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News from the Okanagan
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Church and State Winery - Black Sage Road
Congratulations are in order to Felix, the resident vineyard manager at Clos du Soleil winery in the Similkameen, who picked up a number of scholarships for his wine making and viticulture studies. This winery has also joined the British Columbia Sustainable Wine Growing Program, an initiative to help growers and winemakers reduce water and energy use, minimize chemical use, build healthy soils, protect air and water quality, reduce waste water and solid waste production. It seems more and more wineries are becoming sustainable. Pruning is just about finished at the vineyard soon they will be making preparations for a bit of replanting before setting up the bottling line in May. They will be busy bottling their 2009 Eclipse, Signature and Celéstiale along with the 2010 Fumé Blanc and Saturn .
Finally, while you won't be able to enjoy all their new wines just yet, they do have a number of upcoming releases that you might be interested in:
21 June - 2009 Capella ; 2009 Celéstiale and 2010 Fumé Blanc
21 September - 2009 Signature and 2010 Saturn
SEVEN STONES WINERY is releasing their fabulous 2009 Chardonnay which was bottled last summer. The 2009 vintage is a bit softer and creamier than the 2008 vintage yet it retains the same vivid mouth-feel and delicate balance of citrus and tropical fruit flavors permeated with an earthy minerality that has become the signature of their Chardonnays. The barrel fermentation gives this wine a luscious toasty and buttery finish.
Always a favorite amongst the locals is their upcoming Sip Sip Syrah Lunch on May 1st and their Winemaker's Dinner at Cabana Grille on May 5th. This winery is a "must visit" during Spring Wine Fest – in a beautiful valley setting
The NARAMATA BENCH WINERIES are rolling into Vancouver on April 21st and rolling out the barrels. Along with a sampling of the newest wines of the season, they will be offering barrel samples of upcoming releases. One of their partners this year is Vancouver 's newest restaurant, Edible at the Market. The Edible BC store on Granville Island is expanding into the restaurant scene. Chef de Cuisine is Jennifer Dodd. There will be other great offering by some of Vancouver 's finest chefs. Other restaurant partners include: Cin Cin, Bishops, Central Bistro, Vij's, Adesso Bistro, The District, Hamilton Street Grill, Kitsilano Daily Kitchen, O'Douls, Twisted Fork Bistro, The Westin Bayshore, and Hillside Bistro from Naramata.
Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek
If you have stopped by Tinhorn Winery in the last couple of weeks you probably would have felt the excitement in the air and viewed all the activity. In the past month or so they have opened their new restaurant, Miradoro, won a Gold Medal, received a 92 point review, expanded the parking area and moved offices. Over the next couple of months they will be renewing part of the vineyard, holding their first Winemaker's Dinner at Miradoro, and starting this year's Concert Series. Yes, its very busy, but it is an exciting time for this winery and its owners.
We were fortunate to enjoy dinner there with good friends during their ‘soft opening' – from the welcome at the front door, meeting their GM/Sommelier, it was a very lovely evening. Judging from the full room, Miradoro will be a busy restaurant and a place to go this wine season. One can enjoy pizza and a glass of wine, tapas, lunch, dinner, dulce. Miradoro is a partnership between Tinhorn owners Bob and Barb Shaunessy, Kenn and Sandra Oldfield along with Manuel Ferreira of La Gavroche in Vancouver.
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The Executive Chef, Jeff Van Geest's passion for food and wine runs deep. Jeff is a highly skilled and dedicated certified chef with more than 15 years experience. Most recently Jeff was the Restaurant Chef and Executive Sous Chef at the acclaimed Diva at the Met restaurant in Vancouver, where he continued his philosophy of local and sustainable, ingredient–driven fine dining. For reservations, call 250.498.3742 |
Hester Creek Winery
I attended the radio show release event at Hester Creek Winery where they were pouring the new releases of a red and a white estate blend, each called Character. Held under screw-cap closure, these blends take the best from Hester Creek's 95-acre estate and combine them in perfect proportion. Making wines that are the best representation of the amazing land on the Golden Mile Bench is important to winemaker Rob Summers , who wanted to create blends truly unique to Hester Creek. For example, the Character White includes the Okanagan's only Trebbiano, grown and produced by Hester Creek. They are also proud to present a third new wine, an ultra-premium red blend called The Judge .
Ready for Spring 2011 a new and polished look to its packaging, new website, three new wines and a soon-to-be opened restaurant complete the Hester Creek experience.
Hester Creek Vineyards, Wine Patio
With the launch of the new wines, website and packaging underway, focus now shifts to the new restaurant, Terrafina at Hester Creek . Run by Chef Jeremy Luypen, the Terrafina menu features locally grown ingredients and wines from Hester Creek. In the redesigned former tasting room, the 45-seat restaurant also has 24 seats on the vine-laden patio. Surrounded by the thriving Hester Creek Vineyards, Terrafina invites diners to experience local food and wine in the place where it was grown. For Hester Creek, everything has finally come full circle. They are excited to finally express their true character in this, the winery's ‘next chapter'
Desert Hills
The Spring Wine Festival is almost here, its the time to visit the wineries, taste and make your purchases. Some of our wineries make very small lots so it's a first come first serve basis. For those wine lovers, Desert Hills has just released their 2010 Gamay (2009 Gamay winning Lieutenant Governor's award and best wine by Wine Access Magazine) and Gewurztraminer (already picked up one Int'l Gold) you been waiting for. They are also releasing two other wines: 2010 Viognier only 73 cases and 2010 Sauvignon Blanc only 57 cases. New to their portfolio, it's going to be BC's best Sauv-blanc you ever had. Order fast or it will be gone. Don't forget you can mix and match in a case. Go to www.deserthills.ca then click on "order" in the menu bar.
Burrowing Owl - Sage Bench
BURROWING OWL ESTATE WINERY has new wine releases available for online purchase. These are: '08 Chardonnay, '07 Cabernet Sauvignon, '08 Pinot Noir, '08 Cab Franc, '08 Merlot, '08 Syrah and '08 Meritage.
The Spring Winemaker's Dinner will be held May 05th Executive Chef Chris Van Hooydonk will be creating a delectable 5-course menu with wine pairings for each course starting off with a cave reception. Check their website for other events taking place at www.bovwine.ca .
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Congratulations to Burrowing Owl's Winemaker Bertus Albertyn and his wife Elzaan, who became the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl Ella on March 17, 2011. |
LE VIEUX PIN WINERY - Oliver
LE VIEUX PIN WINERY This year will be the inaugural release of Le Vieux Pin Syrah and Viognier/Rousanne. These Rhône inspired wines mark a new exciting venture for Le Vieux Pin. These sun loving grape varieties originally from France's south east corner are ideally suited to the growing season and the summer heat of the South Okanagan .
They think these wines are spectacular and truly look forward to presenting them!
John Schreiner reviewed the latest lineup recently awarding a plethora of 90+ scores!
- 2010 Sauvingon Blanc "Aurore" $35
- 2009 Viognier/Rousanne $35
- 2010 Vaila - Rose $28
- 2008 Syrah $45
- 2008 Merlot "Époque" $35
Some of these wines will sell out quickly! Beat the festival crowd and the general public by placing your order to ensure you get your first choices and full allocation.
The Spring Wine Festival starts on April 29 and runs through May 8 th . Enjoy this special time of new greenery, orchard blossoms, balsamroot blooms and awakening. Make a trip of it and visit the many award-winning wineries of the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. There will be lots of events happening as well as dinners. Check www.owfs.com for information.
To all wine lovers – Happy Springtime!
Photography by Dee Newman
Chef Jeff Van Geest's photograph provided by Tinhorn Creek
Reports by Dee
Spring 2011
Winter 2011
Aug 2010
Summer 2010
June 2010
May 2010
March 2010
