Meet Justin Darnes of Drinks Undressed #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It's a new week 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 Justin Darnes.

Justin Darnes is one of Vancouver's cocktail masters and currently managing the bar at Mission in Kitsilano.

Justin has also created his own YouTube channel, 'Drinks Undressed' where he creates cocktails that are easy and cheap for the masses to replicate at home or when hosting a party. So far there are 22 episodes with no signs of stopping.

In January, you'll be able to see Justin take wines from our clients Evolve Cellars, Serendipity Winery, and TIME Estate Winery and incorporate them into various cocktails.

With all this in mind, can you please say hi to Justin? Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter.

Meet Ron Wilson of Cheap & Cheerful #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 Ron Wilson.

Ron Wilson has worked in television and radio for more than thirty years, and has a life long passion for wine. This is how we came to meet Ron.

In the past he hosted a morning radio in Edmonton for CBC Radio One. This included weekly wine segment with one of Canada's foremost wine experts, Gurvinder Bhatia of Vinomania Wines. Ron was a willing participant to taste along.

Now settled in Vancouver, Ron's always on the lookout for great wines at a great price. Which is why one year ago he launched the his website Cheapandcheerful.ca.

On this very helpful site, Ron recommends only wines which he has personally tried and tested. They must all cost $25.00 or less without sacrificing the taste.

We are delighted that Ron has given coverage to many of our wine clients.

And in addition to this, Ron is a nice guy - he gets involved with varying charities in his community, including the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and QMUNITY, and is always quick to smile and say something nice.

With all this in mind, can you please say hi to Ron? Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter.

Newly released: What makes Riesling a “BC” Riesling?

By: Amy Chen

As the world’s 20^th most grown grape varietal, Riesling is said to have originated from the Rhine region of Germany during the 15^th century. Over time, Riesling made its way to Canada, where it is most commonly used to produce stunning Icewine in Ontario and table or sparkling wines, like the Summerhill Cipes Brut, in British Columbia (BC).

Every wine lover knows the importance of terroir in influencing the taste and flavour of a wine. Even if BC is a relatively young wine region, it still has its unique terroir that defines this region.

According to the British Columbia Wine Institute (BCWI), there are currently 440 acres of Riesling grapes planted throughout vineyards in BC. Regardless of the winemaking style, BC’s Riesling is fairly balanced and acidic.

The general flavour profile for Riesling ranges from fruity flavours of pear, apple, stone fruits, to herbal, citrusy, and floral notes. Minerality and petrol is occasionally tasted in older vintages. It’s also dry to sweet with a light to medium body.

This seems like a wide spectrum of tasting notes for Riesling. So, is there a more specific and distinct flavour profile that is unique to BC Riesling? What makes BC Riesling special?

Acclaimed wine, food and travel writer, Karl Kliparchuk of MyWinePal began to explore this question from the angle of soil. Karl collected BC Riesling (mostly from 2014 vintage) from 35 wineries in various wine regions of BC, including samples from our clients: Evolve Cellars, and Haywire / Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland, Monte Creek Ranch in Kamloops, Mt. Boucherie Winery in West Kelowna, and Summerhill Pyramid Winery in Kelowna.

Evolve 2014 Riesling ($16.99)- Lime juicy with floral notes and a touch of honey sweet. Well balanced citrus and peach, smooth and full-bodied with a seamless palate. Pairs well with crab cakes, other seafoods, Asian cuisine (think red curry), or sweet and spicy dishes.

Mike B Riesling Cabinett 2014 ($25.00)- This Riesling was made in a stainless steel tank and a concrete egg to build complexity and showcase a bright acid and mineral style. This wine stopped fermentation naturally, leaving a touch of sweetness which balances the wine magically. Lemons, lime, and pure fresh Okanagan minerality all lead to a bracing zing that only Riesling can deliver.

Monte Creek Ranch 2014 Riesling ($16.99)- This classic Riesling beauty entices with a brilliant green gold colour and aromas of kiwi, lime rind, wet stone, and honey. Mouth watering acidity and a long, flavourful finish that will make you crave more. Harvested October 13th, 2014.

Mt. Boucherie Winery 2013 Riesling ($16.00)- An off-dry white. Refreshing stone fruit, apricot, peach and a hint of citrus and green apple on both the nose and the palate. Pair with smoked salmon, fish tacos or a broccoli and apple salad.

Summerhill 2014 Organic Riesling ($22.95)- This classic version under-went a cold stabilized stop of fermentation resulting in a balanced, off-dry wine with low alcohol. Pair with egg dishes such as quiche, frittata or omelette. Also try pairing with seafood, salads and tapas style meals or just enjoy as a sipping wine with friends.

His months-long analysis included an extensive comparison of the tasting notes, soil and geographic region of Riesling throughout BC.

The body of work that Karl developed is unlike anything done in the past, and is such a gift to both the wineries who have been evaluated, as well as the industry at large.

To better guide you through understanding BC Riesling, Karl divided his research into several parts, all of which offer an impressive and comprehensive insight into this aromatic varietal in BC.

• Is BC Riesling Special?
  • An introduction about the project idea.
• My BC Riesling Review Update
  • A brief explanation about the procedures that will be taken to complete this project.
• BC Riesling Review- The Tasting Notes
  • Like any wine review, this is where you will find detailed notes about each wine’s flavour profile.
• BC Riesling Review- Let’s Talk About Soil
  • Soil is the fundamental. Dig deeper into what is soil and its relationship with BC vineyards.
• BC Riesling Review- Unique Aromas and Flavours Identified
  • An analysis and identification of unique aromas and flavours of Riesling from different BC soil.
• My BC Riesling Review- Give Me Some Latitude
  • A review how aroma and flavour profiles of BC Riesling varies across geographical latitude.

What’s your experience with BC Riesling? Let us know in the comment section below or tweet us @TownHallBrands to start the discussion.

Meet Mary Halpen of Best of Bridge #WithTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 Mary Halpen.

Mary is one of the original eight friends who founded Best of Bridge.

In 1975, Mary, along with a group of friends who played bridge together regularly, decided that they would write a cookbook to celebrate the food they shared with each other when they'd meet. Their first book in 1976 led the way for more than 15 books between then and now.

These recipes, written by regular moms, have worked for families across Canada for decades. Best of Bridge recipes are staples at dinners, potlucks and gatherings, and the generation of children that was raised on these cookbooks is now cooking these recipes for themselves.

The original members of Best of Bridge, including Mary, are setting to retire; but they are passing on their legacy to new groups and Best of Bridge continues to live on.

If you have not tried any of the Best of Bridge recipes, then don't let the holiday season go by without giving one of these tried-and-true group friendly recipes a try.

And in honour of the trailblazing work that Mary and her seven friends did in starting Best of Bridge can you please give her a big hello!

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

Meet Skip and Judy Stothert #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 Skip and Judy Stothert.

Skip and Judy Stothert have been partners in life and love since they met on a blind date in high school and have been together ever since. Skip ran a successful highway paving business (Green Roads Recycling) while Judy taught Interior Design at BCIT while handling a select stable of clients. In 2003 Skip and Judy relocated from Deep Cove in North Vancouver to a 52-acre-site seven kilometers north of Naramata, directly above the water.

Skip and Judy named their new home Coolshanagh which means "a meeting place of friends" because it was part of Judy's family tradition.

It was on this site that Skip and Judy first cleared and planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the best suited varietals for the land after much research. Renowned global terroir specialist Pedro Parra called their site among the top 15% of key sites in the world, with some of best exposure and soil structures for grape growing he had seen in the Okanagan.

After selling their grapes for a few years, Skip and Judy decided to make their own wine in 2012 at Okanagan Crush Pad, under the Coolshanagh label, beginning with Chardonnay. Subsequent vintages have been released and the production of Coolshanagh Pinot Noir is underway.

Our team is very proud to have done the packaging and to promote this tiny producer.

With all of this shared about Skip and Judy, will you please help us give them a big hello?

Leave a comment below – or go give this post a like or share on Facebook or Twitter, Skip can be found on Instagram at Coolshanagh.

Meet William Ho #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 William Ho.

William is a TV host with Fairchild TV and a Radio presenter with Fairchild Radio AM1470 / FM96.1.

William hosts the Leisure Talk segment on Fairchild TV which covers a wide range of interesting topics and features the equally wide range of guests. It is no suprise that William is equally as great on the radio, as he has a strong passion for music (and a large collection of vinyl) as well as an amazing voice (he recently joined Mimi Choo on stage for a harmonizing duet).

William holds his friends close as they are the most important fixture in his life. This love for his friends, as well as his passion for finding great dishes has led him, alongside Deborah Moore and Bosco Mo to form The Three Gourmigos. The Three Gourmigos love to explore Vancouver’s food scene, share their experiences, and recommend some of the best dishes in the city to their audience.

Deborah Moore also introduced her readers to 14 things you didn't know about William - so learn a bit more on him there too.

When he is not on the air or out on the town with The Three Gourmigos, William spends his time catching up on both Western and Chinese soap operas, listening to Chinese and Western songs, new and old, to prep for his show, or listening to his favourite artist; Barry Manilow.

With all of that said about William, will you please help us give him a big hello?

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

Meet Jackie Gidda #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 Jackie Gidda.

Jackie was born into the BC wine industry as her family has been growing grapes since the early 1970s and is one of the pioneering families of the Okanagan. The Gidda family opened Mt. Boucherie Family Estate Winery in 2001 and have been a friendly fixture in West Kelowna ever since.

At Mt. Boucherie Jackie contributes in the tasting room as well as helps represent the winery at events. She does not do this full time, as she is an accountant and mom of two as well, and that keeps her plate very full!

Jackie's sparkling personality and friendly approach make her a joy to be around whenever you encounter her at a tasting, and with all of that said about Jackie, will you please help us give a big hello to her?

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

Meet Ann Luu #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 Ann Luu.

Ann Luu’s bright smile is the first thing that thousands of Vancouverites wake up to as the co-host and traffic specialist for CTV Morning Live. Her passion for broadcasting is obvious and her experience in the field is top notch, she has worked in the radio and TV for the past seven years for CHMJ-AM 730, 102.7 The Peak FM, 93.7 JRfm, CBC News Vancouver and most recently for The Early Edition with CBC Radio One.

When Ann isn’t saving commuters time with her morning traffic reports and keeping us up to date on what we need to know as we head into the day, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two Boston terrier dogs; Nitro and Ramsay, cruising down the local mountain slopes, and hiking in the outdoors.

Yesterday was the 1000^th show for CTV Morning Live and we want to congratulate Ann and the whole CTV morning team on their hard work and dedication and a big cheers to the next 1000^th episodes! Will you please help us give Ann a big hello?

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

Meet Amy Chen #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 actually are featuring one of our own team members - we introduce you to our very own Amy Chen!

It's Amy's birthday today so we thought if you haven't met her yet, this is a great chance to introduce her to you.

Amy is one of our star communicators. She does PR and event management with a smile and smarts. She has worked with us for a year and a half and in that time has become one of the city's go-to PR people when it comes to wine, food, and personalities.

Always with a positive attitude, Amy is a strategic thinker and is a great asset to our clients. You can read her complete bio here, but what we want you to know is that she is super talented, multi-lingual and in addition to being so great with people, she loves dogs too.

She works really hard and brings a ray of sunshine into our lives every day, and if you knew her, she'd bring sunshine into your life too!

She will be #withTownHall all week, so please help us wish her a happy birthday and give her a hello.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Want to see even more?

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

Meet Jennifer Schell #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 Jennifer Schell.

Jennifer is a food and wine writer, columnist and editor of BC Food and Wine Trails Magazine, member of Les Dames d'Escoffier, author of the international best seller The Butcher, The Baker, The Wine & Cheese Maker – An Okanagan Cookbook and the brand new The Butcher, The Baker, The Wine & Cheese Maker - By the Sea.  In her second book you'll be able to learn from our clients Bailey Williamson, winemaker at Blue Grouse Estate Winery in the Cowichan Valley, Harry McWatters, from TIME Estate Winery, and multiple member chefs from The Chefs' Table Society of British Columbia.

Jennifer has made her work about celebrating the people behind the labels and recipes, so today take a moment to say 'hello' and help celebrate her.

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

Meet Steven Spurrier #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 Steven Spurrier.

Steven Spurrier, Decanter magazine’s consulting editor and chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards, has been a leader in the global wine industry for 50 years. Spurrier’s introduction to wine was through his grandfather on Christmas eve in 1945 when he was poured a Cockburn’s 1908 port after dinner. It was at this point that Spurrier knew he would make wine his profession; starting in cellars of Christopher and Co, he would go on to start his own wine shop, Les Caves de la Madeleine and then L’Academie du Vin, France’s first private wine school, he now is the proprietor of a 10-hectare vineyard, Bride Valley, at his farm in Dorset. This lifelong passion for wine has led Spurrier to be at the forefront of the international wine industry.

This August, Spurrier visited BC to judge in a blind tasting event organized by the BC Wine Institute and Vancouver wine luminary DJ Kearney. The event, aptly named the Judgment of BC, was fashioned after Spurrier’s 1976 Judgement of Paris event which pitted California Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons against their French counterparts and concluded with a shocking decision in which the French judges scored Californian wines highest in each category.

The Judgement of BC put local Chardonnays and Syrahs beside a world class selection from around the globe.  While the 2013 vintage from the Okanagan’s C.C. Jentsch topped the list of Syrahs, the BC Chardonnays did not fair as well with the top B.C. vintage Okanagan Falls’ Blue Mountain Reserve 2013 in sixth place.

After sitting down for a tasting with Kurtis Kolt, he left him with these words: “My message to British Columbia is that I think you undervalue yourselves: your wines are sensational.”

Both the Judgement of B.C. and Spurrier’s commentary on BC wines have been a reaffirmation that the industry is continuing to move in the right direction and has the ability to produce world class vintages. The Somm Journal has just published an article by Spurrier entitled "The Best of British Columbia", in which he gives these encouraging words; "For me, wine is the three Ps: the place, the people and the product. British Columbia ticks all three boxes with exuberance, elegance and conviction." It was an honour and pleasure to have Spurrier visit BC and taste what our region has to offer.

With all of that said about Steven, will you please help us give a big hello to him?

For more coverage of Spurrier’s visit and the Judgement of BC please visit:

“I think that was a very successful tasting,” Spurrier remarked to the Westender, “There wasn’t a dud wine in there. Syrah always has a wonderful exuberance and a wonderful expression and I found that the British Columbia Syrah were very expressive.”

“You’re not an emerging wine region but a deserving wine region” - Check out Tim Pawsey's coverage of Spurrier's visit over at Hired Belly.

John Schreiner's coverage of Judgment of BC and the C.C. Jentsch Cellars' vintage that topped the list of Syrahs during this momentous blind tasting event.  

Kurtis Kolt sat down with Spurrier for a tasting of BC wines at Chambar, learn about their conversation on the BC wine industry and their tasting notes from the evening.

Check out Kurtis Kolt's coverage of the Judgment of BC and the full listing of Chardonnay and Syrah results over at The Georgia Straight.

Daenna Van Mulligen, one of the judges at the Judgment of BC, writes a very interesting article on her experience as well as covering Spurrier's visit and remarks on her website Wine Diva.

Read Treve Ring's coverage of and thoughts on the Judgment of BC over at Anthony Gismondi On Wine.

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

Meet Madeline Puckette #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 Madeline Puckette.

A true #winelover, Madeline is the talented genius behind Wine Folly. We choose to feature Madeline today as this week she released her #WineFollyBook aptly titled “The Essential Guide to Wine”.

Wine Folly is a culture site offering articles and videos that connect people to the world of wine. Madeline and her Wine Folly team are based in Seattle, but they travel the world over for wine.

Madeline’s roots as a graphic designer are very apparent with the website’s aesthetically pleasing and easy to consume infographics. This, paired with her extensive credentials as a wine expert and wine writer, makes Wine Folly an essential guide for the new generation of wine drinkers.

I first met Madeline in Portland at the Wine Bloggers Conference in 2012, just as Wine Folly was starting to be a thing of note. She has come so far in a few short years and her progress has been nothing short of amazing. She has won critical acclaim for her humorous and clever way of educating and demystifying wine, and is a person featured in the 2015 Wine Enthusiast magazine 40 Under 40 list. #gogetit Madeline!

To Madeline: I am hungrily devouring your book and I know I am with people all over the world when I offer you my heartfelt congratulations on the launch!

Everyone, please say hi to Madeline and congratulate her on the launch of the Wine Folly book.

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

Meet Crystal Henrickson #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 Crystal Henrickson.

Crystal wears many hats in her professional life, from instructing in Community Management at UBC to producing #DinnerPartyYVR, she has proven her ability to design and build communities from the ground up time and time again. Her background is equally as impressive; working at Chimp in community management and as the director of marketing and community at Yelp where she has been hailed as the "girl who brought Yelp to Canada". Crystal has cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with in the marketing and community development world.

When she is not launching exciting new communities, you can find Crystal in the kitchen cooking, relaxing with a book, or enjoying the outdoors.

With all of that said about Crystal, will you please help us give a big hello to her?

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

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase Monte Creek Ranch

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

Monte Creek Ranch, Monte Creek BC

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

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

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

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

To Learn More:

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

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase SpierHead Winery and Serendipity Winery

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

SpierHead Winery, Kelowna BC 

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

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

To Learn More:

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

Serendipity Winery, Naramata BC

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

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

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

To Learn More:

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

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase Mt. Boucherie Winery

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

Mt. Boucherie Winery, Kelowna BC

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

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

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

To Learn More:

www.mtboucheriewinery.com | Twitter: @mtboucheriewine

What you will taste:

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

Who you will meet:

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

Meet Eagranie Yuh #withTownHall

By Leeann Froese It’s a new week 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 Eagranie Yuh.

Eagranie is a writer, editor, and chocolate educator. Prior to that, she was a chemist, pastry chef, and chocolatier. She contributes a sweet column to the Vancouver Courier and is a senior editor of Edible Vancouver and Wine Country.

She’s the author of the best selling Chocolate-Tasting Kit (Chronicle Books), is a grand jury member of the International Chocolate Awards and was the 2013/2014 Canadian awards partner. She also helps specialty shops select and market fine chocolate, including staff training via her company, The Well-Tempered Chocolatier.

If those aren't enough hats, she also has a day job in corporate communications.

We are proud to know Eagranie for a few years, and to have experienced her knowledge with chocolate firsthand, particularly when she surprised us as an 'act of kindness' with Marc Smith of 30 Day Adventures to give our team a chocolate tasting 101 session. PS - book one of these, and buy her book - it was awesome!

With all of that said about this amazing lady, will you please help us give Eagranie a big hello?

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

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase Evolve Cellars

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

Evolve Cellars, Summerland BC

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

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

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

To Learn More:

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

What you will taste:

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

Who you will meet:

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

Colour BC and ChefMeetsBCGrape To Showcase Summerhill Pyramid Winery

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

Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Kelowna BC

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

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

To Learn More:

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

 What you will taste:

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

Who you will meet:

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