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.

Meet Sam Hauck With Town Hall

By Leeann Froese It's Saturday - that means it's time to introduce you to one of the fabulous personalities in the world #withTownHall

This does not mean they work as part of our team, or are our client (although sometimes they are).

We just interact with so many amazing people that we want to expand networks and introduce them to you, and you to them. This week #withTownHall we introduce you to Sam Hauck.

Sam is a wine judge, wine educator, and wine writer. You can catch up with his wine reviews on My Vancity.

Whether you already know Sam or not, please help us out and say a big hello. Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter.

"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

Meet Darnelle Moore With Town Hall

By Leeann Froese It's Saturday - that means it's time to introduce you to one of the fabulous personalities in the world #withTownHall

This does not mean they work as part of our team, or are our client (although sometimes they are).

We just interact with so many amazing people that we want to expand networks and introduce them to you, and you to them. This week #withTownHall we introduce you to Darnelle Moore!

Darnelle is co founder of the popular Vancouver fitness studio Eastside Fitness.

She has been involved in the fitness industry for more than 12 years as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, coach, run leader, indoor cycling instructor and program coordinator. She has been active and passionate about fitness her entire life and has experience participating in many sports.

I like to call her 'small but mighty". She has experience as an elite athlete, competing in road cycling as part of Canada’s National Team. She enjoys trail running, weight training and hiking and she is also proud mom to three active kids.

In addition to keeping herself and those around her fit, she is a little league baseball coach at the South Vancouver Little League and she writes very helpful a biweekly fitness column in the Vancouver Courier.

Whether you already know Darnelle or not, please help us out and say a big hello. Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter.

Meet Julie van Rosendaal with Town Hall

By Leeann Froese It's Saturday - that means it's time to introduce you to one of the fabulous personalities in the world #withTownHall

This does not mean they work as part of our team, or are our client (although sometimes they are).

We just interact with so many amazing people that we want to expand networks and introduce them to you, and you to them. This week #withTownHall we introduce you to Julie Van Rosendaal!

The lovely Julie van Rosendaal hails from Calgary, Alberta and is known by many for her popular food blog Dinner With Julie. I first met Julie in 2009 when I was working with a wine client to host in Calgary, and Julie attended.

Julie is a superstar who wears several foodie hats. She is the food and nutrition columnist on the Calgary Eyeopener on CBC Radio One, the author (or co-author) of several cookbooks, is the food editor of Parents Canada magazine, and a freelance writer for various publications, and she is also a contributor to the online cooking series, Good Bite.

Julie is regularly seen on local and national TV, and she co-hosted a TV cooking show called It’s Just Food on Viva Network.

She does it all from her home in Calgary which she shares with her husband, son and dog.

Whether you already know Julie or not, please help us out and say a big hello. Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter.

Meet Glen Korstrom With Town Hall

By Leeann Froese It's Saturday - that means it's time to introduce you to one of the fabulous personalities in the world #withTownHall

This does not mean they work as part of our team, or are our client (although sometimes they are).

We just interact with so many amazing people that we want to expand networks and introduce them to you, and you to them.

This week #withTownHall we introduce you to Glen Korstrom

Glen is well known in Vancouver for his work as a journalist at Business in Vancouver who mainly covers the subjects of retail, tourism/hospitality & real estate.

Outside the office, he is a big fan of music, sports and wine.

Whether you already know Glen or not, please help us and say a big hello.

Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter.

Meet the Drunken Cyclist Jeff Kralik with Town Hall

By Leeann Froese It's Saturday - that means it's time to introduce you to one of the fabulous personalities in the world #withTownHall

This does not mean they work as part of our team, or are our client (although sometimes they are).

We just interact with so many amazing people that we want to expand networks and introduce them to you, and you to them.

This week #withTownHall we introduce you to Jeff Kralik.

Jeff is The Drunken Cyclist. He is a wine lover and a wine blogger, who can saber open a bottle of bubble with almost anything. He is known to be a bit of a ham at times...

Jeff is also a Cat 3 cyclist, a husband, and a father of two boys and he lives with his lovely family in Philadelphia. We know Jeff via the Wine Bloggers Conference and want you to know him too - he has more than 45K followers on Twitter!

And whether you already follow or know Jeff or not, please help us support him and say a big hello.

Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter

So A Genie From the Finger Lakes Grants You Three Wishes…

by Sujinder Juneja Following two successful conferences in Santa Barbara, California and Penticton, British Columbia, in August 2015, I will be participating in my third-in-a-row Wine Bloggers Conference #withTownHall; this year in Corning, New York and hosted by the wineries of the Finger Lakes AVA.

Although the region has been growing grapes (a mixture of native Vitis Labrusca, European Vitis Vinifera and French-American hybrids) since 1829, it’s still a small and arguably emergent region, with production levels such that few of their wines make it all the way to the left coast. I am very excited to finally get a chance to gain a better understanding of what makes these cool-climate wines, and the Finger Lakes region itself, so unique.

So when I was asked to pick the ‘top three’ things that I really wanted to learn while I was visiting (and tasting), here’s what I came up with:

I Love to Get My Hands Dirty

When people use the word ‘terroir’ to discuss the specific traits of different wine regions in the world, it’s important to note that the concept doesn't just refer to the soil. ‘Terroir’ translates loosely as a “sense of place” and refers not only to the complex geology within the soil itself, but also the geography (aspect, slope), the climate, the weather and even the surrounding flora and fauna that may have an effect on the agricultural crop in question.

Coming from British Columbia, which is also described as a cool climate wine region, one of the first things I want to learn about the Finger Lakes AVA is what makes its terroir so special for the wine that it produces. Both regions share a similar history of commercial wine development, each of them dating back to the mid 1800s when grapes were first planted by the clergy for use in sacramental rituals. Each region experimented with native vines and hybrids before moving towards increased plantings of the European Vitis Vinifera varieties, to varying degrees of success. I want to learn more about the geology and geography that adds to the bright and minerally flavours of the Finger Lakes wines.

The Right Grape for the Right Place

The fact that both British Columbia and the Finger Lakes have shared a similar path in terms of varietal experimentation forces me to think about the reasons some grapes are planted more than others. Some are chosen for their ability to ripen properly in a given climate, while others are chosen because they are more fashionable or commercially viable, even if the resultant wine suffers in quality. The more winemakers, grape growers and soil specialists I speak to, the more I realize that it doesn't make sense to plant consumer-friendly, but slow-ripening varietals, like Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, in regions that simply don’t get the heat units to enable them to fully mature to produce balanced wines. It makes more sense to plant grapes and produce wine that matches the ‘terroir’ of the vineyard.

It’s been noted that the wines of the Finger Lakes region are fresh, with naturally high acid and low alcohol – you’ll have to look elsewhere for wines with rich intensity and depth of fruit. French vignerons are way ahead of the game, having studied their own terroir for centuries. That’s why you don’t see Cabernet Sauvignon in Burgundy and you don’t see Pinot Noir in Bordeaux. The grapes suit the land and produce the best possible wines. So although Riesling and Pinot Noir (both very fashionable varietals) have become the dominant plantings in the region, the second thing I want to experience about the Finger Lakes AVA is these less-recognized varietals which have been developed specifically for the region. When is the last time you sipped a Cayuga White or a Valvin Muscat? It’s my aim to try as many of these unique varietals as I can, hoping to find some new favourites in the process.

A European Invasion

The third thing I really want to know about the Finger Lakes AVA is: what is it that is so exciting about the region that makes it attract some of the highest profile international winemakers to start their own projects there?

The first I heard about was Louis Barruol, owner and winemaker at Chateau de Saint Cosme in Gigondas (and one of my favourite all-time wineries), who is one of the most acclaimed and respected winemakers in the entire Rhone Valley, if not the world.

He recently partnered with local Finger Lakes investors to create Forge Cellars, a winery in the Seneca Lake AVA that focuses exclusively on Riesling and Pinot Noir. With more than 500 years of family experience making wines from Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre and Viognier in hot Southern France, what made him invest in Riesling and Pinot Noir in cooler upstate New York?

More recently, a joint venture was announced between leading California winemaker and consultant Paul Hobbs and the Mosel Valley’s Johannes Selbach that saw them purchase a 67-acre site on the southeastern shore of Seneca Lake that will ultimately be planted with 45 acres of Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Blanc.

What is it about the Finger Lakes that drew these two titans of the wine industry together? It’s a big question, but I aim to find the answer.

August can’t come soon enough. Very much looking forward to exploring the Finger Lakes wine region from August 13-16 at this year’s Wine Bloggers Conference.

Meet Cristina Brunner With Town Hall

By Leeann Froese It's Saturday - that means it's time to introduce you to one of the fabulous personalities in the world #withTownHall

This does not mean they work as part of our team, or are our client (although sometimes they are).

We just interact with so many amazing people that we want to expand networks and introduce them to you, and you to them.

This week #withTownHall we introduce you to Cristina Brunner.

Cristina is an artist who hails from Peru, and she, along with her husband Paul, owns Blue Grouse Estate Winery, located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

Cristina is looking forward to the brand new Blue Grouse winery to be open May 23, and invited you to come and visit her there this summer.

And whether you already know Cristina or not, please help us support her and say a big hello.

Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter

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!

Finger Lakes Offer Diversity of the Grape

by Sujinder Juneja For #Winesday we look to our wine growing neighbours to the east...

Since grape vineyards were first established in the Finger Lakes region of New York State in the mid 1800s, winemakers and grape growers have never lost their thirst for adventure and experimentation. They work with lesser known and cold hardy varietals and we are looking forward to celebrating the region’s diversity at the Wine Bloggers Conference pre-excursion in August.

The Finger Lakes AVA, officially recognized in 1982, is a cool climate growing region in upstate New York, south of Lake Ontario, and surrounds eleven glacier lakes. These lakes moderate the local microclimate, keeping the it milder in the winter, relative to the rest of the region. Similarly to other cool climate regions such as Germany and Austria, the vines are often planted on steep hillsides near the lakes, offering better drainage, increased sun exposure, with less chance of frost.

Vitis Labrusca vines were first planted in the region in 1829, but it wasn’t until 1862 that commercial viticulture began. For years, the most successful and popular wines from the area were sparkling and sweet, but demand for dry still wines produced from Vitis Vinifera grapes increased after soldiers returned from Europe following World War 2, their tastes influenced by wines from France, Italy and Germany. Unfortunately, the majority of plantings in the region were either from Labrusca or French-American hybrid stock, since previous experiments with Vinifera had failed to yield successful wines.

But in 1951, Dr. Konstantin Frank, a Ukrainian immigrant with a PhD in viticulture, arrived at the Cornell University Geneva Experiment station where he began grafting the more climate-sensitive Vinifera varietals to native cold-hardy Labrusca rootstock, eventually resulting in commercially and critically successful wines from Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, among other noble varieties.

In 1986 the Seneca Lake Wine Trail was formed in the heart of New York State’s Finger Lakes Wine Country to attract more visitors to experience its rich history, beauty and production of world-class wines. Today, Seneca Lake Wine Trail is the largest and most active wine trail in New York State with a community of 35 wineries

Even though Riesling and Pinot Noir has become the dominant white and red varietals in the region, Seneca Lake wineries such Villa Bellangelo, Ventosa Vineyards, Anthony Road Wine Company and Fox Run Vineyards, among others continue to push the envelope with interesting and delicious left-of-centre varietals. These include lesser-known Vinifera (Blaufränkisch, Tocai Friulano, Grüner Veltliner), French-American hybrids (Seyval Blanc, Baco Noir, Vignoles, Rougeon), native Labrusca (Catawba, Isabella), hybrids developed in the region (Cayuga White, Melody) and three new wine grapes created at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva (Noiret, Corot Noir and Valvin Muscat. While some of these grapes are used in varietally-named wines, most of them are used in blends or sparkling wine.

When we visit the region we look forward to tasting this diversity.

Looking ahead to the Wine Blogger's Conference

By Leeann Froese We are looking forward to sending two members of our team (myself and Sujinder Juneja) to the Wine Bloggers Conference in Finger Lakes, New York this August. This will be my 4th consecutive conference, and Sujinder's third.

Being named Wine Enthusiast's wine region of the year in 2014 made me very curious about what this region has to offer, because as world wine regions go the Finger Lakes Region is still relatively unknown.

This is not meant as a slight towards the region because I feel like our own home wine region here in British Columbia is also off the radar, and this is something we have in common. That same Wine Enthusiast article also named Canada / British Columbia / Okanagan as one of the gems to discover in the world. What will New York have to offer? In my minds eye it's not as hot as it is here in the west, and I have never traveled into this particular area south of Ontario so it will be new territory for me

Adam Strum, publisher and editor of Wine Enthusiast, writes "The New York wine industry has made a remarkable comeback in the past 30 years in terms of the quality of wines, number of wineries, and economic impact."

The Finger Lakes Wine Country boasts over 100 wineries centered around the region’s four main lakes: Cayuga, Seneca, Keuka and Canandaigua.

British Columbia has more than 200 wineries, but like Finger Lakes, the Okanagan wine region is centered around Okanagan, Skaha, Vaseaux, Tuc el Nuit, and Osoyoos Lakes.

In both cases, these bodies of water offer a moderating effect to the landscape and allows for premium grape growing. Is this where the similarities end?

I am sure that both regions offer people who love what they do, and I look forward to learning what kind of tourism infrastructure and hospitality the Finger Lakes region offers. What other compare and contrast points will we find? I am feeling confident the wines will not be the same!

More on the Wine Bloggers Conference and the Finger Lakes region to come!

Meet Clement Chan With Town Hall

By Leeann Froese It's Saturday - that means it's time to introduce you to one of the fabulous personalities in the world #withTownHall

This does not mean they work as part of our team, or are our client (although sometimes they are).

We just interact with so many amazing people that we want to expand networks and introduce them to you, and you to them.

This week #withTownHall we introduce you to Clement Chan

Clement is co-owner of Le Tigre Cuisine - a food truck and catering company. He is also was a season three contestant on Top Chef Canada.

In May, Clement and partners are planning to launch Torafuku, a ramen restaurant with West Coast Flavours. and as a sneak preview to that, just this past week under the banner of the new restaurant Torafuku, Clement and his team won best dessert at the BCPMA Healthy Chef Competition. Congrats!

I wanted to introduce you to Clement this weekend, because tonight he is part of something very special: #dinnerpartyYVR.

Partnered by Cressey, and sponsored by one of our clients Serendipity Winery, #dinnerpartyYVR is a social dining event that has connects Vancouverites in around the home dinner table, all to raise funds for charity. More than 30 hobby chefs cook for strangers in their homes, and the guests pay to attend, but all proceeds of each dinner are donated to a charity of the hobby chef's choosing.

Clement, along with 12-year old #dinnerpartyYVR veteran Liam Lewis, will host a dinner party for some special dinner guests. Diners will be treated to a gourmet meal in Cressey’s luxurious Meccanica Penthouse.

He has a lot going on!

Whether you already know Clement or not, please help us support him and say hello.

Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter.

Take photos like a pro from a camera or a phone

Photography Tips Anyone Can Use By Ali Harris

One of the things I learned in my first photography class is that "The best camera is the one that's with you".

It's no secret that today almost everyone has a camera of some kind on them at any given time. This speaks volumes to how our society and its interaction with photography has changed over time in its value, purpose and process. What used to be an incredibly lengthy and confusing process, has now become available to everyone!

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with three commercial photographers who we have worked with for food, event or portrait photography:

Ali Rahimi  - Vancouver/Montreal

Charles Zuckermann – Vancouver

Phillp Chin - Vancouver/Toronto

These three have more than 60 years experience combined, compared to my five, so I am happy to incorporate their tips and tricks and work them in with my own.

Please find the follow advice on how to take photos like a pro - from any device.

Go to the Light

Stay away from having bright backdrops, especially windows in the back of photos – instead use this light to your advantage and turn your subject to face the brightness and let it illuminate your photos!

Think in Threes

The Rule of Thirds, also known as the Golden Ratio, is a guideline for composing your photos. It involves dividing the image into 9 equal sections and placing your subject where the lines intersect. Putting your subject in the middle is a no-no, as this will create a static photo. The idea was developed by renaissance painters who found that the eye doesn't rest at the centre of the photo... instead, it wants to wander. Of course, there are times when it's appropriate to break the rule, but always have it in mind.

Exposure, Aperture and Shutter Speed

Exposure indicates light sensitivity. A high ISO (International Standards Organization - referring to the industry norm for light sensitivity) allows you to take photos in low light. However, if the ISO is too high, the photo will appear grainy.

Aperture is the size of the physical opening of the lens and determines the focal length or depth-of-field. The higher the number, the a smaller hole letting light in, which I know, is a bit confusing. A low aperture means a larger hole letting light in which will lead to the background being out of focus.

Shutter Speed is how long the lens remains open for. A long shutter speed will show motion in the photo, and may lead to a blurry photo. A short shutter speed is best, to capture a sharp image.

Presentations and Presenters 

Do you need to capture someone giving a speech, giving a cheque presentation, or receiving an award? Use a medium to shallow depth-of-field (Aperture) to make the cheque and/or presenters 'pop'. This means that only the people and cheque will be sharp and the background will be blurry. You can change the depth-of-field by lowering the aperture on your camera.

Avoid shooting from below people. To get the most flattering angle, have your camera at eye level or higher!

Large Group Photos

• Do you need to take a photo of your hockey team or staff? Align your subjects largest in the centre and smallest on the outside and have even numbers on either side.
• Be as close to the crowd as you can without cutting off their heads - you want to see their faces as much as possible.
• Take quite a few shots – have lots of countdowns to avoid people blinking
• Break the ice by making a joke!

Phone Photos

• Take your picture a little further back than you would like to give yourself room to crop it.
• Download an editing program or use the one that comes with your phone.
• Tilt your phone/camera a little. This gives a much more playful vibe.

What to do if the room is dark 

• Use a high ISO to increase the speed that your camera takes the photo.
• Use the built in flash on your camera or smartphone and if your camera doesn't have one, use your smartphone's flashlight as a flash, by holding your camera with one hand, and the smartphone in the other.

What has a better chance for publication? Horizontal or vertical photos?

Most print and online publications request Landscape (Horizontal) shots, but periodicals/magazines often use Portrait (Vertical) shots. Most photographers submit both.

When in doubt, hire a pro! Care to share your favourite photography tips and tricks? Leave them in the comments below!

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 Annika Reinhardt With Town Hall

By Leeann Froese It's Saturday - that means it's time to introduce you to one of the fabulous personalities in the world #withTownHall

This does not mean they work as part of our team, or are our client (although sometimes they are).

We just interact with so many amazing people that we want to expand networks and introduce them to you, and you to them.

This week #withTownHall we introduce you to Annika Reinhardt

I wanted to introduce you to Annika this weekend, because she is also known as Social Bites; and next weekend Social Bites is hosting something very special: #dinnerpartyYVR.

Partnered by Cressey, and sponsored by one of our clients Serendipity Winery, #dinnerpartyYVR is a social dining event that has connects Vancouverites in around the home dinner table, all to raise funds for charity. More than 30 hobby chefs cook for strangers in their homes, and the guests pay to attend, but all proceeds of each dinner are donated to a charity of the hobby chef's choosing.

"This event provides the platform to do social good while enjoying good food and new friends" Annika says. And to date, $15,000 has been raised for Canadian charities!

The next #dinnerpartyYVR takes place on Saturday, March 28, 2015

Whether you know already know Annika or not, please help us support her and say hello.

Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter.

Friday Night Liquor Story

By Leeann Froese Ho-ly! Well what a day it has been, if you work in liquor in our Province.

And I have something to add. Today I met with British Columbia Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton.

Earlier this week I got an email from Anton's office asking if I could meet with her this week. It was stimulated by an email I sent in December to Anton and copied in premier Christy Clark, MLA John Yap, and MLA Rich Coleman.

I had no reply to that initial letter until 10 weeks later when I received a form letter. In the meantime, the trade and media became increasingly vocal on social media as the weeks passed, and I followed the situation along with our winery clients. At one point I shared a couple links to YouTube posts of governmental debates that mentioned our clients in the Legislature, and commented how the situation was a total sh*t show.

So today I spent an hour with Anton in her office. I had never met her before, had no particular love or hate toward her, and no expectation of how the conversation would go. I queried why she had contacted me to meet today, of all days, when the pricing was going to be announced, and how any consultation seemed after-the-fact. It turned out that her office had taken some notice of what I've been sharing on social media and she sought a chance to chat with me. Also, I'm one of her constituents; her office is conveniently up the road from me.

I found her to be very accessible, open to feedback, and she was as open and candid with me as I was with her.

As an industry stakeholder I explained that Andrew and I own our burgeoning marketing agency with a specialty in wine, and we attempt to make a modest living as well as support others via our promotional work with wineries in BC and from overseas. I stated that our clients’ success at the retail shelf and in restaurants is our success too, and the new price model set to be implemented on April 1, 2015 is being very negatively received by BC’s wine and liquor industry. This industry does not feel that they have been asked for input and they are very nervous about what the final prices will be.

She shared with me that the government knows there are some people who are not happy but there's also people who will be happy, most of all consumers, who, as we have all been reminded, now get to enjoy happy hour, wine at farmer’s markets, and soon in select grocery stores. (I admit I personally am pretty glad about happy hour.)

But I said to her again that I did think it was a sh*t show (and yes I used those words) that the industry had a lack of consultation and that the numbers are not public, and that our winery clients are frustrated and uncertain. I also noted that the private retailers, who stand to take a hit in their margin, are an important trade channel for both our domestic and international wine clients. I mentioned that private retailers are frustrated that they cannot sell to restaurants, and Anton indicated this situation will not change.

I also said that she must have noticed that among all of my cohorts the talk is most negative, and that key wine writers had a lot to say on the matter. She said that she had not directly spoken to these wine writers, but would if she had been approached.

Among further discussion on the topic she shared with me that any price fluctuations will be minor and the announcement that was going to follow today was the release of the information to hospitality customers. I didn't really clue in that ‘hospitality customers’ meant that the public was not going to see what the wholesale markup model is going to be, so I am disappointed that after all this waiting, we still don’t all know the prices.

At this late hour I am drafting this post and the day is all but over. Many of my clients and journalists have gone to bed, but that was not before the online world was set aflame with indignation and frustration. Sigh.

However, being the glass-half-full person I am, I want to end this post with a glimmer of hope, and that is that it’s still a very much a time of change in our province. The liquor act is being analyzed from end to end and rewritten, and that job is not finished yet. The government remains open to ideas and feedback so I definitely recommend anyone in the industry or otherwise who has something to share should contact their MLA. Especially if you come across any rules or laws that seem to be antiquated or silly.

A last note from my meeting: Anton said that any media or trade writing on the topic of liquor should reach out to her communications person Jeff Groot.

Now I will watch and wait.

Meet the Hootsuite Owl With Town Hall

By Leeann Froese It's Saturday - that means it's time to introduce you to one of the fabulous personalities in the world #withTownHall

This does not mean they work as part of our team, or are our client (although sometimes they are).

We just interact with so many amazing people that we want to expand networks and introduce them to you, and you to them.

This week #withTownHall we introduce you to the Hootsuite Owl!

Hootsuite is a Vancouver-based company that offers an online social media management system. Hootsuite has a dashboard that helps users keep track and manage their social network channels. From a business perspective, it can enable a business to monitor what people are saying about their brand and help companies respond instantly.

I attended a social media meetup at the Hootsuite office a while back, and admired their brand integration, heavily based on owls. Their office HQ is the Owls Nest and their Owly mascot is named for the company's URL shortener owl.y. So I jumped at the chance to meet the superstar mascot.

I have a few friends that work at Hootsuite, and I cheer on the company's success as a local company that employs more than 500 people. I cannot imagine Town Hall ever getting bigger than 10!

In any case, it's not the best picture, but hopefully you will see the fun in it too.

Have you ever met Owly? Whether you have or you have not, please do say hello. Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter.

Meet Tyler Harlton With Town Hall

By Leeann Froese It's Saturday - that means it's time to introduce you to one of the fabulous personalities in the world #withTownHall

This does not mean they work as part of our team, or are our client (although sometimes they are).

We just interact with so many amazing people that we want to expand networks and introduce them to you, and you to them.

This week #withTownHall we introduce you to Tyler Harlton.

Tyler is the owner and winemaker of Summerland's TH Wines.

Relatively new to wine, first Tyler was a pro hockey player (drafted by the St. Louis Blues), then a lawyer, and now, as a winemaker he is winning over palates one at a time with his BC wines made, by hand, starting in the vineyard.

We are really proud of Tyler on his journey as a BC wine producer, and we invite you to help us congratulate him, as he was just named one of the Western Living magazine 2015 Foodies of the Year!

Whether you know Tyler already or not, please help us congratulate him and say hello.  Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter.

7 Tips to Build Your Online Relationship

By: Amy Chen

Whether it’s with your customers, employees, stakeholders, or suppliers, a genuine relationship is fundamental to any successful business.

As our world is shifting quickly to social media platforms, effective maintenance of online relationship becomes just as important as an in-person relationship.

So, what are seven tips to follow in building and maintaining an authentic online relationship? Ricky Shetty from Daddy Blogger and a panel of social media experts (Matt Astifan, Wendy McClelland, Michelle Castillo, Steve Dotto, Cadi Jordan, Vincent Ng, Katt Stearns, Jonathan Christian, and Kemp Edmonds) who spoke at the recent 2015 Social Media Mastery Conference offered several nuggets throughout the day-long event.

We have rounded it up the best of our ability into seven take away tips:

1. Do unto others as they have done unto you. If you want others to Like, share and engage on your posts, do so first and reciprocate. Remember to be respectful and thank others when they engage in your conversations. Just like any relationship building, the more time you spend engaging in it, the more you will get noticed. But make sure your engagements are meaningful, appropriate and reflect the kind of personality you want others to perceive.

2. Go the extra mile. Social media, especially LinkedIn, is a world full of professional connections. There are many others with a similar background as you. To get noticed, you need to build connections by going the extra mile. Thank others when you make a connection with them. Or, offer encouragement, compliments and expert advice where appropriate.

3. Use hashtags. Use hashtags (but don’t overuse them) so your content appears in conversations with likeminded individuals. When you have a common ground with others, it’s much easier to engage in an authentic conversation and build a relationship.

4. Pictures are in. Visual image is where it’s at in social media. People are drawn towards images and colours. Use images wherever possible in your social media posts. It is only when you have someone’s attention then you can have their ears to listen.

5. Tag appropriately. The rule of thumb is to only tag people who appear in your photo. Don’t flood and spam your social media connections by tagging photos of people who do not appear in the photo. Chances are, your connection won’t be sharing or engaging in the conversation if it’s not relevant to them.

6. Find common ground. Part of building and maintaining a relationship is finding your common ground with the other person. When you share the same hobbies, stories, or have a similar common ground, you’re able to start a conversation that you’ll both relate to and find interest. From there, a meaningful and authentic relationship can be built and often leading to a successful business relationship.

7. Treat it as a real relationship. If it’s not something you will want the whole world to know about, don’t share it on social media. Treat every connection you have on social media as an in-person relationship. Behave as you would in-person.

What do you think? Do you agree? Do you have any tips to add or share? Let us know below.