Vanessa Vineyard: Similkameen’s Rising Star

By |2018-01-21T15:05:12-08:00February 20th, 2015|Wine|

Similkameen Valley, looking east from Vanessa Vineyard (Howard Soon photo) (Updated 20/02/16 with 2013 reviews) Vanessa Vineyard is at the eastern end of British Columbia's stunning Similkameen Valley.  The place (which reminds me a bit of New Zealand's Gibbston Valley) is extraordinarily beautiful. But the other thing about the Similkameen that’s truly striking—and unavoidable—is [...]

6 Reasons to Visit Sun Peaks Resort—Besides Super Skiing

By |2023-12-13T09:20:28-08:00February 4th, 2015|Travel|

Sun Peaks - great skiing plus plenty more ... Sun Peaks—Canada's second largest ski resort—yields a wealth of fun and activities in a pristine alpine setting. However, there's a lot more here than you might imagine once you get off the slopes and trails. 1. Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival The [...]

Of first growth faith, hope and charity

By |2018-01-21T15:05:12-08:00January 31st, 2015|Wine|

With two of the best vintages in recent memory (2012, 2013) and a third in the barrel (2014), most agree: it’s a pretty good time to be making red wines in the Okanagan Valley. However, it’s already been several years that Bill Lui has been thinking seriously  about what it would take to make the [...]

Drink in Wine Tourism Day with this Summerland Deal!

By |2018-10-27T16:28:30-07:00October 20th, 2014|Wine|

Wine Tourism day wraps up with dinner at Summerland's Local Lounge | Grill (image supplied) (From the release) November 8 marks North America’s 2nd annual Wine Tourism Day.  Okanagan Crush Pad has gathered neighbouring wineries, restaurants and a hotel, to offer an incredible weekend getaway in BC wine county. The winery itself will [...]

Judging by the Juice: 2014 Okanagan Preview

By |2018-01-21T15:05:15-08:00October 15th, 2014|Uncategorized|

Grapes being harvested in Oliver, BC. (courtesy BCWI) Fancy yourself a wine geek? How about this? This week I went to one of the more unusual tastings in which I've participated. The idea was to bring the excitement of the harvest right to Vancouver—for those of us city slickers who aren’t able to make [...]

Smoke & Oak: Ribs ‘n Riesling at Wild Goose

By |2018-01-21T15:05:15-08:00August 22nd, 2014|Dining, Wine|

Smoke & Oak overlooks this dramatic panorama Last week—on yet another glorious Okanagan summer’s day—we found ourselves on the patio at Wild Goose. Nothing unusual about that. But this was the first time I had managed to get back to check out Smoke & Oak Bistro, which they launched late last year. Some [...]

Winners: 2014 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines

By |2018-06-27T16:44:42-07:00June 18th, 2014|Hired Belly's Best Wines, Top Drops|

2014 Lieutenant Governor Award winners for Excellence in BC Wine The winners of last week’s keenly contested Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in BC Wine are announced by Government House this morning. As always, the final outcome was interesting because somehow we managed to select (from 436 entries between 119 wineries) just 12 wines [...]

Free Glass by the Wines at (a few) VQA Stores

By |2022-08-23T09:27:58-07:00June 2nd, 2014|Wine|

Joie Noble Blend: Topping the list ... (note this is my glass, look below for the glass in question...) I’ll admit that I am a little bit late to the party on this one. But it’s still a deal worth mentioning. All of last month and into June, local Vancouver BC VQA wine [...]

The Golden Mile Bench, part 2, Maybe of a Series

By |2018-01-21T15:05:17-08:00May 23rd, 2014|Wine|

        Golden Mile Bench member and Fairview owner Bill Eggert talks soil: ultimately, it really is 'all about the dirt' My notice regarding yesterday's news about the Golden Mile Bench arrived too late for me to add anything to the release.   Here's what I've written for the North Shore [...]

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