“Leadership to Keep Government Informed"

As the largest volunteer industry association in the province, with 95 per cent of BC VQA sales, 95 per cent of the total, and 88 per cent of all production in the 100 per cent BC. grape wine production sector, the BCWI is proud to provide leadership for the British Columbia wine industry.

The BCWI Government Relations Committee plays a leadership role as the voice of the industry to various levels of government, works behind the scenes to keep federal and provincial government representatives aware of the importance of the BC wine industry, and provides input on policies affecting the industry.

The provincial government’s continued support of the BC wine industry was on display at the annual BCWI Legislative tasting, held on May 18 in Victoria – with over 100 key legislative staff taking advantage of the opportunity to meet with BCWI member wineries, stakeholders and industry leaders and taste BC VQA wines firsthand.  Attendees this year included:

• Hon. Pat Bell – Minister of Jobs, Tourism & Innovation and MLA for Prince George Mackenzie
• Hon. Don McRae – Minister of Agriculture and MLA for Comox Valley
• Hon. Barry Penner – Attorney General and MLA for Chilliwack Hope
• Hon. Mary Polak – Minister of Aboriginal Relations & Reconciliation and MLA for Langley
• Hon. Steve Thomson – Minister of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations and MLA for Kelowna-Mission
• Hon. Naomi Yamamoto – Minister of Advanced Education and MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale
• John Les – Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and MLA for Chilliwack
• Ben Stewart – Government Caucus Whip and MLA for Westside Kelowna
• Doug Donaldson – Opposition Deputy Critic for Finance & Mines and MLA for Stikine
• Leonard Krog – Opposition Critic for Attorney General and MLA for Nanaimo
• Bruce Ralston – Opposition Critic for Finance and MLA for Surrey-Whalley
• Diane Thorne – Opposition Deputy Critic for Education and MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville
• Barry Bieller – Director of Policy, Planning & Communications in the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch of the Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General
• Ann Shubrook – Assistant Manager of Licensing in the Liquor Control & Licensing Branch of the Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General

Thanks to those participating BCWI member wineries and our provincial representatives for taking the time for this important chance to meet face-to-face, and for your continued support for our industry.

Miles Prodan
Executive Director

“2011 Bloom BC VQA Tasting Events”

The 2011 Bloom BC VQA Spring Release Tasting events were held on May 17 and 18 in Vancouver and Victoria.  With 74 wineries represented in Vancouver and 65 in Victoria, both events boasted the largest number of participants in the six-year history of the event.

Vancouver alone offered attendees more than 280 BC VQA wines to sample, many of which had just been released from the 2010 vintage.  It wasn’t all new releases:  attendees got to sample 2009, 2008, 2007 and even some 2006 wines.  The room was abuzz for the entire two-and-a-half hours, with close to 400 VIPs, trade and media representatives coming out to sample the Wines of British Columbia.

A new theme greeted the attendees as they experienced a Journey Through BC’s Wine Country.  Wineries were grouped according to geographic location, which enabled attendees to taste and compare wines from a particular wine-producing area of British Columbia.

The BC Wine Institute worked with Rhys Pender, WM and the Pacific Agricultural Research Centre (PARC), based in Summerland, to create a display which showcased eight different soil samples and educated attendees regarding the diverse terroir of our province.  The tasting was a fun and exciting way to learn more about what makes our wines distinct.  

The BC Wine Institute and 65 member wineries packed up the tasting and headed to Victoria to set up and thrill the 180 trade and media attendees who came out to taste the Wines of British Columbia in the province’s capital.

We’d like to thank all of our participating members and our loyal trade and media for making Bloom 2011 the biggest and best yet. We look forward to seeing you all again in the fall for our Colour BC VQA Fall Tasting and ChefmeetsGrape on September 22, 2011.

Maggie Anderson
Marketing Director

“A Journey Through BC Wine Country”

Do you ever take the time to think about where your wine came from and how that impacts its flavour, colour and structure?  At the recent ‘A Journey Through BC Wine Country’ seminar, held prior to the Bloom BC VQA Spring Release Tasting in Vancouver, we did exactly that.

Hosted by Master of Wine Rhys Pender, the sit-down seminar took the revised Bloom concept – with the wineries being grouped by location – even further, focusing on single-vineyard wines from all of the designated viticultural areas.  With 193 grape wineries now in BC, regionality is becoming more and more important.

“We’re so locked into our own market and habits that we forget to use the terminology,” says Pender.  “When you add ‘DVA’ on the end to, say, Okanagan Valley, it sounds more serious.  They are proper regions, so we should use it.”

As our group of influential trade and media attendees sampled 10 single-vineyard wines from across the province, lively discussion ensued about the idea of sub-appellations.  Because the Okanagan Valley has such diverse micro-climates from north to south, unofficial sub-regions are already quite well-known – such as the Naramata Bench, Golden Mile, and Black Sage Bench.  In a move that would expand the prominence of regional variances, the process of obtaining official sub-appellation status may not be far off as well.

Thanks to Rhys for hosting, seminar panelists Spencer Massie (Clos du Soleil Winery), Elaine Kozak (Garry Oaks Winery), Rob Summers (Hester Creek Estate Winery) and Jim Bagan (Neck of the Woods Winery) for sharing your sense of place, and to all our trade and media attendees for taking the time to join us and share your opinions!

Next time you are enjoying a bottle of BC VQA wine, sip slowly and savour the wine’s sense of place.  Do you get notes of Okanagan tree fruits in your Riesling or perhaps a note of sage in your Cabernet Franc?  The Wines of BC reflect the stories of the land where the grapes are grown and of the people who craft them.  Enjoy the fruits of their labour! 

Cheers!

Lindsay Kelm
Communications Manager

BCWI Board of Directors

Elections were held at the BCWI Annual General Meeting on July 19, 2011. Please join us in welcoming our new Board of Directors:

Josie Tyabji, Chairman (Vincor Canada)
Shaun Everest, Vice Chairman (Tinhorn Creek Vineyards)
Greg Berti (Andrew Peller)
Bill Eggert (Fairview Cellars)
Ingo Grady (Mission Hill Family Estate Winery)
Pam Luckhurst (Road 13 Vineyards)
Mike Raffan (Township 7 Vineyards & Winery)
Kathy Mercier Rock'n Horse Farm / BC Grapegrowers' Association (ex-officio)

THE WINES OF BC WERE A HIT IN THE BIG APPLE

For the first time, the BC Wine Institute this year took its message about the province’s world-class wines to the major annual event which showcases key Canadian tourism destinations to a wide range of U.S. media.

In early April, BCWI representatives attended Canada Media Marketplace, sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.  This year’s Marketplace brought together 229 online, print and broadcast media from across the US to meet with tourism representatives from across Canada for the purpose of writing tourism features and the possibility of visiting some of the destinations to develop additional tourism-related articles.

As a first-time attendee, BCWI was a popular source for the journalists at Marketplace who were eager to get the scoop on the Wines and Wine Regions of British Columbia.  During the event, BCWI Communications Manager Lindsay Kelm met with 20 media in speed-dating-style appointments aimed at generating story ideas and enticing media to write about and visit our beautiful wine regions.

For the Wines of BC, the highlight of the event was the ‘Savoir Fare’ closing reception for which the BCWI shipped 10 cases of BC VQA wine to New York.  Kelm says, “Being able to share the Wines of BC with key media in New York provided invaluable exposure.  Because few BC wines are available in the US, the majority of the media attending had not experienced our wines and were truly blown away by the exceptional quality.”

At the Marketplace, CTC sponsored awards for journalists doing stories or photos for newspapers, magazines or the internet – and this year an aspect of the BC wine industry was featured in a winning entry.  In the category of ‘Independent Journalist: Newspaper’, writer Remy Scalza won for his Jan. 3, 2010 Washington Post article entitled “Chill Before Serving”.  The story covers Okanagan Icewine production and winter wine-touring – along with mention of Tantalus Winery and Mission Hill Family Estate Winery.

See:  Scalza’s article

BCWI looks forward to attending its second Canada Media Marketplace, to be held next April in San Francisco.  BCWI wants to thank the following wineries for supplying the wine for this exciting international promotional event:  Burrowing Owl Vineyards, CedarCreek Estate Winery, Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate, Laughing Stock Vineyards, Nk’Mip Cellars, Painted Rock Estate Winery, Peller Estates, Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, Red Rooster Winery, Sandhill, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, and Summerhill Pyramid Organic Winery.

THE 2011 CROP WILL BE GREAT, IF THE WEATHER CO-OPERATES

Despite an unusually slow start to this grapegrowing season, with some good summer and fall weather BC vineyards should still be able to produce a great 2011 vintage.

Two viticulturalists in different parts of the province agree that, with current vine development up to two weeks behind in many areas, grapegrowers must manage their vines carefully and must hope that the weather gives them a break through the rest of the summer, and particularly in the fall.

“We need the weather to balance out, and what is critical is the fall,” says Patrick Murphy, co-owner and winemaker at Vista D’oro Winery in Langley.  “There are lots of good positive signs on the vines, but September and October will be critical,” the Lower Mainland winemaker says.  Murphy grows Marechal Foche, Pinot Noir, and a number of varietals for a proprietary white wine blend – including Schoenberger, Seigerrebe, Ortega, and Pinot Gris.

Manfred Freese, who owns the Osoyoos-area Sun Ridge Vineyard, and who is also president of the BC Grapegrowers’ Association, agrees.  “We need a decent summer and fall.  We need that warm September.”  He grows Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris.

Both Murphy and Freese say the first part of this growing season has been unusually slow everywhere, but since July 1 things seem to be improving.

“So far it’s been a very tough year – unusually cold, and the bud-burst was quite late,” Freese notes.  For instance, he says, the Merlot bud-burst in the South Okanagan, which usually occurs on April 26, came on May 6 this year – 11 days behind schedule.

“May was the coolest in 10 years, so growth took more time – and we didn’t gain anything in June, which was also relatively cool,” Freese says.  The bloom-time measure, when the vines reach 50-per-cent cap-fall, didn’t happen for Merlot in the South Okanagan until June 29 this year – 13 days behind the normal date of June 16.

But the Grapegrowers’ Association head says there’s some reason for optimism.  “Things certainly improved in the first week of July, and we can catch up a bit.”

The worry in the South Okanagan, Freese says, is that, “with our growing season pretty well stopping October 15, we’re getting squeezed” for crop ripening time.  “And you’re always worried about the possibility of an early frost.”

He says that, “to be on the safe side”, some Okanagan grapegrowers are thinning out their vines, to promote growth.  And, he adds, “the Merlot should be okay.”

Being in the Lower Mainland, Murphy deals with a different climate than Freese, but his analysis of the first half of the 2011 season is the same as Freese’s.  As of early July, his vines were also about two weeks behind normal.

“In a way, we were fortunate that it was a late spring here and things were behind, so we didn’t lose anything in the late frost we had in the first week of May,” Murphy says.  He notes that up to 30 per cent of central California’s grape crop was damaged this year by a spring frost.

The Lower Mainland vineyards now need sunshine and some wind to dry out the vines and prevent mould, Murphy says.  “There’s good vigour now, and we need to manage things and keep the canopy more open, to get as much sun on our grapes as possible.”

Murphy says the stresses and strains of an unusual growing season can be a good thing for the grapes and their resulting wine.  “If you have a perfect growing season, you have a boring wine.  When the weather is off a bit, it can be a good thing – it adds character.”  He says, “As long as we get a good fall, we’ll be okay.”

Freese hopes the cool, wet weather of 2010 and 2011 is winding down.  “We’re at the end of a La Nina cycle, so hopefully we will have better, warmer weather next year.”

The recently released BC Wine Grape Crop Report for 2010 confirms what was widely suspected: The year of challenging weather led to a reduced yield and one of the latest harvests on record, but it also produced some of the most outstanding quality grapes ever.

The Crop Report, released in mid-June, notes that the harvest got off to a late start with the first grapes being picked the week of Sept. 15, 2010 – fully two weeks behind the 2009 harvest.  The majority of B.C. wineries started picking after Sept. 24, with fruit still coming in well into November 2010 – making for a very late harvest.
 
Crop tonnage in the province for 2010 was down a total of 11 per cent from 2009, but that wasn’t as much as had been expected.  The crop, measured in short tons, fell to 17,778 tons in 2010 from the 19,879 tons harvested in 2009.  Since the Crop Report’s survey is voluntary, these reported tonnages may vary from the actual harvest.

Former BCWI director Rod King, of King Family Farms in Naramata, says, “(The grape) pricing reflects the reality of a shorter crop last year.  All the main varieties were up a little bit on a price-per-ton basis.”

But despite the short crop’s effect on some grape pricing, that hasn’t affected wine prices at the consumer level, according to Stephen Schiedel, BC Liquor Stores’ Portfolio Manager for Wines of Canada, the USA. and South America. 

The 2010 white wines have been released to much acclaim.  The cooler conditions of the vintage allowed for full flavour development while maintaining the vibrant acidity that the Wines of BC are known for – perfect for summer sipping.

Consumers seem to agree, with overall provincial BC VQA sales up by three per cent over the past 12 months and BC VQA Wine Store sales continuing to increase – with rolling 12-month sales totals up four per cent as of May 2011.

The 2010 red wines – most of which won’t be released until 2012 – were more of a challenge, but vintners are excited about their development.  The Hester Creek Estate Winery team did a lot of work in the vineyard to ensure phenological ripeness, according to General Manager Mark Sheridan.  “We cropped light and did a lot of canopy management, but we have some of the best colour and tannin structure that we’ve had, and we’re extremely excited about the entire portfolio.”

The 2010 BC Wine Grape Crop Report was compiled by BDO Canada LLP from information submitted by 126 wineries across the province.  BCWI thanks all those who contributed, as well as those in the Wine Institute, the BC Grapegrowers’ Association, the BC Wine Authority, and the BC Wine Grape Council who provided their assistance.  The full Report can be viewed HERE.

Once again B.C. wines have made a big impression on the world stage, receiving more than 90 medals – including nine Best in Class awards – at the 72nd annual Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition.

The LA competition, held in May, is one of the most respected international wine competitions, attracting more than 3,200 entries from around the world.

“These accolades are a true testament to the exceptional quality of the Wines of British Columbia,” says BCWI Executive Director Miles Prodan.  “Already this year, our wines have received over 1,000 awards in national and international competitions.”

Among the top performers at the Los Angeles competition were Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery, of Oliver, receiving three Best of Class awards for its 2010 Classic Auxerrois (93 points), 2010 Desert Sun (93 points), and 2010 Classic Ehrenfelser (92 points), and Summerhill Pyramid Organic Winery, of Kelowna, receiving two Best of Class nods for its 2009 Organic Gewürztraminer (95 points) and 2007 Organic Cabernet Franc (93 points).

This year, the Best in Class award for a Bordeaux Blend once again went to an Okanagan winery.  In 2010, Nk’Mip Cellars, of Osoyoos, upset top California wineries on their home turf to receive the honour, and now in 2011, Sandhill, of Kelowna, took the award with its 2008 Phantom Creek Vineyard Small Lots One (95 points).

Other Best in Class winners at this year’s LA competition included Calona Vineyards, of Kelowna, for its 2010 Artist Series Sovereign Opal (94 points), Hester Creek Estate Winery, of Oliver, for its 2009 Character Red (93 points), and Red Rooster Winery, of Penticton, for its 2010 Pinot Gris (93 points).

For a complete list of awards see: www.winebc.com/awards.php

Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan has reintroduced a motion in the House of Commons that would amend the 1928 Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act which currently prohibits wineries from selling wine that will be taken across provincial borders.  The old law restricts the movement of wine across provincial borders unless it is first consigned to the destination province’s liquor authority.

Cannan, chair of the Conservative Wine Caucus, introduced a similar motion during the last session of Parliament, prior to the federal election.

The intent of his new Motion 218 is to give Canadian consumers a personal exemption, so out-of-province consumers can purchase directly from Canadian wineries.

“Canada has a robust wine industry and produces some of the best vintages in the world,” Cannan says.  “It is a source of national pride. Yet, Canadians do not have easy access to those products.”

The MP adds, “Purchasing practices have changed significantly because of online shopping.  Liquor Boards have limited shelf space and have tried to expand choice through private order programs, but they are slow and costly.”

Cannan says a number of wineries and associations – including the BC Wine Institute, the Canadian Vintners Association and the Alliance for Canadian Wine Consumers – support his motion.

He notes that the personal exemption would have a positive impact by increasing consumer access to Canadian wine and improving wineries’ marketing options and sales.  “The change would have an immediate benefit to our wine and culinary tourism sector.  It’s the kind of move that would generate jobs and create secondary economic activity.  (It) is a win-win for Canadian wine producers and Canadian consumers.”

A growing grassroots movement to change the Act has triggered letter-writing campaigns to provincial and federal representatives as well as an online campaign at www.freemygrapes.ca.

BC grapegrowers, winemakers and vintners are awaiting with interest the results of a major comparative international study of what makes a wine industry competitive and successful, after release of a first draft in January was considered by many to be overly critical and not reflective of the realities of the BC industry.

Simon Fraser University Prof. Andy Hira and his international co-authors presented results of their study of the wine industries in BC, Spain, Italy, Chile and Australia at the Annual Enology & Viticulture Conference being hosted July 18-19 in Penticton by the BC Wine Grape Council’s.

In the three-year study, each country’s author studied the factors behind the overall performance and evolution of industries in their home country –  such as the historical development of the industry, the role of policies and support institutions, and the degree of organization within the industry.  The results were then compared to draw out lessons for what seems to work in promoting industry success in the long-run.

In a recent Vancouver Sun story, Hira says, “It’s clear that the BC wine industry is a major success and that everything has been going very well for the industry.  But the intent of the [study] was not to celebrate all the successes but to say, that, "Look, there are some weak points here.”

Hira interviewed more than 50 winemakers, suppliers, scientists and consultants to the Okanagan Valley wine industry, home to more than 95 per cent of wine producers in the province.  The early draft of his report, The Wine Industry in British Columbia, was released in January, but has since undergone a number of revisions based on feedback from the area’s wine industry.

In his initial report, Hira cites potential problems including a possible future over-supply of grapes, the increasing cost of suitable land, a lack of alternative markets, and a heavy reliance on tourism.  He also suggested that a lack of co-ordination among BC winemakers and the industry’s limited sharing of innovation and best practices could become a problem.  He argued that the wine industries Australia, New Zealand, Oregon, Washington state, Chile and Argentina are better organized and integrated than the industry in BC.

BCWI Executive Director Miles Prodan says in the same Vancouver Sun article that industry members have questioned whether Hira’s findings are representative of what is going on in BC.  “Generally, the report, when we first had a look at it, didn’t feel as though it represented a good cross-section of the industry.”  Prodan agreed, though, that the industry faces challenges – such as a potential future market saturation, as more BC wine producers enter the business.  In that event, he says, the industry will have to look to export markets for growth.

Overall, Prodan says, “the BC wine industry is very robust and doing very well”, with sales of BC VQA wines over the past 12 months recording double-digit growth.

“In the end, the product is premium and the consumers are buying it – so the proof is in the pudding,” Prodan says.

The BC government announced July 18 it will spend $140,000 to fund a new project to help supply the province’s grape and wine industry with the skilled workers it needs in the future.

The BCWI has noted that a steady stream of skilled labour – from vineyard managers to viticulture technicians – will be needed to guarantee continued success in the highly competitive domestic and international wine markets.

As part of its Labour Market Partnerships Program, the government funding will allow HortEducationBC and its wine and grape industry partners to study ways to meet the ever-increasing demand for skilled labour in BC’s grape and wine sectors.  The project will develop a comprehensive human resources strategy for the sector and will identify industry-specific training needs to ensure workers with the right skills are available.  The study will be the first of its type in British Columbia to determine future skilled labour needs for the wine and grape sectors.

Funding for the study project comes from the Canada-BC Labour Market Development Agreement.

BC Agriculture Minister Don McRae says, “A human resource strategy will help ensure producers have the skilled labour they need to continue producing award-winning products, and help more British Columbians recognize the career opportunities and rewards our world-class wine industry offers.”

www.aved.gov.bc.ca/labour_market_partnerships/welcome.htm

A lighthearted new television series profiling high-quality Okanagan wines and food is designed to showcase the scenic valley and its products to viewers around the world, with producers planning to market the series in 90 countries.

In a recent news release, Penticton-based Death or Glory Productions announced they are hard at work on the new series, called “Fit For A King”.  Filmed in the Okanagan, the first season will consist of 13 half-hour episodes, with current plans for five more seasons.

In each episode, the show’s main characters – rock ‘n’ roller James Blonde and holistic nutritionist Lisa Kilgour – leave their picturesque mountain estate home to explore the beautiful surroundings of the Okanagan, searching for adventure along with great wine and food.  Regular guest, wine expert Gerrit Van Staalduinen, advises them as they visit a featured winery in each show, meeting with vintners, and choose an exquisite local wine.  The show will also visit organic, holistic and free-range farms and markets in the valley.

Show creator, producer and director Blonde says, “We’ve set out to film and capture the wineries, outdoor activities, and the natural beauty of the Okanagan, in the most complimentary way.  We’re presenting our back garden to the world.”

The series will be accompanied by a cookbook, which will include recipes, nutritional information, health tips, expert wine advice, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show.

http://fitforaking.co/

Two South Okanagan wineries recently opened new restaurants, to add enjoyable cuisine and dining to complement the other experiences they offer their visitors.

Hester Creek Estate Winery and Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, both located on the Golden Mile benchland just south of Oliver, have each opened a restaurant within the past few months.

The new Terrafina Restaurant opened June 1 in Hester Creek’s former tasting room, which was redesigned to provide an intimate 47-seat indoor setting, plus additional patio seating for 24 under a vine-covered trellis.  Old brick, wooden pillars and iron chandeliers also capture the Tuscan villa character of the winery.

Defined as 'from the earth', Terrafina is inspired by Hester Creek’s oldest grapevines, which date back to 1968, and by the abundance of locally-grown produce available in the Okanagan Valley.

Executive chef Jeremy Luypen and operating manager April Goldade own Terrafina.  Praniel Rai is Chef du Cuisine.  The Terrafina team is passionate about capturing the natural flavours of the locally-grown farm produce.  From wood-stone baked bread to house-made pizzas, pasta and ingredients, the light, flavourful dishes are Italian-inspired and created to marry perfectly with Hester Creek's award-winning wines.

Terrafina is open for lunch and dinner from April to December each year.  For more information see: www.terrafinarestaurant.com.

On April 1, Tinhorn Creek Vineyard opened the Mediterranean-inspired Miradoro restaurant in partnership with restaurateur Manuel Ferreira of Vancouver's Le Gavroche.

Miradoro, designed by award-winning Okanagan architect Nick Bevanda, has 65 seats indoors and 65 seats on an outdoor wrap-around patio. It offers sweeping views of the South Okanagan Valley.

The Mediterranean-style food at Miradoro is rustic, simple, straightforward, and places emphasis on the seasons.  Executive Chef Jeff Van Geest, known for his award-winning Aurora Bistro in Vancouver, will lead Miradoro’s kitchen.  A longtime advocate of local ingredients and sustainable and environmentally sound operating practices, Van Geest has designed the menu with wine pairings in mind.

Justin McAuliffe will serve as Miradoro’s General Manager and Sommelier.  His wine program will feature all of Tinhorn Creek’s wines – including rare vintages and varietals exclusive to the restaurant – as well as a selection of wines from other great B.C. wineries.  For more information see:  www.tinhorn.com.

The Central Okanagan also has a new winery restaurant to celebrate. Bonitas Winery in Summerland opened Bonitas Bistro in early summer.

Bonitas Bistro promises to offer a unique winery dining experience, while enjoying our fantastic lakeshore views overlooking the vines. Our focus is on good honest local cuisine, featuring some of the best produce the region has to offer. Taking care of your every need will bring you back time and time again with people coming together to enjoy everything the Okanagan has to offer!

Owned and operated by chef Colin Rayner, who was formerly with the Minstral Café and Bermuda and managed by Steven Greekas, Bonitas Bistro offers an extraordinary patio with an exceptional view of the lake and inside seating with the same exceptional view. The restaurant has a good variety of menu items, from a shrimp bruschetta to a beet and orange salad. It is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will be open for dinner soon. Dave and Lawrence Hopper are the owner/operators of the winery, which opened in 1994. Call 778-516-5596; www.bonitasbistro.com or bonitasbistro@shaw.ca.

Prolific BC-based wine writer John Schreiner has published another book for those interested in wine-touring: “BC Coastal Wine Tour Guide - The Wineries of the Fraser Valley, Vancouver, Vancouver Island & the Gulf Islands”.

The 224-pg paperback from Whitecap Books shows that not all of B.C.’s award-winning wineries are in the Okanagan Valley.  The Fraser Valley, metro Vancouver, and Vancouver Island are fast becoming renowned for their wines.

In this guide to all 70 wineries of the coastal regions, the award-winning Schreiner gives readers the information they need in order to take a self-guided tour.  The book includes:

• Thumbnail sketches and insider profiles of each winery and its winemakers.
• Interesting facts acquired through interviews with the winemakers and owners.
• Recommendations for what wines to take home from the cellar door.
• Locations, contact information and website addresses for each winery.

For information see: www.whitecap.ca/books/john-schreiners-bc-coastal-wine-tour-guide.

UBC Okanagan plans to launch a new Wine Institute for Policy, Research & Education and is currently advertising widely for a Director for the new research unit.

The initiative goes well beyond the current Wine Studies program of courses in the University’s Continuing Studies area, and beyond the innovative Okanagan Wine Ambassador program which gives students an overview of the region’s wines in order to help promote them.

Noting that it is located in the centre of Western Canada’s wine industry, UBC Okanagan states it “is committed to developing an innovative Wine Institute focusing on policy, research and professional education.  The vision is of a multidisciplinary entity that will provide unique value-added research, outreach and education offerings while working collaboratively with universities, producers, industry agencies, and government bodies in British Columbia, Eastern Canada and other major wine-producing areas of the world.  Building on and enhancing existing research areas, this ambitious new venture will be an interdisciplinary body investigating all aspects of the wine industry and related sectors, from policy and production through distribution, marketing, finance and economic impact – including the relationship between the B.C. wine industry and the province’s growing reputation as an international tourist destination.”

The Kelowna-based university has 7,000 students.  The Director of the UBCO Wine Institute for Policy, Research & Education will be jointly appointed in the Institute and in the UBCO Faculty of Management.  For more information on the Director’s position see: www.winebc.com/jobposting.php.

More than two dozen wineries in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys are included on the growing itinerary of stops available on a unique new Heli-Wine Tour service offered by West Kelowna-based Valhalla Helicopters.

Up to four people at a time can charter a Bell-206 chopper from Valhalla, leaving Kelowna International Airport for a total of six hours for their own private excursion – including two hours of scenic flying time over the valleys and lakes.

The wine lovers select whichever wineries they want to visit, from Valhalla’s list of 27 wineries which have agreed to receive the tours.  The wineries are located in Kelowna, Winfield, Summerland, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos and Cawston.  Cost of a tour, including taxes, is $2,500.

Teshia Venables, Forbidden Fruit’s Media & Marketing Manager, told the Keremeos Review that one recent heli-wine tour group at her winery “was having the time of their lives and were literally blown away by our scenic valley.  In terms of people numbers, it may not be big, but their word-of-mouth about what they’ve seen in the valley will be huge.”

For more information see: www.valhallahelicopters.com.

Ten wines have been named winners of 2011 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in BC Wines.  They were chosen from among this year’s total entries of 309 wines from 83 wineries across the province.

This is the ninth year of the Awards program, begun in 2003 by then Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo.  It honours excellence in wines made 100 per cent from grapes grown and processed in the province.

Any BC winery can enter.  A tasting panel of wine critics and journalists is held in the middle of June.  The panel selects wines they feel have achieved “excellence”.   Winners are announced in early July.  His Honour, The Honourable Steven Point visited the winning wineries at the end of July to present the Awards.  Winning wines are entitled to use the Lieutenant Governor’s Award logo for advertising.

This year’s winners are:

• Howling Bluff Estate Winery – 2009 Pinot Noir
• Laughing Stock Vineyards – 2010 Pinot Gris
• Mt. Lehman Winery - 2010 Viognier Reserve
• Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery – 2008 Syrah
• Red Rooster Winery – 2008 Meritage
• Sandhill – 2009 Small Lots Syrah
• St. Hubertus Estate Winery & Oak Bay Vineyard – 2009 Dry Riesling
• Stoneboat Vineyards – 2009 Pinot Noir
• Sumac Ridge Estate Winery – 2006 Steller’s Jay Brut
• Volcanic Hills Estate Winery – 2010 Rosé
• Wild Goose Vineyards & Winery – 2010 Mystic River Pinot Blanc

Officials with the annual North American Wine Bloggers Conference announced this month that the 2013 edition of this major wine media gathering will be held in Penticton – and local organizers are now busy getting preparations underway.

The conference, to be held in June 2013 at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, is expected to attract about 400 wine bloggers.  It is the first time the North America-wide conference will be held in Canada, and it is considered a great opportunity to showcase the Okanagan, B.C. and Canadian wine industries.

The Penticton bid group has been led by Penticton & Wine Country Marketing Manager Jessie Campbell and Alison Markin, of All She Wrote Consulting, who was hired to prepare the bid.

Campbell is elated at the announcement.  “We now have the opportunity to showcase to this influential and vast online community of wine bloggers, new media innovators and wine industry leaders that Penticton & Wine Country is fast becoming a world-class wine destination.”

Markin says the conference officials are also enthused about exposing hundreds of bloggers to the high-quality wines and wineries north of the border.  “Bringing this conference to the South Okanagan is good for the wine industry in the entire region and the entire country,” she says, adding the free exposure gained from the bloggers’ online media activity at the conference and afterwards adds up to the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of dollars of marketing and advertising.

Markin notes that the Penticton bidders “couldn’t have done this without the support of local organizations and businesses, who are already plotting to make sure this is the best North American Wine Bloggers Conference to date.”  The Penticton bid has been supported by the BC Wine Institute, Penticton Lakeside Resort, Valley First Credit Union, the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society, the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, the Downtown Penticton Association, and many other businesses and groups.

Penticton had originally bid for the 2012 conference, but that was awarded to Portland, Oregon.  The conference officials wanted to give American bloggers more time to arrange their attendance at the first Canada-based conference, and wanted to give Penticton time to organize this major get-together.

As part of the lobbying effort to gain the conference, local organizers created Twitter (@wbcokanagan) and Facebook accounts.

Wine Access magazine reports that Will and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, sipped on B.C. wine at a dinner in the Northwest Territories during their early July tour of Canada.

At an event on an island at Blachford Lake, hosted by Dechinta Bush University Centre for Research and Learning, the Royals tasted five wines from Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, based in West Kelowna.  The wines were paired with courses made from local ingredients including grilled Arctic char, fire-roasted caribou, white fish, roasted moose meat, and bannock.

The Quails’ Gate wines sampled were:  2006 Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir, 2008 Old Vines Foch Reserve, 2009 TBA Optima, 2004 Fortified Vintage Foch, and a choice of 2009 Stewart Family Reserve Chardonnay or 2010 Chenin Blanc.

Tourism Kelowna recently launched a collaboration with 20 wineries in the area to promote a “destination wine touring experience” which suggests that tourists visit five distinct multi-winery “wine trails” in and around the city, between Lake Country and West Kelowna.

Tourism Kelowna CEO Nancy Cameron says the Kelowna area is historically significant to the BC wine industry, and the new Wine Trails marketing initiative is an effort “to repackage the wine experience in our destination in order to raise the awareness around the scope and depth of wine touring and further build tourism revenues for the wineries and hospitality businesses.”

The main marketing item in the initiative is a new 18-page Kelowna Wine Trails brochure and a smartphone “app” – both of which group wineries in Trails with others nearby, and provide a taste of what visitors can learn at each winery.  The brochure suggests that each Wine Trail’s grouping of wineries can be enjoyed in a day.  The five trails are:

• Scenic Sip of Lake Country (Ancient Hills Winery, Arrowleaf Winery, Ex Nihilo, and Gray Monk Estate).
• East Kelowna Wine Trail (The View Winery, SpierHead Winery, Vibrant Vines, Camelot Vineyards, and House of Rose).
• Lakeshore Wine Route (Tantalus Winery, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, St. Hubertus, and CedarCreek Estate Winery).
• Westside Wine Trail (Mission Hill Family Estate, Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, Little Straw, Volcanic Hills, Mount Boucherie, and Kalala Vineyards).
• Heritage Downtown Visit (Calona Wines, the Cultural District and Museums).

Tantalus Winery General Manager Jane Hatch says, “Each of our wineries offers a unique and appealing experience ... no two are alike.  We want to shine the spotlight on the distinct personalities of each winery and engage with visitors on a variety of levels.”

The Wine Trail brochures are available at the Kelowna Visitor Centre and the Airport Information Kiosk, as well as area wineries and select businesses.  For more information see: www.tourismkelowna.com/do/wine/kelowna-wine-trails.

NOW 20 BC VQA STORES ACROSS THE PROVINCE

There are now 20 BC VQA Wine Stores across the province selling BC VQA wines exclusively, and each carrying a wide selection of the Wines of British Columbia.  Some of the stores stock up to 500 wines.  Each store’s staff prides itself on extensive knowledge of the Wines of British Columbia and take regular educational tours to the Wine Regions of British Columbia to visit the vineyards and taste at the wineries.  Many BC VQA Wine Stores also have in-store tasting events and visits from winemakers.

The BC VQA stores are located in Victoria (3 stores), Courtenay, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver (3), Richmond, Tsawwassen, Surrey, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Langley, Chilliwack, Kelowna (2), Penticton, and Nelson.  For a list of the stores, click HERE.

BC VQA 2011 SALES UP FROM 2010

The BC Wine Institute reports that BC VQA Wine Store sales continue to increase, with rolling 12-month sales up 7% as of June 2011.  Additional figures show that the BC VQA sales were also:

• Up 6% for the month of May 2011 over May 2010.
• Up 3% for the month of April 2011 over April 2010.
• Up 15% for the month of March 2011 over March 2010.
• Up 10% for the month February 2011 over February 2010.

VICTORIA STORE DELIVERS AND SHIPS WINES

The “BC Wineguys” BC VQA Store on Cadboro Bay Road in Victoria makes sure it can get its high-quality wine to its customers!  The store delivers anywhere in the greater Victoria area at no charge for case orders, and with a delivery fee for single-bottle orders.  It even includes a gift bag and card with its deliveries.  In addition, the BC Wineguys ship wines within the province by FedEx.  For information see:  http://bcwineguys.blogspot.com.

NELSON STORE OFFERS WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES

Talk about service!  The only BC VQA Wine Store in the province’s Kootenay region offers a tremendous range of services to customers in that area.  Not only does the “BC Wineguys” store in downtown Nelson offer winery direct prices, it is also open seven days a week.  In addition, it provides chilled wines at no extra cost, a huge selection of BC Icewines, offers wedding and party planning – and it delivers case orders for free.  For information see:  http://bcwineguys.blogspot.com/p/bc-wineguys-nelson.html.

VQA STORES EVEN HOST WINE-RELATED SEMINARS!

BC VQA Wine Stores do much more than simply sell world-class BC wines!  As one example, the Discover Wines store, in Kelowna’s Orchard Plaza mall, hosted a Riedel Crystal seminar as part of the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival.  The event was a great success, with 40 participants – and they all came away with a new appreciation for how the quality and shape of a wine glass can affect a person’s perception of the taste of wine.  The wines chosen for the seminar were very well-received and tasted their best in the “correct” style of glass.  For more about the Discover Wines VQA store, see: www.discoverwines.com.

PENTICTON STORE KEEPS UP WITH THE TIMES

The methods of communicating with wine-industry contacts and the public are changing, and BC VQA Wine Stores are keeping up.  As one example, the BC VQA Wine Information Centre & Store in Penticton not only has an extensive website – as all of the great BC VQA Wine Stores do – it also has an active presence on both Twitter and Facebook, and communicates regularly on issues concerning wines, tasting events, and other notes of importance about the local and provincial wine scene.  For information see:

• http://pentictonwineinfo.com
• http://twitter.com/#!/pentwineinfo
• www.facebook.com/pages/BC-VQA-Wine-Information-Centre/194128233945653

7TH ANNUAL CHEFMEETSGRAPE TASTING EVENT SET FOR VANCOUVER
     Sept. 22, 2011

Join us on Thursday, September 22 for the ultimate celebration of local wine and food at the 7th Annual ChefmeetsGrape!  The largest annual tasting of BC VQA wines in Vancouver, over 75 BC wineries will be sharing their new fall releases, delectably paired with inspired dishes from 12 top Ocean Wise partner restaurants.

With over 250 award-winning Wines of British Columbia, 12 mouth-watering dishes, and a critics choice raw bar (featuring wine pairings from top local wine writers and sommeliers) this is an evening you and your tastebuds will never forget!

• Date: Thursday, September 22, 2010
• Time: 7 to 9:30 pm
• Tickets: $85 (plus HST), with 10% of all proceeds going towards the Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise program
• Location: Vancouver Convention Centre West, 1005 Canada Place, Vancouver

For tickets & more information, visit www.winebc.com

TOP MUSICIANS HEADLINE CEDARCREEK CONCERTS
     July 28 & Aug. 11, 2011

Two top-calibre Canadian musicians will headline concerts at CedarCreek Estate Winery this summer.  Blues-rocker Colin James will perform at a July 28 concert and Jim Cuddy, of Blue Rodeo fame, will perform at an Aug. 11 show.  The performances are part of the Winery’s 8th Annual Sunset Concert Series, sponsored by TELUS and presented by 101.5 EZ ROCK, with proceeds helping to benefit Kelowna’s Rotary Centre for the Arts.

The CedarCreek gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the concerts start at 7:00 p.m., going till sunset.  Tickets, at $90 for Colin James and $95 for Jim Cuddy, are available online at www.cedarcreek.bc.ca.  Limited seating for the concert dinners – at $60 per person, plus purchase of concert tickets – are also available by contacting Marsha Morrish at CedarCreek, at 250-764-8866 ext. 102.

MISSION HILL FAMILY ESTATE WINERY ANNOUNCES SUMMER CONCERTS
     August 13 & 21, 2011

The Mission Hill Summer Concert Series returns with two captivating live music events this summer: The Canadian Tenors, August 13; and international recording artist, Chris Isaak, August 21. With majestic mountains and scenic lakes creating the perfect backdrop to the Mission Hill Amphitheatre, guests enjoy a summer evening of music, wine and cuisine at one of Canada's premiere concert locations.

Back by popular demand for their second consecutive year, The Canadian Tenors will entertain guests as one of only a few 2011 Canadian performances, while Chris Isaak will make his first-ever appearance in the Okanagan Valley with his performance at Mission Hill. Purchase tickets online: selectyourtickets.com/missionhill.php or by phone on 250-762-5050.

‘CHARACTERS OF THE OKANAGAN’ WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE
     Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2011

Wine Access magazine is sponsoring the “Characters of the Okanagan Wine Tasting Experience” at the Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.  People are invited to join wine columnist Anthony Gismondi and the Wine Access team at the resort to meet a number of the “characters” behind some of the most renowned wineries in the South Okanagan.  The featured personalities will include South Okanagan winemakers Mick Luckhurst (Road 13 Vineyards), Randy Picton (Nk’Mip Cellars), Bill Eggert (Fairview Cellars), and Chris Wyse (Burrowing Owl Vineyards).

Tickets for the event ($349 per person or $599 per couple) include:

• Sept. 30 – An exclusive evening reception with wine tastings, as well as food pairing by Joey Restaurants Executive Chef Chris Mills and Watermark Beach Resort Executive Chef Natasha Schooten.
• Sept. 30 – One night’s accommodation at the Watermark Beach Resort.
• Oct. 1 – Breakfast and lunch at the Watermark Beach Resort.
• Oct. 1 – Four wine tasting sessions, plus meeting the winemakers and learning the principles behind the wines.
• Oct. 1 – A one-year subscription to Wine Access magazine.

For information or to book tickets, see: http://wineaccess.ca/characters.

OKANAGAN FALL WINE FESTIVAL
     Sept. 30-Oct. 9, 2011

This year’s edition of the extremely popular Fall Okanagan Wine Festival will offer more than 165 wine and culinary events throughout the valley.  The 10-day Festival is the only such event in North America to be held in the midst of harvest.

Events include everything from vineyard tours or lunch among the vines, to dining on a waterfront patio or joining in a seminar about food-and-wine pairings from award-winning Okanagan chefs.

The Fall Wine Festival is ranked among the top 100 events by the American Bus Association, and it is growing every year, with new wines, new wineries, and new events.  Some of this year’s events include:

• Friday, 30 September, 2011 - WestJet Wine Tastings (Sept. 30 & Oct. 1)
• FortisBC Salute To Food and Wine (Oct. 2)
• All You Need Is Cheese & Wine – The Seminar (Oct. 4)
• Battle of the Wine Experts (Oct. 4)
• All You Need Is Cheese ... and Some Wine! (Oct. 5)
• Alexis de Portneuf Presents “The Young Chefs” (Oct. 6)
• Valley First Grand Finale Consumer Tastings (Oct. 7 & 8)

For more information see: www.thewinefestivals.com/fallfestival.htm.

FESTIVAL OF THE GRAPE
     Oct. 2, 2011

The 15th Annual Festival of the Grape will be held in Oliver’s Community Park from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m on October 2.  It grows each year, with a record number of people, wineries and vendors expected this year.  The main focus is wine, with more than 50 wineries to be in attendance, all eager to please guests’ palates with varietals from their cellars.  The festival will also have many food vendors, merchandise vendors, an art show and sale, live entertainment, games, Jerseyland Organics' cheeses, and the popular Grape Stomp.  For information see: www.festivalofthegrape.ca.

Dungeness Crab Cakes with Apple Slaw
By See Ya Later Ranch Winery Chef Ryan Fuller

As seen in the Summer issue of Savour Magazine

CRAB CAKE

• 16 oz Dungeness crab meat
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1½  cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 red onion small dice
• ¼ cup capers chopped
• ¼ cup chopped fennel tops
• ¼ cup chopped tarragon
• Juice of a lemon
• Salt and white pepper to taste

BREADING/COATING

• flour
• whole eggs whisked
• panko bread crumbs

Inspect crab meat for shells or hard pieces, removing any you find.

In a frying pan, sauté red onions and cool. 

Mix all the ingredients for crab cakes together in a bowl and season to taste.

Form the desired shape and place on a baking sheet in freezer until frozen.

To coat crab cakes, in 3 separate bowls, place flour, eggs and panko bread crumbs.

Coat the cakes first in flour, dip in egg wash and then crumb with the panko. 

Place on a new sheet pan, put back into freezer until firm.

Gently fry in oil until golden brown and hot in the centre.

APPLE FENNEL SLAW

• 3 whole apples
• fennel fronds
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp of honey
• salt and pepper to taste

Gently grate all three whole apples, being careful not to grate the core. 

Roughly chop the fennel fronds and add them to the apples.

In a separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey and salt and pepper to taste.

Add dressing to apple and fennel fronds. Use to garnish top of crab cakes.

Enjoy with See Ya Later Ranch Riesling!