BC's Best Sommelier Named for 2018

2018 Best Sommelier of BC Crowned in Vancouver

Note to Media:

Photos from the competition available online here: http://bit.ly/2DOjC2S
For a web version of the press release, view it here: http://bit.ly/2DPlRmu 

News in Short:

[Vancouver, BC] The Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers British Columbia Chapter (CAPS BC), announces the Best Sommelier of British Columbia 2018 is Sean Nelson, sommelier at Vij's restaurant. This is a hard-earned win for Nelson, who also was awarded "Best Taster" of the day.

Sean Nelson of Vij's crowned Best Sommelier of BC 2018. 

Additionally, Nelson will be formally recognized at the VIWF Trade Luncheon in February.

In a very tight finale, Nelson outscored second place winner Matthew Landry of the Stable House Bistro and 3rd place winner Todd Prucyk of Hawksworth Restaurant to claim the 2018 Title. All three of the finalists were gifted with a personalized Canucks jersey on behalf of Rogers Arena.

CAPS BC president Lesley Brown says, "A huge congratulations Sean, and to both Matt and Todd; and, all of the 13 competitors today."

More Information:

The annual competition, emceed by Shane Taylor, winner of 2017 Best Sommelier BC Competition, attracted sommeliers from across the province to compete in the Captains Room at Rogers Arena for the title of  Best Sommelier of British Columbia. The competition included an intense written exam in the morning, with the top three scoring sommeliers from the written exam advancing through to a series of practical tests, such as opening and pouring sparkling wine perfectly, spotting errors in a written wine menu, and blind tasting and identifying wines; all in front of 100 spectators. 

This year's competition judges were Barbara Philip, Michaela Morris, and Sebastien Le Goff.

The full list of competitors:

Christina Hartigan, Botanist
Calen Macdonald, Blue Water Cafe
Michael Hiram, AnnaLena
Matthew Landry, The Stable House Bistro
Shane Lobsinger, Sonora Resort
Adam Mayhew, Yew at Four Seasons Hotel
Scott Mitchell, AnnaLena
Sean Nelson, Vij's
Jayton Paul, Hawksworth Restaurant
Todd Prucyk, Hawksworth Restaurant
Tereza Roux, Wedgewood Hotel
Peter Van de Reep, Campagnolo
Jesse Walters, Burdock & Co.  

New Aspiring Sommelier Competition:

New and as a first in Canada this year, CAPS BC hosted the 2018 BC Aspiring Sommelier Competition. This event was for any member of CAPS BC who earns at least 50% of their income from hospitality employment in any role, and who has an interest in participating in future Best Sommelier BC competitions. The event mimics the Best Sommelier BC format in order to give aspiring sommeliers the opportunity to understand what the competition is all about.

Winner of the inaugural Aspiring Sommelier Competition is Ian Wharton of Blue Water Cafe. The runner up: Alex Anderson of Tap Restaurant.

Also competing were:

• Noel Hollett, Vancouver Club
• Jasmin Kohli-Bryans, AnnaLena
• Michael Wong, Chambar
• Eliza Bashkirova, Botanist

Jason Yamasaki (Wine Director of the Joey Restaurant Group and Best Sommelier in BC 2015) and Mark Shipway (Director of Professional Development, CAPS - BC) oversaw the new competition. Jason mentioned as part of the awards announcement that "BC is leading the way with this competition. The sommelier community continues to build in BC and it is truly something special."

Suggested Tweet: The @CAPS_BC #BestSommBC is @sommwineguy of @eatdrinkvijs 

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About The Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers:
Established in 1989, the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) is a pan-Canadian association, which brings together individuals within the sommelier profession, restaurant services, and other sectors of the wine industry.

As a not-for-profit organization, CAPS aims to promote and educate the sommelier profession through professional development and networking events related to the wine and spirits industry. Visit: http://sommelierscanada.com/ 

Champion Vancouver chefs are set to compete for the coveted Curry Cup

Lineup of leading Chefs announced for 2018 Curry Cup

Few tickets remain to the event. Get yours now.

[Vancouver, BC] On March 13, 2018, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, The Chefs' Table Society of BC's fifth annual Curry Cup returns to Heritage Hall (3102 Main St., Vancouver). 

$69 + taxes & fees gets you a ticket which includes delicious samples of curry from each team, canapés, and cocktails.

More delicious additions include wine samples from Evolve Cellars, beer samples from R&B Brewing, and fresh dessert doughnuts from Cartems Donuts. It's the best ticket in town for an intimate, tasty, and entertaining evening that also benefits Project Chef, a program which teaches young students about healthy food.

Meet this year's competing chefs:

• Elizabeth Bryan, Dock Lunch
• Shelome Bouvette, Chicha 
• Andrea Carlson, Burdock and Co.
• Tim Evans, The Cascade Room
• Karl Gregg, Colony on Main
• Mark Hills, Hills Foods
• Alana Peckham, Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver
• Alessandro Vianello, Gooseneck Hospitality

Hosted once again by the inimitable Fred Lee of The Province and CBC Radio, he will be joined by the following judges:

Felix Zhou, Heritage Asian Eatery - last year's winner!
Alexandra Gill, The Globe and Mail
Vikram Vij, Vij's Restaurant

The Chefs' Table Society of BC also proudly acknowledges the generous supply of rentals from Lonsdale Event Rentals for the 5th consecutive year.

For more information about the fifth annual Curry Cup visit here. 

Photo assets available on Dropbox: here.

About the Chefs' Table Society:

The Chefs' Table Society of British Columbia is a non-profit society comprised of BC's leading chefs and culinary professionals. It is a chef-administered, province-wide collaborative dedicated to creating a foundation for the exchange of information between culinary professionals. 

The Society supports innovative and sustainable programs that will inspire, educate and nurture BC chefs, producers and the local food industry. The Chefs' Table Society secures apprenticeships for and bestows bursaries to emerging local chefs and also finances culinary education programs in BC schools.

Visit  chefstablesociety.com for more information about the Chefs' Table Society of BC or to become a chef or supporting member.

Gluten-Free Version of Ready-to-Eat Cookie Dough Arrives at Langley's Gourmet Food Store

[Langley, BC] Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store has released a gluten-free version of their freshly made and fully pasteurized Ready-To-Eat Cookie Dough in the popular flavour, Classic Chocolate Chip- a true classic that brings back childhood memories. 

Available for $7.99 in-store at Langley's Well Seasoned or online (ships Canada-wide), each dough is packaged in a single-serve container with two accompanying wooden spoons.

Well Seasoned's Ready-To-Eat Cookie Dough has been gaining viral attention and is barely staying on the shelves. To meet customer demands, it was only fair to create a gluten-free version so everyone can enjoy. 

As seen on outlets such as Vancouver is Awesome and The Georgia Straight (and many others), the Ready-To-Eat Cookie Dough is unsurprisingly catching fire all around Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. It also continues to be at the top of each year's food trends. 

This special Ready-To-Eat Cookie Dough allows food-lovers to safely consume the "raw" dough. There are no raw eggs or unpasteurized ingredients - these treats are designed to satisfy the cookie dough craving without the risk. Now with the gluten-free recipe, those with dietary restrictions don't have to take a risk, either. 

Langley's Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store has released a gluten-free version of the Classic Chocolate Chip Ready-To-Eat Cookie Dough.

FAQs: 

• Can I bake the Ready-To-Eat Cookie Dough into cookies?
  • No, our cookie dough is made especially for consuming unbaked. It doesn't include ingredients necessary for making baked cookies.

• Are there added preservatives in your cookie dough?

  • No, the cookie dough is made with fresh ingredients and immediately frozen or refrigerated.
     
• How should I store my Ready-To-Eat Cookie Dough?
  • Ready-To-Eat Cookie Dough will last up to 10 days at room temperature or 6 weeks in the refrigerator. If you would like to save your Ready-To-Eat Cookie Dough for later, it can be frozen for about 1 year. Just thaw it for 20-30 minutes and it will be ready to eat again.

• Is your cookie dough safe to eat raw?
  • Yes, all of the ingredients in our homemade recipes are safe to consume unbaked.

Don't miss another important deadline by following our lead times

Ever feel so overwhelmed trying to plan for the year that you’re often getting things done last minute? Don’t stress, we’re here to help! We’ve put together a timeline to help you stay on track.

Remember that creating marketing materials takes time. Allow three to four months for a wine label design from start to finish (and don’t forget the bottle shots images!). Get ready for your wine shop opening for the season with signage and point-of-sale materials. And start thinking about your holiday needs at the end of summer.

Below is a graphic for a visual representation. Text to follow.

For questions and/or graphic design help, contact us at info@townhallbrands.com.

Winter (December, January, February)

• Advertisements: You should have your advertisement budget planned for the year. Now’s the time to get those campaigns and ads created.
• Wine Labels & Bottle Shot Images: Whether you are refreshing your labels, updating the vintages and back labels, or designing a whole new label – it’s time to start this process to prepare for your spring release.
• Prepare for updated press materials for media queries.
• Tasting materials: Below are some materials you may need for your tasting room opening:
  o  Highway signage for visitors
  o  Shelf talkers
  o  Portfolio list
  o  Signage for winery (tasting fees, etc)
  o  Tasting cards
  o  Neck tags
  o  Shelf tags

SPRING (MARCH, APRIL, MAY)

• This is the time to make sure all your labels are done in time for your spring release.
• Bottle Shot Images: With the labels finalized, this is a great time to get bottle shot images made. They can be used in your sell sheets, online store, advertisements, or to fulfill media requests.
• Is your press kit up to date?
• With the busy tasting season coming up, is your wine shop ready for visitors?

Summer (June, July, August)

• Wine Labels & Bottle Shot Images: Whether you are refreshing your labels, updating the vintages and back labels, or designing a whole new label – it’s time to start this process to prepare for your fall release.
• Packaging: Wine cases, bottle cap enclosures, prep for bottling
• Holidays: It’s not too early to think about your holiday offerings, and this is actually the best time to do it! Below are some materials you may need, for your clients and for your sales team.
  o  Shelf talkers
  o  Technical sheets
  o  Portfolio booklets
  o  Holiday offerings sell sheets
  o  Wine club offers sell sheets
  o  Advertisements
  o  Holiday cards – printed or ecards
  o  Tasting cards

Fall (September, October, November)

• Holidays: Finalize your holiday pieces to make the most of your year-end sales
• Point-of-sale materials: Need updates to your current marketing materials?
  o  Business cards
  o  Rack cards
  o  Brochures
  o  Banners

Best Sommelier of BC Returns January 29

Best Sommelier of BC Competition Returns to Vancouver

New competing category for 2018 BC Aspiring Sommelier

Hosted by The Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers British Columbia Chapter (CAPS BC), the fourth annual Best Sommelier of BC Competition returns to Rogers Arena on January 29th, 2018.

[Vancouver, BC] This annual competition attracts some of the best and brightest sommeliers from across the province to compete for the title of BC's Best Sommelier 2018 . This incredibly challenging competition includes both a written and practical examination. The practical exam will be held live as the top three sommeliers from the written portion compete for the 2018 title. Ticket packages available for CAPS Members and the public to view the competition and join the post-competition celebration dinner and announcements.

The winner will be announced at the post-competition Dinner, hosted by CAPS BC, at the Encore Suite at Rogers Arena (doors open at 4:30pm).

To be eligible to compete, individuals must be accredited members of CAPS BC and must earn at least 50% of their income from hospitality employment as a sommelier. Competitors must also be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Those sommeliers (or up-and-coming sommeliers) wishing to compete can still apply, and the entrants to date are listed here, in alphabetical order by last name:

Christina Hartigan, Botanist
Michael Hiram, AnnaLena
Matthew Landry, The Stable House Bistro
Shane Lobsinger, Sonora Resort
Adam Mehew, Yew at Four Seasons Hotel
Scott Mitchell, AnnaLena
Sean Nelson, Vij's
Jayton Paul, Hawksworth Restaurant
Todd Prucyk, Hawksworth Restaurant
Tereza Roux, Wedgewood Hotel
Peter Van de Reep, Campagnolo
Jesse Walters, Burdock & Co.

Esteemed judges for this year: Barbara Philip, Michaela Morris and Sebastien Le Goff. Emcee is DJ Kearney and Shane Taylor, winner of 2017 Best Sommelier BC Competition.

Competition Details

9:00am-11:00am- Preliminary competition, including written exam and blind tasting, with all candidates. This portion happens behind closed doors.

12:00pm-4:30pm- The Top 3 Competitors will be announced, and then immediately compete live for Best Somm BC 2018. This portion is open to the public for viewing.

Location: Captains Room, Rogers Arena (Gate 10, 800 Griffiths Way)

Champions Dinner Details

4:30pm-8:00pm- Cocktail hour, dinner served, and winners announced.

Location: Encore Suite, Rogers Arena  (Gate 10, 800 Griffiths Way)

Ticket Prices:

CAPS Members:
$65 - Live Competition Viewing + Reception & Dinner Package
$40 - Reception/Dinner Only

Non-Members:
$75 - Live Competition Viewing + Reception & Dinner Package
$50 - Reception/Dinner Only

For the LIVE Competition Viewing ONLY - $10 at the door (first come-first serve seating). Doors open at 12:00pm and the competition begins at 12:30pm.

In addition - for the first time, CAPS BC is happy to announce the 2018 BC Aspiring Somm Competition.

This event is open to any member of CAPS BC who earns at least 50% of their income from hospitality employment in any role as well as has an interest in participating in future Best Sommelier of BC competitions. The event mimics theBest Sommelier of BC format to give aspiring sommeliers the opportunity to understand what the competition is really all about. Competitors must also be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident. This event runs concurrent to the Best Sommelier of BC, from 9:00am-12:00pm on Monday, January 29th at Rogers Arena. The 2018 BC Aspiring Sommelier Winner will be announced prior to theBest Sommelier of BC announcement on Monday evening.

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About Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers:

Established in 1989, the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) is a pan-Canadian association, which brings together individuals within the sommelier profession, restaurant services, and other sectors of the wine industry.

As a not-for-profit organization, CAPS aims to promote and educate the sommelier profession through professional development and networking events related to the wine and spirits industry. Visit: http://sommelierscanada.com/ 

2018 Vancouver Events

Want to stay in the loop for all of YVR's biggest food and beverage events this year? Look no further. We'll also be including dates and deadlines for industry-related topics. Don't forget to check back frequently as this calendar will be updated all year! (Note: Past events will be moved to the bottom of the post.)

Upcoming Events:

May 24: Dockside Restaurant Spring Patio Tasting

May 25 - June 3: Vancouver Craft Beer Week

May 29: Chicha and Strange Fellows Beer Dinner

May 30 - June 2: TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) Conference

May 31: Spot Prawn Boil Dining Series

June 12: Chef Meets Truck 2018

June 19: Western Living's Foodies of the Year

June 20: Wines of Provence Lunch & Learn

June 23: Chef Meets BC Grape (Okanagan Falls) 

July 21: The Deighton Cup

August 23: Dîner en Blanc Vancouver

September 1: Vancouver Cheese and Meat Festival

September 17: Wines of Germany Tasting

Past Events: 

January 1: Registration opens for IVSA New Product salons

January 19: BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch Penalty Schedule Review

January 23: IVSA New Product Salons (Vancouver)

January 23: Taste the World

January 30: IVSA New Product Salons (Victoria)

February 1: Tickets go on sale for California Wine Fair 

February 24 - March 4: Vancouver International Wine Festival

March 10: BC Uncorked Food and Wine Festival

March 20: IVSA New Product Salons (Victoria) 

March 26: IVSA New Product Salons (Vancouver) 

April 6- 7: BC Distilled (dinners) 

April 9: California Wine Fair (Vancouver)

April 10: California Wine Fair (Edmonton)

April 12: California Wine Fair (Calgary)

April 13: Wine for Waves

April 14: BC Distilled (main tasting) 

April 22 - 24: BC Hospitality Summit

April 23 - 24: Grocery and Specialty Food West Show

April 24: Bloom Wines of BC Tasting (Victoria)

May 3 - 10:  Wines of New Zealand (various activities) 

May 7: Wines of Greece (various activities) 

May 10: Wines of BC Spring Release (Calgary) 

May 17 - 18: Top Drop Vancouver

On being named among those that lead and inspire

What a way to cap off the year!

I’m so flattered to be named among nine other dynamite women as one of 10 Women in PR That Lead, Inspire and Build Successful Brands, by Women in Public Relations North America

This has been an especially exciting year for me personally, because in January I celebrated my 20th “careeraversary”.

I started doing publicity in 1997 without any formal training (as I was hired as a marketing assistant, and marketing was my education). In those days we were faxing out press releases to a (small) curated list, creating paper press kits that went into folders and were mailed, couriered or handed out at events. (Email was just starting to become adopted and I remember trying to talk my then boss and mentor Christine Coletta into using email!) After continuing to do media relations with the wine cognoscenti as a function of my role as a marketing coordinator for the BC Wine Institute, I took college courses on weekends and evenings until I earned my PR certificate.

When we left the BC Wine Institute I remained working for Christine Coletta & we started doing marketing and PR for other wineries in Canada, and for wine regions beyond. My last name was still Clemens then, and I was among maybe three other people in the country who were doing wine-related publicity. (There were other publicists at the time but there were very few solopreneurs and primarily just agencies were doing PR.)

Over the 16 years of working for and then becoming business partners with Christine Coletta, I went from doing marketing and PR, to helping create and build brands from the ground up. In 2013 when Christine and our other business partner Julian Scholefield went to run her Okanagan Crush Pad winery full time, my husband Andrew von Rosen and I opened our agency. We hired talented people to do the PR, and I am now a director of PR activities rather than doing one-on-one publicity myself.

I’m super proud of the relationships I have created with the media, but I’m even MORE proud of my PR team, who day after day reach out to establish more contacts, and forge strong relationships. These relationships are with people and outlets who support us to help us tell our client stories, and we are so grateful.

Now as we are winding down to say goodbye to 2017 we see the increasing niche publications, the dominance of the influencer (and let’s see where that goes) and then the shrinking but strengthening of many mainstream media outlets. We are refining our team, and need to remain nimble in order to get stories out there.

It remains my perpetual aspiration to inspire. I can’t wait to see what 2018 brings.

Happy Holidays from Town Hall Brands

As we close off the year, we thank you for your continuing support of Town Hall Brands throughout 2017.

Our entire team wishes you all the timeless treasures of the holiday season: the warmth of home, the love of family, and the company of good friends. 

We look forward to working with you and seeing you in 2018. 

Warm regards from the team: Leeann, Andrew, Amy, Felicia, Genevieve, Grace, Laurisha, Maddie, Whitney, and Garnet (the office dog).

Town Hall Brands Holiday Hours:
Office closes on December 23, 2017
Office reopens on January 3, 2018

Happy New Year!

Victoria Pub Wins The Irish Pub of the Year in North America

Celebrating a Meeting Place of Friends at Irish Times in Victoria, BC

Photo Credit: Mister Pixel Photography

Winery owners Judy and Skip Stothert love celebrating their family traditions. When they started Coolshanagh Winery in the Okanagan, they didn’t hesitate to name it “Coolshanagh”, a Celtic word that belonged to Judy’s side of the family.

“Coolshanagh” means a “meeting place of friends.”

For generations, Judy’s family started using the word “Coolshanagh” under letterheads and soon enough, her cousins named their houses as Coolshanagh. This soon became a family tradition and carried through to multiple generations in celebration of the friendship between family and friends.

Although not entirely certain, the Stotherts share that the word “Coolshanagh” originated from Judy’s grandfather in Ireland and then eventually landed in Canada with his immigration to Newfoundland and Victoria.

When the Stotherts heard that Victoria’s Irish Times Pub won Irish Times' The Irish Pub of the Year in North America (chosen from 16,000 Irish pubs worldwide), they were ecstatic! This achievement follows Irish Times’ wins from previous years: Top 10 Irish Pubs Outside of Ireland in 2015; Best Pub in the City (8 out of last 12 years).

The Stotherts are fortunate that their Coolshanagh Chardonnay is listed by the bottle at Irish Times Pub. However, that wasn’t the celebratory aspect. It was how impressive and honourable this accolade is and the perfect fit between Coolshanagh and Irish Times Pub. It’s almost serendipitous.

Tracing back to family traditions, Coolshanagh originated from Irish roots then eventually arrived in Victoria, like Irish Times. Irish pubs are known for their unique, cozy and friendly ambiance. This, like Coolshanagh, makes a perfect place for the gathering of friends.

Join us in celebrating this beautiful friendship between Coolshanagh and Irish Times by visiting the pub the next time you’re in Victoria!

How Impressive Was This Award for Irish Times Pub?

16,000 Irish pubs worldwide were screened for this award, including UK, Ireland, Europe, North America and more.

• Irish Times Pub was shortlisted in six (6) competing categories:
• Best Irish Pub of the Year in North America
• Best Bar Person
• Best Marketing Campaign
• Best Chef
• Best Food Experience
• Best Craft Beer Experience

Congratulations to our friends!

- From Skip and Judy of Coolshanagh

Raise a Glass of Sparkles from Prosecco Superiore DOCG This Season

[Conegliano, Italy] Sparkling wine is synonymous with holiday gatherings and good cheer. Tiny bubbles dancing in your glass immediately create a sense of celebration.

This holiday season, pop open a bottle of Prosecco Superiore DOCG, and discover why this legendary Italian sparkling wine is the modern benchmark for affordable luxury.

Not all Proseccos are the same – while all Prosecco comes from Northern Italy, the name “Prosecco Superiore DOCG” on the bottle signifies the top quality and highest standards in the vineyard and winery, as well as concentrated flavour and balance within each festive sip.

While being immensely enjoyable on its own, Prosecco Superiore DOCG is versatile enough to pair with almost any cuisine. It is produced in fully sparkling (spumante) and lightly sparkling (frizzante) styles. The wines tend to be dry, but sweeter examples are available.

The very best Prosecco Superiore DOCG grapes are grown approximately 50 km from Venice, on the cool, steep hills in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene of Northeast Italy. This area is so precious that it is a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The Glera grape is the most widely used, showing floral notes of citrus, apple and pear. The grape is perfectly-suited to Charmat sparkling wine production, the best for preserving the varietal aromas of the grapes, keeping their primary scents as unaltered as possible; translating into a wine that is fruity and floral.

Travelling to taste these wines in person?

Wine lovers, you will want to attend Vino In Villa, the most important annual event devoted to Prosecco Superiore DOCG. The 21st annual festival is set within the heart of the hilly Prosecco Superiore region, and celebrates the area’s wine, food, culture and terroir.

In the wine trade?

In 2018, ambassadors from the Consorzio Tutela Del Vino Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco will be pouring their wines at:

·       Prowein (Düsseldorf, Germany) – March 18-20, 2018 (Hall 15, F21)

·       Vinitaly (Verona, Italy) – April 15-18, 2018

Photo assets available here.

To find out where these wines are sold in Canada, please contact:

Amy Chen | amy@townhallbrands.com or Maddie Clerides | maddie@townhallbrands.com

Town Hall Brands 604-321-3295

Send Holiday E-Cards with Style

Hard to believe that it’s already December 4th!

If you’re like us, you’re busy doing many things.

If you haven’t yet organized your holiday card outreach, fear not, you are not too late for an e-card (.jpeg image or .gif).

Our team can help you, as long as you let us know what your needs are by December 18.

Call the office at 604-321-3295 or email info@townhallbrands.com and Whitney or Leeann will help you.

A few examples of e-cards:

Examples of still .jpeg e-cards to send to friends and family.

A unique and fun holiday .gif e-card that animates. 

Blue Grouse Estate Winery ends 2017 with a new look

News Release

[Duncan, BC] Over the past five years, a lot has changed at Blue Grouse Estate Winery, and they are celebrating these changes with a new web look.

Since the Brunner family purchased one of Cowichan Valley's oldest estate vineyards and winery in 2012, they have given the Island winery a complete makeover, with more than $10 million in investments into the vineyard, the creation of a new winery and tasting room, and the addition of onsite accommodation, the Grouse House.

When paired to the lineup of highly-praised Blue Grouse wines, these onsite amenities allow for an amazing visitor experience, including a vast range of wedding and corporate event packages.

With so much happening onsite at the winery, to create what is now the crown jewel in Vancouver Island's wine country, the external web presence required the same attention.

"This new website was created specifically for our online audience of people both old and new to Blue Grouse wines," says owner and proprietor, Paul Brunner. "With a timeline of our history, a new format to highlight our latest vintages and information on our wine club and events, we are proud to present to you a website that has been one year in the making."

For more information on Blue Grouse Estate Winery and to view the new site, please visit: www.bluegrouse.ca 

This season's holiday hours:

Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am-5pm from now until Dec 23rd.

Closed Dec 24th to 31st and open by appointment only in January.  

FREE Shipping in British Columbia:

Take advantage of the exclusive offer for FREE shipping to anywhere in BC, Canada. Minimum six (6) bottles order; 2015 Quill Red and 2015 Quill White only.  Offer valid from November 20th to December 17th. To order or to inquire on availability of wines, please contact 250-743-3834, tastingroom@bluegrouse.ca.

A reminder of upcoming events:

• Holiday Open House on December 17 from 12-4pm: Enjoy some holiday music, complimentary wine tastings for adults, and hot apple cider for kids while you stock up on holiday wines for the season. A few cases of 2014 Paula Sparkling will be available to purchase and some nibbles will be offered to enjoy. Get those last minute stocking stuffers as well! 

• Soup Saturdays: From noon to 5pm, for only $14, going until December 23, visitors can enjoy a bowl of delicious homemade soup made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients, fresh True Grain bread, and a 5oz glass of wine. Some of the soup and wine pairings on the menu include: Squash and Apple soup;  2016 Quill Off-Dry White, Leek and Potato soup; 2015 Quill White, and Mushroom Beef Barley soup: 2015 Quill Red. Also, while you're there, ask to try their famous Mulled Wine Recipe.

• Holiday Parties: Consider an indoor picnic in front of a large fireplace alongside catered culinary offerings and tasty Blue Grouse wines. Or the beautiful and festive upper lounge can be booked for parties from 10-35 people. For reservation requests, contact jennyg@bluegrouse.ca.

Singletree Winery Adds Artisanal Wine Jellies to Lineup

Fraser Valley treats made just in time for the holidays! 

Singletree Winery is releasing its first batch of locally-made wine jellies starting today at the West Coast Christmas Show in Abbotsford, and we're here to tell you all about it!

For only $7.50 each, try all four flavours, from Hot Siggity to Citrus Pinot Gris. Enjoy spread on a lightly toasted fresh-out-of-oven scone or make it savoury as an add-on to your charcuterie plate. With no traces of alcohol content left after production, these jellies are made to share with the whole family.

(Our design team did these cute little labels.)

Perfect wine jelly add-ons to your party platters, that also fits perfectly into a stocking.

Details:

• Cost: $7.50 each
• Flavours made with Singletree wines:
  • Citrus Pinot Gris (with lemon juice, orange rind)
  • Spicy Pinot Noir (cinnamon, star anise, clove)
  • Hot Siggity (red chili, red pepper, Siegerrebe)
  • Siegerrebe (straight up)
• Pair with charcuterie for a gourmet touch to your dinner party, or give as a gift to a hostess or foodie
• The jellies are produced locally in the Fraser Valley

Where to get them:

• Tradex, Abbotsford (1190 Cornell St, Abbotsford, BC, V2T 6H5)

Not going to the Christmas show? No worries!

• Available at the winery (while they last) starting Wednesday, November 23 (5782 Mount Lehman Rd, Abbotsford, BC V4X 1V4)

Don't be jelly! Get yours today!

It’s Merlot Day! #internationalmerlotday

By Leeann Froese

Since the runaway hit movie Sideways came out in 2004, where the character Miles held nothing back in his hatred of Merlot, this noble varietal has been struggling to find its place once again, after previous years enjoying a huge wave of popularity.

Known for being soft, ripe and elegant, most Merlot wines are easy-drinking wines that can be enjoyed on their own or with food. Merlot is a very approachable grape with a medium to full-bodied palate presence.

Aside from being a very reliable standalone varietal wine, Merlot is commonly used by winemakers to blend into other red wines, as it gives a nice fruity softness that is sometimes required to even out a blend.

According to the British Columbia Wine Institute, by acreage planted, Merlot is the number one red wine varietal planted in BC. We are proud to work with BC winery clients that make delicious Merlot (or Merlot blended) wines for you to enjoy.

Evolve Cellars

2016 Cabernet Merlot

Soft, supple, and complex mouth-filling flavours of plum, cherry, and wild red berry dominate from start to finish.

$19.99

Pipe’ Dreams

2015 Merlot

Ripe and rich with aromas of dark chocolate, vanillin oak, sun ripened plum and black cherry along with a refreshing note of dried wild herbs in the background.

$22.02

Pipe’ Dreams

2014 Reserve Merlot

Lush black cherry, dried plum, fig and cocoa, a full body, and a lingering finish.

$41.40

TIME Winery

2016 Cabernet Merlot (Calgary Flames)

A spicy nose with cassis and cedar and a palate filled with plum, cherry, and wild red berry.

$19.99

What do you think of Merlot? Are you like Miles in Sideways who says ‘no effing way’? Or are you ‘fill my glass, please'?

Happy National Publicist Day 2017

Today is apparently National Publicist Day. It seems you can choose any day of the week and there’ll be some reason to celebrate but for me I really DO want to celebrate this day.

I’ve been working in media relations for 20 years this year, and it has been a very interesting and wild ride so far. With a saturated market for content, and shrinking media outlets it’s more important than ever to have someone there to help you find your voice and then to have that voice be shared to the right audiences. That’s where we PR people come in.

We are thoughtful in finding ways to get your stories into the news, we're creative with budgets, and we're great connectors of people. It’s a unique skill set that makes a good PR person, and I am proud to employ a talented few, and know many more.

I never set out to be a PR person. I went to business school and studied marketing, but then when I landed my first marketing job with the BC Wine Institute, doing media relations and PR and sending press releases became part of what I had to do in my daily scope of work. (So I went back to school and got my PR certificate on evenings and weekends while I was working, and made sure that my education could meet the skill set for actual work I was doing.) Two decades later, I am so proud of the body of work I have produced.

Thanks to PR I have made numerous relationships across North America - some that I’ve turned into long-lasting friendships; and I have found myself among the cohort of other publicists in Vancouver that we love to collaborate with on an almost weekly basis. Here at Town Hall Brands I am lucky to have killer personalities working on our PR team: Amy Chen, Genevieve Dufresne, Maddie Clerides, and Mr. Sujinder Juneja, who each continually advocate on behalf of our clients to make sure their stories get told across different mediums each and every day.

To all my fellow PR people, and to my own team - Happy National Publicist Day; #gogetit!

What the Canadian Wine Industry has done for me

By Leeann Froese

Having been in the industry for 20 years, the Canadian Wine Industry has been instrumental in my career. Without the support of Canadian wineries hiring us to do what we do, our boutique marketing agency, Town Hall Brands, would not have started, and evolved to where we are now, (helping wineries and wine regions from all over, as well as all the other lifestyle work we do).

We are grateful. We know that our livelihood depends on the health of these businesses, and we have made a donation. I also challenge anyone who works in the industry to do the same.

So I am asking you to stand by me, my fellow wine friends, and the whole industry, to help.

Canadian wineries want to be able to ship directly to you, no matter where you live in Canada. If markets outside the wineries' home provinces (Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec anbd BC is where wine is made in canada) do not become available to premium Canadian wines, many predict the industry will struggle over the long term.

Here's how you can help:

1. GIVE to the fundraising page via GoFundMe. Funds will be used for legal costs the Supreme Court of Canada.

2. Download the I Love Canadian Wine toolkit for strategies on how to spread the word.

3. Share this post online. Ask your friends to share.

The Canadian wine industry has thrived over the last three decades with wineries and grape growers working to create quality wines and build a loyal following.

It employs 38 thousand people, contributes billions to the Canadian economy and is a cornerstone of tourism. Wineries add richness to the culinary scene and buy local movement, and are a shining example of value-added farming and what can be achieved when we work together.

Collectively, we are committed to moving the bar even higher and to leaving a strong wine community for the next generation.

Please give what you can.

Thank you!

R.v. Comeau Media Clippings

Below are some samples of the media attention this case has received.

there are more than 300 media mentions to date.

 

Wine advocate Sandra Oldfield shows how it’s easier to order a gun online from another province than it is a case of wine. - Global Okanagan Evening News

BC Business

Canadian Business Journal

CBC

Cision

Global News

Global News Okanagan

National Post

Penticton Business

The Globe and Mail

The Province

Vancouver Sun

Canadian Man Sues Airline for not Serving Champagne

By Leeann Froese

A lack of knowledge in the wine world has landed Sunwing Airlines into some trouble. As reported in dozens of news outlets, and also in the Drinks Business, the airline is being sued by a man from Quebec who was served sparkling wine instead of champagne, which was promised in the promotional materials for the flight, that listed 'Champagne Service'.

At the time of this news share this lawsuit was not certified yet, so it'll be interesting to see where this goes. Aside from the litigious nature of this action that is creating a big reaction in the wine world and also all over the web, it made me think.

The heart of this issue is mainly about truthful advertising, but the use of the word Champagne in the airline’s marketing materials also could just be a copy writer’s mistake.

Anyone educated in wine knows that only wines produced in the Champagne region in France can be called Champagne just like only fortified wines made in Portugal can be called Port, and there are other examples that go on, including the capitalization and one-word writing of Icewine here in Canada. (As a marketing agency with a specialization in packaging & marketing wine, we know these things and would never let something like that get to print or into promotional materials.)

The word Champagne has become generic over time for any bubbly wine, just like Band-Aid for bandages or Kleenex for facial tissues, but what we need to remember is that these are all registered names for brands.

But how would a marketing person outside the wine industry know about the legality of Champagne? I guess the lesson here is if you're going to be talking about wine in relationship to your business, make sure that you know what wording to use.

This is creating a reputation hit to Sunwing, who now must defend itself in controversy, instead of promoting holiday vacation packages. Never fun for a PR team.

After the lawsuit was filed, Sunwing's website has been updated and now states that the passengers instead of 'Champagne service' will receive 'a welcome glass of sparkling wine'.