If you’re still on the hunt for that special holiday gift, look no further! BC’s Blasted Church Vineyards is offering two fabulous gift ideas to treat that special someone on your list.
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
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 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
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
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.
La Cerveceria Astilleros wins gold with trailblazing Salted Lime Lager, El Valle Salado
Kick off Your Summer with Blasted Church Vineyards in Okanagan Falls
A New Look for Cambium Cider Co.
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 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
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
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.
Press Kit vs Media Kit
If you are hoping to gain earned media and get your name in the press, you are going to want to put together a “press kit”, as a supporting tool.
For digital creators, rate sheets combined with a creator’s information is called a media kit.
Let’s compare the two so you can develop the information package you need.
Celebrate #InternationalMerlotDay with Beautiful BC Merlots
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
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.
