity of this rare place.

The wines, made by Michael Bartier of Okanagan Crush Pad, reflect this emerging region with minerality and crisp acidity. Enjoy the winery's current releses and taste the flavours that will soon be known as characteristic for the Kamloops region. For more information visit www.harperstrail.com

Okanagan Wine Harvest in Full Swing

Press Release - September 22, 2013

For Immediate Release. Media Contact: Leeann Froese | Town Hall - 604.321.3295 Sujinder Juneja | Town Hall - 604.367.6745

2013 Vintage Looks Good to Vintners

Suggested Tweet:

Early reports signal a promising 2013 #BCWine vintage, say @OKCrushPad @Winespiration @PerseusWine @Bartierbros @Haywirewine

The Story:

(Summerland, BC) The Okanagan grape harvest is in full swing, and many wineries are currently harvesting grapes destined for sparkling wine, in addition to white varieties such as Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. Early reports suggest that 2013 will be an excellent vintage with great quality potential.

Penticton resident Michael Bartier, who is the chief winemaker at Okanagan Crush Pad, has harvested Gewürztraminer from a Summerland vineyard owned by his brother Don Bartier, to be used for their Bartier Brothers wine. "We harvested this vineyard a full three weeks earlier than last year, and the quality of the fruit looks very good. Prepare for a great 2013 vintage from the Okanagan," notes Bartier.

Christine Coletta, co-owner of Okanagan Crush Pad, where Haywire wines are made, expects to process 420 tons this year, from vineyards as far north as Kamloops and as far south as Osoyoos. "Grapes are ripening quickly and the fruit flavours on these early picks have been exceptional. But it is not over until it is over, so we are cautiously optimistic that harvest will continue to be a smooth sail."

Matt Dumayne, who moved three years ago from New Zealand to make wine in the Okanagan, noted the vintage was shaping up to be the best he has experienced in the valley. Dumayne, who is the consulting winemaker for Penticton winery Perseus, is preparing to process Pinot Gris from the winery's Lower Bench Road vineyard within the next two weeks.

Scott Ingram, the vineyard manager for Perseus, notes that high temperatures and a lack of rainfall in the peak of summer had growers anticipating an early harvest and a great 2013 vintage for all of the Okanagan. Post Labour Day rain caused some concern for growers, but he shares that everything is still on track for an exceptional early harvest this year.

Judy Kingston, owner of Naramata's Serendipity Winery offers, "2013 promises to be a great vintage at the winery.

Lots of spring rain paired with hot days and cool nights made for ideal growing conditions, so we are two weeks ahead of schedule. The grapes taste phenomenal right now," she continues. "It will be a solid year for Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, our two estate whites. The reds are coming along well, but we'll need some dry weather coming into October. It should be an early year for everything, and we're looking forward to the spring, where customers can enjoy the delicious fruits of our labour".

British Columbia's harvest will last for many weeks yet, and as mentioned, some 2013 wines will be available as soon as spring 2014. For additional facts on the Okanagan wineries and more, media can visit The Wines of British Columbia website.

CLICK HERE to view a PDF of the press release.

Town Hall revealed at #WBC13 – The Opening Reception

By Leeann Froese As mentioned in the previous post, the Wine Blogger’s Conference 2013 | #WBC13 was held in June 2013 in Penticton; in Canada for the first time. This was the second Wine Blogger’s Conference that I attended. My first was in 2012 in Portland.

Sujinder Juneja and I attended on behalf of our team, and though we had not formally made the transition yet, this conference was the first time we shared our collaboration moving forward and the upcoming launch of Town Hall as a company.

The conference, held at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, opened with a Trade Show that was an exhibition of conference sponsors. Conference attendees moved throughout a ballroom and met people from the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association, who poured a selection of wines from the region. They were cheerfully represented by Tony Munday and Sarah Lefebvre, pictured.

Other highlights in the room included the exhibit from Tourism Penticton, where they were rolling out their You Are Here campaign, and a very fun photo booth from British Columbia that allowed attendees to take photos featuring different BC landscape backgrounds.

From here, attendees piled on to buses for the #WBC13 Opening Reception with Great Estates of the Okanagan. We were driven to a secret location, which was revealed to be See Ya Later Ranch, a property I know well, from when I was on the team that launched this winery. (A note for readers of this blog who are new to me: while working with Coletta & Associates I was the communications person for Vincor Canada (now Constellation) for 10 years (1999 – 2010), and represented the wineries that make up the Great Estates of the Okanagan. It was actually our team at Coletta that worked with the hospitality team to design, create, and brand the Great Estates program. There is more to tell on all of this, but not here.) Needless to say, I was very excited to visit!

I have always thought that See Ya Later Ranch winery has the best view of all wineries in BC, and I was feeling proud that Constellation decided to use this winery to welcome all the bloggers and really give them a ‘wow’ factor. And they did not disappoint!

As soon as we got off the bus, we were welcomed with a glass of Steller’s Jay sparkling wine from Sumac Ridge Estate Winery paired to oysters and other bites. We knew the night was off to a great start.

All of the food pairings for the opening reception were created by Joy Road Catering. Joy Road is owned by chefs Cameron Smith and Dana Ewart, and the two of them and their team are widely known for the magic they work with local, region ingredients and their skill in imparting memorable flavours. Another classy treat from Constellation to have the bloggers get to try Joy Road.

The property was dotted with stations that attendees could walk to at their own pace and try the wines from the rest of the Great Estates wineries: Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs, And Nk’Mip Cellars paired to inspired dishes from Joy Road.

However before we could go past the sparkling wine, Constellation had a fun challenge for us. Those that wanted to try a hand at riddling sparkling wine were timed, and the best time would win a magnum of sparkling wine. We caught Josie Heisig from Destination BC doing a great job.

My time riddling was 15.88 seconds. Like a boss! I am sure I have won. Little did I know that moments earlier, Sujinder did it in 12 seconds!

As we progressed through the event and tried all the delicious foods and wines, it was fun to see the winemakers and other members of the team I used to work with and say hello, as well as commiserate with the other bloggers on how amazing the setting, food, and wine was.

It was nice to catch up with the bloggers I met in Portland last year, as well as see local bloggers and media.

One inventive dish that has to be mentioned is the radishes in ‘dirt’ – radishes in jars with goat cheese and crumbled hazelnut ‘dirt’. It was beautiful in presentation and delicious.

The sun went down, and we saw a stunning dusk view.

Then, full, tired and wowed, we headed back to get ready for the formal conference opening on Friday.

Town Hall revealed at #WBC13 – pre conference fun

By Leeann Froese With a career in wine that has led me to this place, it seemed fitting to me that the first post I should make With Town Hall is about the 2013 Wine Blogger’s Conference, which was held in Penticton BC in June 2013. This was the first conference located in Canada, and local Penticton organizers worked extremely hard to make it happen. A special shout out goes to Allison Markin from All She Wrote, who drove this effort for two full years and worked with various groups to make the conference happen.

The 2013 Wine Blogger’s Conference was the first place that we revealed ourselves as Town Hall, so I have decided my first few posts before this blog gets all serious *wink* will be to recap the conference experience. At the conference, we shared the news of our emergence as a company with the attendees and our colleagues in the trade.

The positive feedback and support has been totally overwhelming and we are now at the point where we can formally reveal ourselves, and we will do this with regularity via this blog.

But first, let’s recap the @townhallbrands ♥'s bloggers experience from the Wine Blogger’s Conference 2013.

I attended the conference along with Sujinder Juneja from our team, and we car pooled to the conference with Kathleen Rake of Between the Vines who was also a conference presenter.

It so happened that we were travelling to the conference on my birthday, so I was treated extra special. I joked that it was nice of the folks at Zephyr Adventures to throw a conference just for my birthday…

The conference took place at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. The central location and lake views made it a terrific way to show off our southern wine region to the bloggers who came from all over North America.

When in Penticton we stopped in at M gallery | book. The owner, Jeannette Montgomery, also a writer and blogger, established M Gallery Book in 2012 to showcase work from emerging Canadian talent who are redefining Canadian art and literature. She does all this with a welcoming smile. Since it was my birthday, I bought myself a piece of art. It is a collage piece from Canadian artist Lucas Glenn.

Also when in Penticton, it was deemed vital to stop in and eat at chef Paul Cecconi’s new Brodo Kitchen. Brodo offers fresh, simple food. Our group enjoyed a flight of soups, and sandwiches, and there are also salads. As a special treat, chef gave us strawberry shortcake made with fresh, local strawberries, in honor of my birthday. We also enjoyed a glass of Haywire wine as we dined at their communal table.

This little tour and taste on Penticton’s main street was a great way to get our energy levels up and taste buds tickled for what was to come at the conference.

Next post… details of the first day of the conference.