BC Wine

Chris Herbert in the PQB News/VI Free Daily studio. (Peter McCully photo)

PQBeat: Writer Chris Hebert discusses the wine scene on Vancouver Island and around B.C.

Podcast: Talk also includes food pairings, tips for beginners and more

 

This year’s fall Okanagan Wine Festival is a subdued event with all the signature events, like this Kelowna Airport event, being cancelled due to COVID-19. (Black Press file photo)

COVID cancels main events of Fall Okanagan Wine Festival

One in 10 wineries at risk of closing - said BC Wine Institute

 

Frind Estate Winery, owned by tech entrepreneur Markus Frind, has been developing 900 acres of land in Vernon, including 820 acres on the mountainside south of Bella Vista Road. (Frind Estate Winery photo)

Tech mogul growing North Okanagan’s wine industry

The founder of online dating site Plenty of Fish is developing 900 acres in Vernon

 

Celista Estate Winery’s Celista Cuvee and Marg’s Rose received double gold medals while their Oak Barrel Foch Reserve earned a gold medal and their Siegerrebe a bronze at this year’s All Canadian Wine Championships. (Contributed)

Shuswap wineries medal at national championships

Celista Estate Winery, Ovino Winery represent region at All Canadian Wine Championships

  • Aug 5, 2020
Celista Estate Winery’s Celista Cuvee and Marg’s Rose received double gold medals while their Oak Barrel Foch Reserve earned a gold medal and their Siegerrebe a bronze at this year’s All Canadian Wine Championships. (Contributed)
(Pixabay)

Canada agrees to tax homegrown wine in trade settlement

The change is expected to occur by June 30, 2022

  • Jul 29, 2020
(Pixabay)
Blue Grouse’s winemaker led the initiative, but it would not have been possible without the enthusiastic co-operation of every winery and grape grower in the valley (Citizen file)

‘Made in the Cowichan Valley’ coming to a wine bottle near you

Cowichan Valley has the honour of being the first sub-GI outside of the Okanagan

Blue Grouse’s winemaker led the initiative, but it would not have been possible without the enthusiastic co-operation of every winery and grape grower in the valley (Citizen file)
New owners have purchased TIME Winery, Evolve Cellars and McWatters Collection. From left are new owners Shelley and Ron Mayert, with Darrien McWatters and Christa-Lee McWatters, who will remain as the operations manager and general manager. (Photo by Chris Stenberg)

New owners announced for Penticton’s TIME Winery

Ron and Shelley Mayert have purchased TIME, Evolve and McWatters Collection

New owners have purchased TIME Winery, Evolve Cellars and McWatters Collection. From left are new owners Shelley and Ron Mayert, with Darrien McWatters and Christa-Lee McWatters, who will remain as the operations manager and general manager. (Photo by Chris Stenberg)
Roie Manoff of Silkscarf Winery in Summerland pours a glass of wine in this file photo. Wineries in Summerland are now in the process of opening their tasting rooms to the public. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland tasting rooms opening to the public

Bottleneck Drive members following provincial guidelines as they reopen

Roie Manoff of Silkscarf Winery in Summerland pours a glass of wine in this file photo. Wineries in Summerland are now in the process of opening their tasting rooms to the public. (Summerland Review file photo)
(Stock photo)

Summerland not considering allowing alcohol in public spaces

Penticton and North Vancouver have both passed bylaws to relax alcohol consumption rules

(Stock photo)
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks on pandemic response at the B.C. legislature, May 6, 2020. (B.C. government photo)

Similkameen winery co-owned by Dr. Bonnie Henry

B.C.’s provincial health officer is part of the original ownership group of Clos du Soleil in Keremeos

B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks on pandemic response at the B.C. legislature, May 6, 2020. (B.C. government photo)
Bottleneck Drive, which represents 23 wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries in Summerland, has a consistent look to its signs on the roads. At the municipal council meeting of May 25, Summerland council adopted a sign policy for these signs. (Contributed)

Summerland adopts sign policy for Bottleneck Drive members

Policy governs directional signs for wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries

Bottleneck Drive, which represents 23 wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries in Summerland, has a consistent look to its signs on the roads. At the municipal council meeting of May 25, Summerland council adopted a sign policy for these signs. (Contributed)
A winery in Summerland was recently sold for $5.2 million (Contributed)

Summerland winery sold for $5.2 million

Property overlooking Okanagan Lake was on the market 160 days

A winery in Summerland was recently sold for $5.2 million (Contributed)
(Stock photo)

Summerland beverage producers feel effects of COVID-19

Tasting rooms closed as pandemic continues

(Stock photo)
Tourists learn about icewines and table wines produced in the Okanagan on Jan. 24, 2020. (Twila Amato - Black Press Media)

Wineries and liquor stores should be essential services: B.C. Wine Institute

The institute said you don’t have to travel to support B.C. wine

Tourists learn about icewines and table wines produced in the Okanagan on Jan. 24, 2020. (Twila Amato - Black Press Media)
Cabernet Sauvignon wine grapes that are almost ready for harvest are held at Wente Vineyards in Livermore, Calif. in this Oct. 4, 2019 photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Terry Chea

Swapping grape varieties can help winemakers adapt to climate change: UBC study

Report says 56% of wine-grape-growing regions would be lost if global climate warms by 2 C

Cabernet Sauvignon wine grapes that are almost ready for harvest are held at Wente Vineyards in Livermore, Calif. in this Oct. 4, 2019 photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Terry Chea
Sandhill Winery’s winemaker Sandy Leier

Sandhill Winery’s winemaker Sandy Leier

Every vintage has its own unique challenge

  • Sep 11, 2019
Sandhill Winery’s winemaker Sandy Leier
West Kelowna’s Mission Hill Family Estate winery won its fifth Winery of the Year title at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada. (Mission Hill Family Estate)

Okanagan winery wins Canadian Winery of the Year

West Kelowna’s Mission Hill Family Estate collected an unprecedented 18 medals in the competition

West Kelowna’s Mission Hill Family Estate winery won its fifth Winery of the Year title at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada. (Mission Hill Family Estate)
Life-long dream achieved as Chef Ian Blom opens The Ainslie

Life-long dream achieved as Chef Ian Blom opens The Ainslie

Duncan restaurant promotes Cowichan Valley food, produce, wineries, breweries and distilleries

  • Jun 10, 2019
Life-long dream achieved as Chef Ian Blom opens The Ainslie
Jennifer Schell moves from verbs to vines

Jennifer Schell moves from verbs to vines

Okanagan cookbook author now creates wine at Schell Wines

  • Apr 5, 2019
Jennifer Schell moves from verbs to vines
Tasem and Elyse Ramaden stand outside the main entrance to their winery, Deep Cove Winery. Don Denton photography

New Owners Make Their Mark On Deep Cove Winery

Tasem and Elyse Ramaden make wine making a family affair

  • Jan 4, 2019
Tasem and Elyse Ramaden stand outside the main entrance to their winery, Deep Cove Winery. Don Denton photography