Exclusive New Wine Tasting Option at Fraser Valley Winery

Singletree Winery is the first in the Valley to offer wine tastings inside domes

[Abbotsford, BC] Singletree Winery presents an exclusive new tasting experience for wine lovers in the Fraser Valley: Di Vine Domes. By current Public Health regulations, and as it changes the winery will adapt, small groups from the same household (up to 6 people) or single persons with a max bubble of two, are invited to taste wine and enjoy local goodies inside decorated transparent domes.

Singletree Winery's Di Vine Dome. Photo credit: Megan Ashley Creative

The domes at Singletree Winery are placed by the vines and offer a cozy atmosphere that is COVID-safe and great for families or couples wishing to enjoy a special date.

The winery team offers two domes with distinct themed décor: The Canadian Cabin with traditional porch chairs, faux fur rugs and a rustic feel, and the Enchanted Forest, with a chandelier, live edge table and cozy seats. Both domes are heated and complemented with winter decorations and lights.

There is a minimum spend of $50 per person to experience the domes, and bookings are 1.5 hours to enjoy one of three tasting experiences. View these choices here.

To reserve, book on the website. Tastings inside the Di Vine Domes at Singletree Winery are available from Wednesday to Sunday, 12-5:30pm. Extended dome hours are available on Friday and Saturday when you purchase a gourmet meal option; with one sitting per night from 6-8pm.

Wine lovers get to enjoy award-winning wine flights by Singletree and can choose between food options, like locally-sourced charcuterie and cheese boards and gourmet three-course meals, prepared by chef Adrian Beatty.

Visit the Singletree Di Vine Domes page to view each option and book accordingly.

 The domes are thoroughly sanitized between bookings. To learn more about this and to help answer all of your Di Vine Dome questions (including Singletree's COVID-19 policies), please go to this link and review the Frequently Asked Questions.

 About Singletree Winery

Singletree Winery Fraser Valley is in Abbotsford and Singletree Naramata is in the Okanagan. The Etsell family has deep roots in the agricultural community, and named their wineries Singletree, after the single-harness yoke which was an essential tool for pioneering farmers from all over the province.

With careful attention to their land, the Etsell family owners of Singletree, are committed to showcasing the best of British Columbia: the Fraser Valley, which provides a lineup of aromatic, crisp, and juicy wines that highlight this unique terroir; and Naramata Bench in the Okanagan, where the glacial soils and warm climate produce luscious red wines.

From growing grapes in their estate vineyards, taking the finished bottle to the shelf and to the very last sip of wine from the glass, Singletree’s active involvement, dedication, and passion for the land creates only the highest quality, award-winning and most flavourful and nuanced wine.

 To learn more about Singletree, visit singletreewinery.com.

Celebrating the Life Of An International Wine Personality: Terry Threlfall

By Leeann Froese

UPDATED OCTOBER 20 WITH A NOTE FROM TERRY’S FAMILY:

A message from Terry's Family:

Our hearts are broken at the sudden passing of our Son, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Godfather and friend. We would like to express how overwhelmed and grateful we are to receive the outpouring of support and love in response to this tragedy. It is so comforting in this time of immeasurable loss to read your stories, see your photos and share the wonderful memories of an exceptional and irreplaceable human being.

Terry was passionate, kind, intelligent, funny, and a million other things that will live on in our memories. Whether or not you had been in contact with him recently, please know that he loved and cherished all his friends and family, no matter how long it had been. When you had his complete attention, there was nothing like basking in the light of Terry’s presence. With that in mind, we would ask that you use this opportunity to reach out to someone you may have lost touch with, or who is alone now during this pandemic, to reconnect, to have a laugh, to share your love.

We would like to thank the healthcare professionals in London who worked so hard to save his life and diligently kept us updated from across the ocean. Your compassionate care is truly appreciated. We will continue to seek a medical explanation for how this could have happened to such a young man, with so much left to give. Ultimately, his heart was unable to continue on. With all that the healthcare systems around the world are experiencing, we were provided with a level of comfort that will never be forgotten. In these uncertain times, please advocate for the health of yourself, your family and your friends.

More than anything, Terry loved sitting down to a table heaving with good food, fine wine and wonderful company. We think the best way to honour his memory is to continue on in this tradition, opening a special bottle and raising a glass to our beloved Terry. Our hope is to come together to celebrate Terry’s life both in Vancouver and in London, as soon as it is safe to do so.

****

We express our deep sadness and send condolences to Terry Threlfall’s family and friends.

Terry Threlfall left us suddenly this week at age 43 from heart failure, The community of wine around the globe is hurting, and sending so much love around.

While we were not super close with Terry, when he lived in Vancouver, we had the pleasure of working with him in a few different ways.

As a sommelier in town, we invited him to things, and we knew him via CAPS BC; and then he won sommelier of the year in 2012!

His Wine was Dynamite

The Town Hall Brands team did the packaging and the PR for his TNT wine label via our client Okanagan Crush Pad, right when we were first starting Town Hall Brands. The fall of 2013, it was one of our first projects, so it is remembered fondly.

Terry’s wine was “TNT” named after his initials (Terry Nicholas Threlfall) and to make a fun play on words. A lover of white Burgundy, he chose to make a Chardonnay. (Terry was the third top sommelier in BC invited to make a wine at Okanagan Crush Pad with the proceeds to benefit the BC Hospitality Foundation.)

Hustle and Pro

And also, when Town Hall Brands was just starting, we had no employees.

Alana Dickson (who now has Aurillia Consulting) was our contracted event person, and with her we hired Terry, along with local top sommelier Roger Maniwa, to help us implement a MAJOR multi-day project of tastings, lunches and dinners for each French wine region. SO. MANY.WINE GLASSES.

The hustle was real for our team, and that was when we saw Terry truly shine: he was hospitality personified.

Such a pro at his job – immense knowledge and passion and he had a way of bringing everyone along with him.

Wine has always been a natural fit for Terry. While his first introduction to wine was as a teen, sneaking Chardonnay from his mom’s cellar, he found that his passion was solidified while drinking wine by the litre as a backpacker in Europe. Upon arriving home from his travels, he decided to turn his passion for wine into a career.

And what a career!

Terry completed his sommelier training in Vancouver, and held positions in many of the city’s finest restaurants, including wine director at South Granville’s West. Terry soon had the opportunity to move to London, England, to work with Richard Corrigan at his flagship restaurant Lindsay House in Soho. After that, Terry spent six years as head sommelier and wine buyer at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Chez Bruce. Under his leadership, Chez Bruce won several international awards, including ‘Overall U.K. Wine Establishment of the Year’ and ‘European Wine Restaurant of the Year’. Chez Bruce also won Decanter’s 2007 Restaurant of the Year’ award and was recognized as having the U.K.’s Best Wine List by The Independent ‘Food and Drink Awards’ in 2010.

In 2011, Terry returned to Vancouver from London to join forces with Chef David Hawksworth in opening his celebrated restaurant, Hawksworth. As wine director at Hawksworth, Terry created a ground-breaking wine program that is now established as one of the most exciting in Canada.

In 2012, Terry scored at hattrick and was named Sommelier of the Year by Vancouver magazine, the Vancouver International Wine Festival, and California’s Sunset Magazine, and he was also named one of the ‘Top Foodies Under 40’ by Western Living. Terry has served as a judge in numerous local and international wine competitions. He was the first Canadian sommelier to become a regular panelist for Decanter.

Terry returned to London as the wine buyer and sommelier for Selfridges for the past five years. He was frequently interviewed by the UK press and the wine world loved what he had to say. Terry kept this prestigious position at Selfridges until his untimely passing.

Terry’s passion and enthusiasm for the wine industry was enormous and compelling. The tributes from those who knew him from around the world are justifiably pouring out for him on social media.

Please join us to raise a glass in honour of Terry. He would want us all to celebrate wine, food, family, and friends.

New Name, New Team Members, and a New Direction at Five Vines Cellars

It’s a new TIME for Penticton’s most beloved downtown winery

[Penticton, BC] After a year of changes, the team at TIME Winery & Kitchen is hitting a new groove. Since the purchase of the winery in July 2020 by Ron and Shelley Mayert, new parent company Five Vines Cellars has injected new energy into the TIME Winery, Evolve Cellars and the McWatters Collection labels.

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

The Mayerts are committed to keeping TIME Winery family owned and operated, with a focus on handcrafted, small batch wines. By welcoming returning faces and adding some new ones, the Five Vines Cellars ownership has combined experience, tenacity, and a dose of enthusiasm to the winery team.

Siblings Christa-Lee and Darrien McWatters stay on as general manager and operations manager respectively, holding up the family legacy of winery founder, the late Harry McWatters.

The 2020 grape harvest is underway under the guidance of winemaker Lynzee Schatz. Since joining the team in summer 2019, she is now leading the cellar, aided by Will Ingle, Brent Peachey, Darrien McWatters, and Maja Syska.

Chef A.K. Campbell is the creative force behind the menus in the kitchen and catering. He has revised the menu to be burger forward and the public is here for it.

Most recently, the wine trade applauded as Kimberly Hundertmark joined the team as hospitality manager, to oversee guest services, special events, and the wine club, supported by the tasting room and kitchen teams, and Chelsea Dumayne for social media and events. With new ownership and new additions to the team, Five Vines Cellars is equipped with lessons from the past, keen spirits, and the drive to take the winery and its labels to the next level.

Five Vines Cellars hospitality manager, Kimberly Hundertmark. Credit Chris Stenberg.

TIME TO VISIT THE WINERY

Built within a historic and revitalized movie theatre in downtown Penticton, TIME Winery & Kitchen in Penticton, BC continues to welcome guests all throughout the fall and winter months to taste TIME Wines, Evolve Cellars, and the McWatters Collection. Under the TIME Winery & Kitchen banner, an elegant tasting bar and restaurant safely welcomes guests to taste and discover beautifully crafted wines for any occasion, as well as some of the best gourmet burgers in the Okanagan.

With a tasting room and kitchen open year-round, visitors can pop in for a wine tasting or bite to eat, even this coming winter after hitting the slopes. The winery also offers unique experiences, like learning how to sabre a bottle of sparkling wine, or sampling wine from the barrel. For all special experiences, visit timewinery.com to book.

The wine shop and tasting room are open daily, from 12 to 6 PM. The kitchen is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 9 PM. With social distancing procedures still in place, reservations are recommended for all winery tastings and dine-in services. These can be made online at timewinery.com or by calling 236-422-2556.

10 Tips to Travel Safely in BC This Summer

Singletree Winery Naramata, located in Naramata, BC

As British Columbia enters phase three, locals are beginning to wonder what this summer will hold. The weather is slowly starting to get better, which means more opportunities to go outside and explore this great province. With no other way to vacation, it looks like we’ll be travelling within BC for the next few months.

The only problem is…how do we do so safely?

To make sure we’re travelling responsibly this summer, Destination BC has issued 10 things to remember before heading out on your next BC adventure.

Reposted from Destination BC, June 15, 2020

1. Do your research

Take extra time to research and plan your trip in advance, and make sure you have a Plan B if your activity is at capacity. Many businesses and services in BC have adopted new protocols, and changes to their schedules or policies to ensure your safety. You’ll want to become familiar with them ahead of time. For example, you may have to book in advance for attractions or experiences where you didn’t before, and transportation schedules, like BC Ferries, may be operating at reduced capacity. Some businesses or outdoor spaces may remain closed. See the HelloBC.com accommodations listings, transportation listings, and experience provider listings to start your research, and contact the local Visitor Centre for more information.

2. Be respectful 

While many communities in BC will be welcoming people back this summer, some, such as many of BC’s Indigenous communities, can’t welcome you just yet. Please be respectful of these communities and know that they’ll welcome you when they are ready. See Know Before You Go to learn more about what’s open, or contact the local Visitor Centre.

3. Travel in smaller groups 

If you normally travel with extended family or with several friends, consider travelling in a smaller group this summer. Travelling with fewer people makes it easier for you to practise physical distancing in public, and may have less of an impact on the destination.

4. More time, fewer locations 

Consider a slower travel pace this summer to help curb the spread. Instead of checking in and out of multiple destinations during one trip, choose one destination and one accommodation for your entire trip, and use that as a ‘home-base’ for exploring all the destinations nearby.

5. Pack essentials 

If you’re heading to a more rural area of the province, stock up with the essentials before you leave home (i.e. groceries). This helps lessen your impact on BC communities who may be experiencing supply issues, and reduces your touchpoints within communities who may have limited health care facilities. Even better: create a Clean Trip Kit, including hand sanitizer, soap, gloves, masks, and toilet paper. While some businesses and destinations may supply these for visitors, it’s not a guarantee. 

6. Stay apart, stay safe 

Practise physical distancing and frequent handwashing hygiene to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Follow the recommendations from the BC Centre for Disease Control to learn about preventative activities, and talk to the tourism businesses you are visiting about the steps they are taking to keep you and their staff safe. WorkSafeBC now requires all businesses to post their new COVID-related health and safety protocols at their workplace for staff and visitors to see. 

7. Leave No Trace 

When exploring BC’s outdoors, always leave it in a better state than when you arrived. Respect local wildlife. Minimize campfire impacts and check BC Wildfire Service for fire bans and fire safety tips. Pack out what you pack in, and dispose of waste properly. These are just some of key principles of Leave No Trace, a set of seven guidelines for enjoying the outdoors responsibly while minimizing your impact on the landscape. Visit Leave No Trace and BC Wildfire to learn more. 

8. Be AdventureSmart 

No matter what outdoor activity you are planning, you must be prepared. Remember to follow the three Ts—trip planning, training, and taking the essentials. AdventureSmart is a great resource to get informed before heading outdoors.

9. Be calm, be patient, be kind 

Remember, activities may take longer than usual, or places may be at capacity when you arrive. Be calm, patient, and kind, and remember, we’re all in this together.

10. Support BC and have fun! 

BC’s tourism businesses are eager to welcome you back this summer and your support is more crucial than ever. Remember, with the border closed, our businesses are relying on British Columbians. For now, you have the province all to yourself! Make the most of it. See What’s Open in BC by Community to learn where you can support local businesses.

More Helpful Links:
•    HelloBC Know Before You Go

Destination BC is on Twitter and Instagram. Find them at @HelloBC

Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store presents the tastiest holiday party in the Fraser Valley

Save the date for the Christmas Open House
Nov 28th 

Christmas Open House in 2016

[Langley, BC] Your holiday gifting and entertaining needs are solved! Save the date to head to Well Seasoned on November 28, 2019. The team at the beloved gourmet food store in Langley is celebrating the holidays and will host their Christmas Open House event.

Members of the community and food lovers from all over BC make the annual pilgrimage to the store each year to sample seasonal goodies from several tasting stations and spread a little holiday cheer. All are invited to enjoy this FREE EVENT on November 28. No RSVP is necessary, simply show up and enjoy.

The store staff will be open extended hours for this special occasion and all are welcome to try samples of the Well Seasoned grab-and-go snacks from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Special discounts will also be on offer for that night only, making this the perfect opportunity to stock up the pantry with holiday treats.

Well Seasoned seasonal treats are a huge success and sell in great volume every year. Cookies, seasonal pies, appetizers, and even the traditional (and ultra-popular) French Canadian Tourtière will be in stock and available to sample and take home.

Angie Quaale and the team at Well Seasoned love to host the community. Their Christmas Open House was created to celebrate loyal customers and over the past 12 years it has evolved to be an annual event where people enjoy each other’s company as they gather to eat delicious local and seasonal food in store while spreading a bit of holiday joy.

Make sure to add this tasty party to your calendar and stop by to celebrate with the team.

 Well Seasoned Christmas Open House

November 28th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

#177 -20353 64 Ave, Langley

FREE EVENT

The Ultimate Last-minute Thanksgiving Guide for Foodies and BC Wine Lovers

Ready or not, fall is here! That means it is time to dust off the winter coat, find the woolen socks that have moved to the back of the drawer, and prepare for Thanksgiving.

Celebrations are around the corner, so it’s time to figure out who’s doing the cooking, what is going to the served, and which wine will pair well with turkey! We’ve gathered the best Thanksgiving tips from wine writers, and food and lifestyle specialists to cure any seasonal concerns.

1.    Turkey DOs and DONT’s by Angie Quaale

There’s no Thanksgiving without a well-prepared turkey and stuffing. Angie Quaale, seasonal food expert, owner of Well-Seasoned Gourmet Food Store and turkey lover will guide home cooks through the whole process of choosing a bird, preparing, stuffing, cooking and cleaning up the mess after. According to her, it is very important to learn how to prepare the bird correctly otherwise there can be a risk of cross contamination with other things in the kitchen. 

2.    Decorating a Thanksgiving Table without breaking the bank

This is the perfect opportunity to set a beautiful table for your family and loved ones, and it does not necessarily mean spending hundreds of dollars to do it! Natalie Langston, lifestyle specialist has great ideas that will make your table IG-worthy: fresh seasonal flowers, candles, a simple and elegant printed menu, and delicious and affordable Evolve Cellars wines.

With the turkey in the oven and the table set, it’s time to think about the beverages. Pairing a tender and juicy turkey or glazed ham with wine is not as hard as it seems. There are a number of varieties that offer a flavour profile that will match well with both. From rich whites to fruit-forward reds, BC wine has so many options to choose from, and buying local has never been easier. British Columbia is also producing amazing sparkling wines and Chardonnays that will hit the mark for this year’s celebration.

3.    Thanksgiving Toast with BC Bubbly

To start the party, pop the cork of a tasty sparkling wine. If wine lovers are feeling extra confident, Tim Pawsey even gives tips on how to saber the bottle: chill it in ice and hit at the exact spot for the correct cut, but make sure to do it outside to minimize the mess. Among the great recommendations in his article, some highlights are the 2018 TIME Brut from Time Winery in Penticton, the 2017 Free Form Ancient Method and 2016 Haywire The Bub from Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland, the 2016 Merryfield from Singletree in the Fraser Valley and Naramata, and the 2014 Paula Sparkling from Blue Grouse Estate Winery on Vancouver Island.

4.    Thinking about Chardonnay?

10 Chardonnays to pair with Thanksgiving Turkey

A few BC Wines to celebrate with for Thanksgiving

Perhaps the most common pairing for Thanksgiving turkey is white wine, most specifically Chardonnay. A herb crusted bird pairs well with the buttery taste of most oak aged Chards, and other more fruit-forward wines offer crisp flavours. Wineries in BC are offering high quality Chardonnay with distinct flavour profiles that can please every palate. In the two round ups above, Jennifer Schell and Karl Kliparchuk recommend a stellar line up for this weekend’s celebration. Some of the best bets include TIME Winery’s 2014 Chardonnay from Penticton and the 2016 Coolshanagh Chardonnay from Naramata.

We hope you give some of these suggestions a try, and tag @townhallbrands in social media. We’d love to see how your Thanksgiving is going!

We wish everyone a safe and joyful celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving!