Roz's small fry Blog

WBC13 Countdown – BC Winery Each Week – Posting 15

Posted on April 2, 2013 by rozsmallfry

April 2, 2013 – Eau Vivre Winery

Eau Vivre Winery Co-Proprietor Dale Wright pours tastings at the Penticton BC VQA Wine Information Centre, February 23, 2013

Come hell or high “eau vivre” (water of life) as the saying and loose translation of its name goes, this year I’m going to experience the elegant small batch French-style wines of Eau Vivre Winery on site at the family-run boutique winery in the heart of the Similkameen Valley.

I’ve been a fan each time I’ve had the opportunity to taste its wines at various events, however, I’m a bit embarrassed to say I haven’t actually been to the tasting room. Co-Proprietors Dale Wright and Jeraldine (Jeri) Estin are always so warm and gracious. There’s just something about folks from Saskatchewan who follow their dreams to open wineries in BC! The joy is contagious. I love the commitment to biodynamic and sustainable farming practices and that family is engaged in the operations. One daughter, Trina helps in the wine shop while their nephew Lucas is the family representative in Vancouver. In fact, it was Trina who lived in the Similkameen first and it was a visit to see her in which the opportunity fell into place to buy the former Herder family winery. (You’ll find Herder Winery & Vineyards in a new site in the Similkameen.)

Recently Winemaker Anthony Buchanan joined the team so when I heard he would be pouring in Penticton at the BC VQA Wine Information Centre, February 23, I thought it’d be a great chance to meet him, too. With a distinguished last name like Buchanan despite we are not direct relatives to my knowledge, I figured he’d be an interesting fellow. Oh, yes, and his credentials look pretty impressive, too.

I headed into the store to learn Anthony was under the weather and unable to make it that day. I did get to reconnect with Dale again, taste some lovely wine and buy a couple of bottles. It is yet another incentive to hit the road soon and venture into the gorgeous Similkameen. Added to that, Dale, invited me for a barrel sample and I know there’ll be “yummy wine waiting” as he promised!

Always a smile to greet tasters.

I was particularly enamoured with the big, new Bordeaux-style blend – the Buddhafull. I’ve always enjoyed the Pinot Noir and the 2009 won the prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Award in 2012. Given Eau Vivre opened in 2008 that’s a rather impressive accomplishment in such a short time. In the Canadian Wine Awards 2010, the Pinot Noir 2007 received a Bronze. Also to be enjoyed are Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc.

So, if you’re heading to the Wine Bloggers Conference 2013 from the Oroville/Osoyoos border crossing, consider taking the route through the Similkameen either coming to or returning home. Eau Vivre is a proud member of the Similkameen Wineries Association and this route will introduce you to the wineries and area dubbed by enRoute Magazine as “one of the world’s best wine regions you’ve never heard of”.

As for me, I’ll get to Eau Vivre Winery in due course and for now, will continue picking it up at the Penticton BC VQA Wine Information Centre or one of the other locations listed on its website.

p.s. The Eau Vivre Winery website has lovely photos enticing us to make the trek. And I’ll update this post once I’ve been there in person.

Located at 716 Lowe Drive, Cawston, BC, V0X 1C2

Phone: 250-499-2655 Cell: 250-499-9405

Fax: 250-499-2675

Email: postmaster@eauvivrewinery.ca

www.EauVivreWinery.ca

www.facebook.com/EauVivre

Twitter: @EauVivre

www.similkameenwine.com

Eau Vivre Winery Co-Proprietor Dale Wright engages twitter followers while on pouring duty at the Penticton BC VQA Wine Information Centre, February 23, 2013

Posted in Alcohol, BC Wineries, BC Winery Each Week, Beverages, Family, Joy, Lifestyle, Travel, Wine | Tagged #wbc13, BC tourism, BC VQA, BC wine, British Columbia, Canada, Cawston, Eau Vivre Winery, Okanagan, Penticton, Similkameen Wineries Association, travel, wine, Wine Bloggers Conference, wineries | 2 Comments

WBC13 Countdown – BC Winery Each Week – Posting 14

Posted on March 5, 2013 by rozsmallfry

March 5, 2013 – Tinhorn Creek Vineyards

Winemaker, President and Chief Executive Officer Sandra Oldfield of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is one of those people in the wine industry that I absolutely admire. Perhaps to the point that she may think of me as a stalker from time to time. Hopefully, she does see me for what I am – a huge fan and another of her many groupies.

As I’ve noted before, while I adore British Columbia wine my interest in the local wineries goes beyond a pursuit of good things to drink. It’s truly about the people. What impresses me so much about Sandra is that her passion goes beyond the success of her own winery. She is a true crusader in trying to move the entire industry forward.

Tinhorn Creek is a highly successful enterprise that Sandra’s husband Kenn Oldfield started in 1993 with his friend Bob Shaunessy. Ownership includes Bob and Barbara Shaunessy, Kenn and Sandra Oldfield, and Shaun Everest (Vice President, Finance and Administration, Chief Funding Officer). Viticulturist/Vineyard Manager is Andrew Moon from Australia and trained at the Melbourne University. Assistant winemaker is Korol Kuklo and she works closely with Sandra to lead the harvest, oversee fermentation, blend, barrel, bottle and taste. On the “Who We Are” page on its website, you’ll also learn about other Tinhorn personalities such as Julie Copland-Stene, sales and marketing manager; Mark Butschler, BC sales manager; and Muriel Allen, hospitality manager.

It’s a fun-loving lot at Tinhorn. Take, for example, the concert series which brings in great groups to perform in its natural amphitheatre roughly four times annually. And while I’ve yet to make it to one of these festive occasions, rumour has it that Sandra can be found dancing into the wee hours. A lot of love is put into its Crush Club with Terry Meyer Stone as coordinator.

Then there’s the onsite Miradoro Restaurant, which is a partnership with Manuel Ferreira, owner of Le Gavroche restaurant in Vancouver. Open March through December, it is true to Tinhorn’s sustainable practice with an emphasis on seasonal products. One of BC’s most celebrated chefs, Executive Chef Jeff Van Geest ensures a highly creative touch to the modern, local and sustainable cuisine so beautifully paired with the wines. We enjoyed one of the splendid Communal Table Dinner events with our neighbours, Jim and Jacquie Jackson. It was a perfect evening with Dino of Grape Escapes Wine Tour delivering us there and back from our driveway. Just to give you a tease of what you might find at Miradoro that evening paired elegantly with the Tinhorn wines we devoured tuna crudo, chorizo puree, sourdough croutons with wild watercress; grilled wild asparagus, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pecorino romano with fried “Le Vieux Pin” egg; pasta ratolo with chestnuts with pork and trotter on nettle puree; and rhubarb semi-fredo, orange sauce and pistachio meringue. The sides of my lips are bubbling with saliva just relating it.

Oh yes, and then there was an opportunity to cover for Savour magazine the Visa Infinite Wine Country Experiences: Top Chef Canada Winners at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. That evening, stars of the Top Chef Canada including Chef Carl Heinrich (Richmond Station, Toronto), Chef Dale MacKay (ensemble and eTap Vancouver) and Chef Trevor Bird (Fable, Vancouver) joined Chef Van Geest. Working together in the kitchen, it was like an all-star game for chefs and the guests privileged to experience the culinary masterpieces so expertly paired with wines. Just as the kitchen was open to outside inspiration, the wines went beyond Tinhorn and were expertly introduced by Master of Wine Rhys Pender.

The sustainability practices are at the core of Tinhorn. As stated on its website, it goes way further than tree hugging and having recycling or composting programs to smart choices and sound business practices. It is a cycle of being good stewards to the environment and creating a safe and healthy workplace. A cycle that keeps Tinhorn in business with appropriate growth to provide employment and support the community in charitable giving as well. As evidence of this commitment, it was Canada’s First Carbon Neutral Winery and received a Certificate of Recognition for Small Business Health and Safety.

Tinhorn walks the talk and that brings me back to Sandra. A Masters, Enology graduate from University of California, Davis, she not only makes award-winning wine, she is a motivator and advocate. With her love for her husband, daughter, classic cars, antiques and socializing and passion for winemaking, it is inspirational that she finds time to put her energy into initiatives to modernize the Canadian wine industry. She is a blogger and twitter fanatic and she is not shy to use such tools to enrich the discussion on the industry. Check out #BCWineChat Wednesday evening on twitter, which she set up to facilitate a collaborative conversation.

I have a confession to make: I waited to include Tinhorn as one of my winery each week series leading up to the Wine Bloggers Conference in Penticton because I thought I should include my own photograph of Sandra at work and better yet the Tinhorn crew all together. The irony is that Sandra is often on the road and I couldn’t seem to time a visit to catch her. And I don’t think it’s because she thinks I’m a stalker… Then, I had my whack on the side of the head moment. Many of you know her already! Lord knows she has supported the Wine Bloggers Conferences and she’s often in the news trying to affect change or offering tips to wine enthusiasts.

Without further adieu, I urge you to visit Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, member of the Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country. It’s a place of beauty with great wines and food. Whether or not Sandra is present the day you visit Tinhorn, you’ll experience the difference she’s made!

Located at 537 Tinhorn Creek Road, Box 2010, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0

Phone: 250-498-3743 or Toll Free: 1-888-484-6467

Fax: 250-498-3228

Email: winery@tinhorn.com

www.facebook.com/TinhornCreek

Twitter: @TinhornCreek

www.tinhorn.com

www.oliverosoyoos.com

Miradoro

Phone: 250-498-3742 for reservations

www.facebook.com/MiradoroRestaurant

Twitter: @MiradoroResto

Here’s a YouTube video of Sandra Oldfield with Anthony Gismondi, Vancouver Sun giving advice on how to approach the wine tasting at the Vancouver International Wine Festival.

Posted in Alcohol, BC Wineries, BC Winery Each Week, Beverages, Culinary supplies, Drinks, Family, Food, Joy, Learning, Lifestyle, Restaurants, Travel, Wine | Tagged #wbc13, BC wine, Chef Carl Heinrich, Chef Dale MacKay, Chef Jeff Van Geest, Chef Trevor Bird, chefs, ensemble, eTap, Fable, food, food suppliers, Grape Escape Wine Tours, health and safety, Le Gavroche, Lifestyle, luxury, Miradoro, Okanagan, Rhys Pender, Savour, sustainability, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Top Canada Chef, Visa Infinite, viticulturist, Wine Bloggers Conference, wine tours, winemaker, wineries | 1 Comment

WBC13 Countdown – BC Winery Each Week – Posting 13

Posted on February 26, 2013 by rozsmallfry

February 26, 2013 – Township 7 Vineyards & Winery

2011 View of Naramata Wine Shop

Sometimes you take neighbours for granted and it’s only when you view them through new filters that you learn to celebrate how truly great it is to have them just down the road from your house. That’s how it was for me and the great folks of Township 7 Vineyards & Winery.

Conveniently located on the Naramata Bench just before my mailbox and the road home, Township 7 was a winery that I’d quickly pop into to grab a bottle of wine to accompany our dinner. We consistently enjoyed what we bought yet I never really took the time for a proper tasting and to get to know more about it.

It wasn’t until I started contributing to Savour Magazine as a freelance writer that I got invited to a wonderful media tour with the Penticton & Wine Country Tourism with the Naramata Bench Winery Association that I truly appreciated the gold mine of wineries in my area. I fell in love with the wineries, the wines and especially the people behind them. In the Fall 2011 Savour, my story “The Magic of Naramata Bench: One of Canada’s Highest Concentration of Diverse Wineries” was published. I was delighted to provide the wineries involved a bit of profile while I was torn by the reality of publishing that you only have limited words with which to work. There was so much more I could have said about each one.

At the time, about this particular winery I wrote: “The two-site Township 7 Vineyards & Winery (township7.com) is B.C.’s only urban and rural winery – South Langley, 2001 and Naramata, 2003. Proprietor since 2006, Mike Raffan, who left a two-decade successful restaurant career, has added cultural and culinary experiences including art shows, live music/theatre, charity fundraisers, wine seminars, community grape harvest/stomps and winemaker dinners with Lori Pike-Raffan. In the wine shop, along with the award-winning Township 7 selections by winemaker Bradley Cooper, you can find Brad’s own label Black Cloud.”

And I went on to point out: “That’s another of the attributes of the Naramata wine mavericks. While there’s healthy competition, there is a camaraderie that recognizes where one succeeds all benefit.” (Note: My winery each week posting 12 contained a copy of the whole story.)

Here’s some photographs taken in that media tour 2011:

Since then I’ve taken more time to get to know Lori Lynn, Mike and Brad better and I’m blown away by the energy, commitment, devotion, intelligence and just plain old hard work that they put into the business everyday. (For this blog posting, my focus is Township 7 and in a future one, I’ll cover a bit more on Black Cloud.)

I’ve had the opportunity to attend plays and art shows raising money for local charities in the Naramata location such as the scenes in the photographs below. The South Langley location buzzes even more frequently with great events such as annual Easter egg hunts and wine-paired dinners. I wish I could be in two places at one time just to take in those events and often wonder how the Township 7 team pulls it off!

A former Calgarian, I was so proud when Township 7 had the honour of being selected as the official Centennial Wine for the Calgary Stampede’s 100^th Anniversary. What great fun to join them on a glorious summer day for a Western Roundup Party to celebrate! It’s not everyday I get to brush off my cowboy dudes and channel my inner cowgirl in the Okanagan! In addition to barrel blending seminars, barbeque and cake, tastings of the limited edition wine, there was live country music, line dancing, displays with local artisans, activities for kids and adults with partial proceeds to the South Okanagan’s Habitat for Humanity. Western Roundup parties were held in both the Naramata and South Langley sites.

Naramata Stampede Party with Jennifer Cockrall-King (right) displaying the Calgary Stampede Township 7 Merlot with me showing the Chardonnay.

With their community focus and fun-loving approach, you’ll find Mike and Lori-Lynn out to many events, whether it’s Penticton’s Farmers Market or another local celebration such as the Street Dance or Peach Festival. When the Okanagan White Dinner was organized as a precursor to being officially recognized as a Dîner en Blanc Okanagan, they were there to support it. In the pictures below, you will find them enjoying the event along with wine industry legend Harry McWatters. (By the way, Township 7 was contracted by Harry to work on his vintages and assist in the marketing. I’ll talk more about Harry in a future posting.)

To learn more about this fine winery and its people, please spend some time on the Township 7 website, and do be sure to visit either, or better yet, both of its locations.

Township 7 is a proud member of the Naramata Bench Winery Association.

Email: wine@township7.com

www.township7.com

www.facebook.com/Township7

Twitter: @Township7

South Langley/Fraser Valley Wine Shop is located at 21152 16^th Ave (at 212^th St.), Langley, BC V2Z 1K3 Phone: 604-532-1766 Fax: 604-532-1753

Naramata Bench/Okanagan Valley Wine Shop is located at 1450 McMillan Ave, Penticton, BC V2A 8T4 Phone: 250-770-1743 Fax: 250-770-1753

Posted in BC Wineries, BC Winery Each Week, Beverages, Lifestyle, Wine | Tagged #wbc13, BC wine, Black Cloud, Calgary Stampede, Calgary Stampede 100th Anniversary wine, Diner en Blanc Okanagan, Harry McWatters, Lifestyle, Naramata Bench Wineries, Naramata Bench Winery Association, neighbours, Okanagan, Penticton, Township 7 Vineyards & Winery, wine, Wine Bloggers Conference, wineries | 5 Comments

WBC13 Countdown – BC Winery Each Week – Posting 12

Posted on December 13, 2012 by rozsmallfry

November 21, 2012 – The Magic of Naramata Bench

A couple of years ago, I had the privilege to represent Savour Magazine in a media tour of the Naramata Bench wineries. While there has been some change at the wineries, I think the article still gives a glimpse of the area’s special features and the diversity of its wineries. A great resource for more up-to-date details on these wineries is the Naramata Bench Winery Association.

RBuchanan The Magic of Naramata Bench – Savour Fall 2011 r

By the way, I have just returned from vacation and had intended to post the following:

November 21, 2012 – Cuba bound

Okay, I promise there will be postings for November 21, 27 and December 5 and beyond. I even have the wineries picked and photos. Truth is if I just drop them in quickly, I won’t do them justice. I’m off for an adventure to Cuba. Adios.

Sorry, about that, I guess gremlins do exist.

Posted in BC Wineries, BC Winery Each Week, Beverages, Food, Learning, Lifestyle, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #wbc13, 3 Mile Estate Winery, BC wine, Black Cloud, Black Widow Winery, D'Angelo Estate Winery, Elephant Island Orchard Wines, Hillside Estate Winery, historian Craig Henderson, Howling Bluff Estate Wines, Kettle Valley Railway, Kettle Valley Winery, La Frenz Winery, Lake Breeze Winery, Laughing Stock Vineyards, Marichel Winery, Naramata, Naramata Bench Winery Association, Nichol Vineyard & Estate Winery, Penticton, Penticton & Wine Country Visitor Information Centre, Perseus Winery, Poplar Grove Winery, Red Rooster Winery, Ruby Blues Winery, Serendipity Winery, The Bench Artisan Food Market, Therapy Vineyards & Guesthouse, Top Cat Tours, Township 7 Vineyards & Winery, Van Western Vineyards, WBC, Wine Bloggers Conference, wineries | 6 Comments

WBC13 Countdown – BC Winery Each Week – Posting 11

Posted on November 21, 2012 by rozsmallfry

November 14, 2012 – The Festival of the Grape

I was on vacation and tried to post to my blog, and ran into some technical difficulties so here as promised is a revised version on Oliver, B.C.’s Festival of the Grape.

Launched in 1997, the Festival of the Grape which is held in late September has become a gathering of the clan, so to speak, for the locals and wine industry in the Okanagan. It’s not that it doesn’t attract a number of visitors rather that it’s one event that can be called a community gathering.

While the focus is on wine and you’ll find many of your favourite wineries pouring here

– more than 50 of them in 2012 – there’s so much else going on that it’s fun for the whole family. There are many vendors selling food and merchandise, art show and sale, live entertainment, grape stomping competition and a great kids’ park.

I love that I can attend the Festival and find wine personnel with their entire family in tow! To me it is so fitting that it is held at the held at the Oliver Community Centre, 36003 79th Street in the heart of the community.