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Hopscotch Festival and Craft BC Whisky Weekend to Feature Macaloney's Island Distillery's Acclaimed Spirits

Hopscotch Festival and Craft BC Whisky Weekend to Feature Macaloney's Island Distillery's Acclaimed Spirits

As the curtains rise on the highly anticipated Hopscotch Festival of Whisky, Beer & Spirits and Craft BC Whisky Weekend, Vancouverites and whisky enthusiasts alike are in for a treat as Macaloney's Island Distillery joins as participants, offering attendees the rare opportunity to savor these coveted craft spirits. With an impressive lineup of globally awarded spirits, Macaloney's Island Distillery invites seasoned whisky connoisseurs and curious enthusiasts to embark on a rare and indulgent tasting experience.

Rara Avis: An Exceptional Wine Debuts in Time for Holiday Gatherings and Gifting

Rara Avis: An Exceptional Wine Debuts in Time for Holiday Gatherings and Gifting

The BC wine scene welcomes the arrival of an extraordinary addition just in time for the holiday season. Rara Avis, the first-ever fortified BC wine expression made from the coveted haskap berry, offers a truly unique experience for both seasoned oenophiles and those seeking the perfect gift.

Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive Association Announces the Return of Light Up the Vines

Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive Association Announces the Return of Light Up the Vines

The Bottleneck Drive Association is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated return of "Light Up the Vines," a signature holiday event that has become a beloved tradition in the Okanagan Valley. This year, the event is back for its 13th year, promising visitors an enchanting experience filled with wine tastings, sparkling lights, refreshments, and music. It's an ideal opportunity for guests to stock up on the finest wine, beer, spirits, and cider for their holiday entertaining and gift-giving needs.

Okanagan Crush Pad Winery Achieves New Milestones in Environmental Stewardship

Okanagan Crush Pad Winery Achieves New Milestones in Environmental Stewardship

Okanagan Crush Pad Winery has become the first Canadian winery to attain silver membership with International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), joining a prestigious list of global wineries committed to addressing climate change. Additionally, the winery has made history by converting to Fortis BC's Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) program.

Unforgettable Events Await at Singletree Winery in Abbotsford's Enchanting Vineyard

Unforgettable Events Await at Singletree Winery  in Abbotsford's Enchanting Vineyard

Singletree Winery, nestled amidst the lush vines of Abbotsford, is gearing up to host two sensational events that promise an unforgettable experience for all attendees. With a backdrop of breathtaking vineyard vistas, these events offer an opportunity for guests to bask in live music, delectable cuisine, and the finest wines.

Summerland’s Newest Winery Now Open

Summerland’s Newest Winery Now Open

The team at Solvero Wines is excited to invite the public to visit and take in the inaugural wine releases.

Located in the beautiful Garnet Valley in the Summerland Valleys Sub GI, among the Bottleneck Drive tourist route, Summerland’s newest winery is the place for wine lovers to indulge in some of British Columbia’s most special wines.

Kick off Your Summer with Blasted Church Vineyards in Okanagan Falls

Kick off Your Summer with Blasted Church Vineyards in Okanagan Falls

Get ready for a memorable summer in Okanagan Falls wine country. Blasted Church Vineyards is the place to be, offering exceptional wines, captivating events, and breathtaking surroundings.

A New Look for Cambium Cider Co.

A New Look for Cambium Cider Co.

As we wind down 2022, we look at one of the fun brand refresh projects our Town Hall Brands team did this year.

Formerly The BX Press, Cambium Cider Co. is celebrating its 10th anniversary by opening a beautiful new restaurant and giving the cidery a new look and name.

Macaloney’s Island Distillery Launches Canada’s First-Ever Triple-Distilled Single Potstill Whisky Range

Macaloney’s Island Distillery Launches Canada’s First-Ever Triple-Distilled Single Potstill Whisky Range

Macaloney’s whisky maker Graeme Macaloney may be Scottish by birth, but this esteemed whisky maker has more than a touch of that famed roguish Irish twinkle in his eye. Which is why it makes perfect sense that Macaloney’s Island Distillery is launching a quartet of Irish-style Triple Distilled Single Potstill Whiskies – and just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

TIME for a Big Reveal from TIME Family of Wines

TIME for a Big Reveal from TIME Family of Wines

TIME Family of Wines is getting ready to debut its new OROLO Restaurant + Cocktail Bar and Chronos Tasting Room in downtown Penticton

TIME Family of Wines is gearing up for a big 2023:

Their newly created Chronos Tasting Room and OROLO Restaurant + Cocktail Bar in Penticton is scheduled to open in Spring 2023; newly appointed culinary director Kirk Morrison and executive chef Damian Cole are cooking up exciting new menus and food items to be served at OROLO and the TIME Family of Wines District Wine Village location; TIME Family of Wines District Wine Village location is open for business and ready to rock the season.

Celebrate BC’s Bounty with BC Blueberries and BC VQA Wines

Celebrate BC’s Bounty with BC Blueberries and BC VQA Wines

In a celebration of BC’s agricultural bounty, the BC Blueberry Council has teamed up with Wines of British Columbia to showcase a carefully curated selection of BC blueberry recipes paired with BC wines. 

The campaign which will run during February and March of 2023, aims to champion local BC blueberries and BC wine.

Osoyoos Larose launches La Maison Osoyoos Larose, an exclusive wine list subscription

Osoyoos Larose launches La Maison Osoyoos Larose, an exclusive wine list subscription

Wine lovers can now join the La Maison Osoyoos Larose list to receive library wines from Osoyoos Larose (that go back more than a decade), large format bottlings, and early access to new releases.

Favourite Summerland winery renamed to Haywire

 Favourite Summerland winery renamed to Haywire

Okanagan Crush Pad Marks Changes to its Business Model with A New Name, Look and Visitor Experience

It’s been an exciting start to 2023 at Okanagan Crush Pad: after 11 years running Canada’s first purpose-built custom crush winemaking business successfully, the team is saying goodbye to its original business model by renaming to Haywire Winery.

Celebrate #InternationalMerlotDay with Beautiful BC Merlots

Celebrate #InternationalMerlotDay with Beautiful BC Merlots

While there is a case to be made for every day to be #MerlotDay, November 7 is officially designated as such. Happy #InternationalMerlotDay! Not sure which Merlot to pour in your glass to celebrate? Try a beautiful BC Merlot from Blasted Church, Chronos (TIME Family of Wines), or Singletree.

Valtènesi : the OTHER Rosé Wine Region

If you think of rosé from a global standpoint you probably think of Provence.

Justifiably!

Well the small area in Italy & the Consorzio Valtènesi want you to know that they are the OTHER rosé wine region that you also need to know about.

Where Provence produces 200 million bottles of rosé annually, Valtènesi makes 2 million bottles.

Much smaller in scale, but would it surprise you to learn that the two associations have been working together and presenting their wines that events together for the last 5 or so years?

Provence has been taking the Valtènesi region under its wing to help the growers in Valtènesi realize what they have for quality and how to make the most of it.

Vintners In Valtènesi have been making rosé since Roman times, and officially from 1896 the region was making wine with its tradition of “wine of a night” where it is gently pressing grapes and leaving them with the skins for a few hours or up to overnight to obtain the famous pale pink color. This method lives on today and now in the now famous “Chiaretto Valtènesi”.

A small group of us attending the Wine Media Conference converged at the Consortium headquarters, met the association president Alessandro Luzzago (proprietor of Le Chiusure) and tasted through 57 examples from the region (before visiting some wineries).

(And for those in my feed who are not wine professionals, yes we spit out every wine we taste!)

Most made from the indigenous Grapello grape, which could probably be most compared to Pinot Noir, or made from a blended combination of Gropello, Marzemino, Sangiovese and Barbera.

The vintners first focus on getting a quality wine, with the colour to follow thereafter. So you will see various shades of pink across the region’s offerings.

Flavours range from being berry-forward to being more floral on the nose, and on the palate you can have anything from citrus and melon and berry but what carries through for all of them for sure is this string of minerality that is generated from the gravelly soil‘s they have in their lakeside glaciated morainic terroir.

You’ll have to seek these wines out if you’re in Italy. Ask for Valtènesi.

There is some disbursement of these wines around the world but because they make so few of them they’re definitely ones you will have to seek out.

And if you’re planning a visit to Italy then include Lake Garda in your plans and you can visit the region.

YAY for Cabernet - the Wine that Does it All

YAY for Cabernet - the Wine that Does it All

Whether you’re starting off in the wine world or a seasoned sommelier, Cabernet based wines find their way onto any palate. BC wineries such as TIME Family of Wines, Blasted Church Vineyards, Blue Grouse Estate, and Okanagan Crush Pad, all boast impressive selections that represent the best of Canadian wines.

Bizou + Yukon Wine Cans are the Go-To Summer Drink

The Okanagan’s Favourite Great Pyrenees have been cooking up something new in the winery

Bizou + Yukon recently released their sparkling wine cans and we’re excited to share the news with everyone.

If you follow along you will know that two Great Pyrenees guard Garnet Valley Ranch and sometimes sneak off to make their own wines. In their lineup of fun and tasty wines, they have also taken a step to be more environmentally friendly too, packaging them in 1.5-litre easy-serve bags (Pooch Pouches). Noticing that humans love to bring drinks on their adventures, Bizou + Yukon came up with the Pinkie Rosé and BEE-zoo Pink Bubbles sparkling wine in cans.

Now with summer at its peak, bring the taste of the Okanagan with you wherever you go! Bizou suggests that the wine pairs perfectly with digging a giant hole, wandering through fields of daisies, or chasing bees and butterflies. On the other hand, Yukon watches Bizou do all those things while sipping wine and lounging on a patio chair.

What’s more important than these vegan and gluten-free wines in convenient canned form? The way it tastes, of course! With bright and refreshing flavours, you’ll notice toasty and creamy notes that round out a medium-bodied mouthfeel.

You can find packages of four at select stores or you can order a pallet of 24 cans from Okanagan Crush Pad’s online store.

For a list of stores:

Angry Otter – 248th

Blackcomb Liquor Store

Blackfish Liquor Store

Everything Wine – Langford

Hideaway Liquor Store

Legacy Liquor Store

North Shore Liquor Shop

Okanagan Crush Pad Tasting Room

Queens Cross LRS

Sea to Sky Hotel LRS

Sechelt Lighthouse Liquor Store

Shady Rest Liquor Store

Squamish Liquor Store

Sunnyside Peachland

The Gull Liquor Store

Thrifty Foods Liquor – Salt Sprint

Trout Creek Liquor Store

Vernon Square Liquor Store

Vintage Spirits (Hotel Rialto)

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