Robert Bell'sWines of CanadaSince 1992 Direct from the Wineryinformation send to us by the wineries
Kamloops, B.C.<june 2022> – Andrew Peller Ltd., a name associated with award-winning premium and ultra-premium brands including Peller Estates, Black Hills, Sandhill, Tinhorn Creek, Red Rooster, and Gray Monk, announced Monday the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Ignition Tranquille Developments Ltd. to explore the viticulture potential for the Tranquille farmland in Kamloops, B.C.
MEDIA RELEASE July 2, 2019 Success uncorked: NC’s Gastronomy Chardonnay earns 2019 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Ontario Wines
The BC Wine Institute Launches WineBC2030
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Great Start to the New Year at Tightrope
NARAMATA, BC – Not even a month into 2019, and Tightrope Winery has another honour for its list. The family-owned-and-run operation on the Naramata Bench has received the nod from Robert A. Bell’s Wines of Canada “Wineries to Watch For in 2019”.
This follows on the heels of a highly successful year in 2018, when the fruits of the seven-acre vineyard produced no fewer than 42 awards at five competitions, including ten at the prestigious Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition and ten more at the InterVin International Wine Awards.
“What a way to start the year,” says co-owner and vintner Lyndsay O’Rourke, whose husband, Graham, is the viticulturist. “We finished 2018 with InterVin’s Honourable Mention as winery of the year, which was particularly sweet, given that we were the smallest winery on the short list. Now, for Mr Bell to tell wine-lovers to keep their eye on us, is a tremendous boost.”
This latest honour adds to the excitement for the next releases, coming up in the spring: the 2017 Syrah, made exclusively from Naramata Bench grapes, boasting a nose of black pepper, blackberry and dark cherry, with flavours of anise, plum and black currant; and the 2017 Pinot Noir, made from grapes from Tightrope’s own vineyard, along with those from nearby Hermitage Vineyard; hand-picked and fermented in small lots, using wild yeast. You’ll find vanilla, tobacco and spice on the palate, with a nose of dried cranberries, plums and dark cherry. Also coming out in the spring will be the Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Riesling, and Rosé, as well as the 2018 Pinot Gris and popular Tip-Toe blend, which sold out of the 2017 vintage last year.
Tightrope wines are available in private liquor stores around British Columbia. Oenophiles can also have their tastes more than satisfied in the Walk the Wire Wine Club, which offers shipments of cases to your door, and invitations to exclusive special events throughout the year.
About Tightrope Winery: Tightrope Winery sits on 10 acres on the Naramata Bench in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, where the complex soil is ideal for growing Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Barbera, Viognier, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Supplementing its own grapes with those from other vineyards on the Naramata Bench, Tightrope produces up to 4,500 cases of wine a year.
O’Rourke Family Vineyards.
Dennis O’Rourke, owner of The Chase Wines, is moving forward with plans for a new winery in Carr’s Landing.
In June, the district approved O’Rourke’s new winery development, which will be nestled next to a granite mountain along Carr’s Landing Road and Commonage Road.
Corcelettes Growing Similkameen Vineyards With Purchase of 132.5 Acres of Bench Land
Corcelettes Estate Winery has recently acquired a large parcel of land on the Keremeos Upper Bench in the Similkameen Valley. The current Estate is nestled against the black rocks east of the Village of Keremeos. The new property wraps around the Estate from the north, and adds higher elevation, south facing, desert plateau vineyards.
“This was a rare opportunity to purchase such a charismatic site” said Charlie Baessler, winemaker and managing partner of Corcelettes Estate Winery, “and there are many reasons to be excited about this property”. Having never been farmed, the land is in its natural state and is literally in the shape of an alluvial fan, boasting sought after stemwinder soils. Along with top quality soils and south facing aspects, the elevation and topography of the site allows Corcelettes to expand its 100% Similkameen Valley production of red wine varietals. “With demand increasing for quality Similkameen wine, securing more of this premium land is part of the short and long-term growth and sustainability strategy for the winery”, explained Baessler, “very few sites remain of this calibre”.
Expansion began last year with the purchase of a 6 acre orchard on the west side of the Estate. That land, now a new vineyard, will be planted to Malbec and Syrah in spring 2019. Approximately 30 acres of the newly acquired bench land will be developed in phases over the next 5 years. Phase 1 work has begun with vineyard shaping and preparation of approximately 9 acres for planting in the following year. Syrah and Bordeaux varietals will occupy this defined alluvial fan. Phase 2 will be especially interesting for the Corcelettes team with 1.5 acres planted in higher altitude bush vines, more common in other areas in the world, using low density, low disturbance organic techniques. “This well sloped south facing higher altitude vineyard will lend itself perfectly to our small lot programs that express more than varietals” said Charlie, “and we are excited to use low intervention planting and vineyard management”. Using these higher desert cactus and sage plateaus to capture the terroir, heat, and length of season, the aim is to produce some of BC’s most interesting wines. Phase 3 vineyards will likely include more Pinot Noir but the team at Corcelettes are still contemplating how much land will be converted to vines and how much will remain in its natural state. This purchase brings the total land area to 159 acres, with a plan of over 50 acres in vineyards.
The new property also includes a beautiful large 5-bedroom home which will be converted into quality accommodations for cellar and vineyard employees and possibly a Guest B&B following vineyard developments.
Corcelettes Estate Winery, located in the Similkameen Valley, blends passion, precision and science to craft expressive, small lot premium wines. Led by Charlie and Jesce Baessler, the skilled team at Corcelettes is committed to creating exceptional wines and experiences. In history the word “Corcelettes” described a royal garden; this hasn’t changed with the team’s continued attention to the land and precision practices in both the vineyard and cellar. Corcelettes was named Top 10 Small Wineries and Top 25 Wineries at the 2018 National Wine Awards of Canada.
Charlie Baessler
Winemaker, Managing Partner
Road 13 SOLD
In a brief release today Von Mandl Family Estates, founded by Anthony von Mandl, announced it has acquired Road 13 Winery from the Luckhurst Family. The acclaimed south Okanagan winery founded by Pam and Mick Luckhurst is the 2018 National Wine Awards of Canada – Winery of the Year. Road 13 joins a growing von Mandl Family collection of wineries that includes Mission Hill Family Estate, CedarCreek Estate Winery, Martin’s Lane Winery and CheckMate Artisanal Winery. I’m told the transaction was low key and that Road 13 family member Joe Luckhurst will remain with winery as the general manager as will Jeff del NIn as winemaker and all the staff. Known for its Rhone style wines Road 13 should be a good fit inside the von Mandl camp determined to tell the entire Okanagan story from north to south.
Skaha Bench
Owners of wineries and vineyards on the Skaha Bench of the Okanagan Valley have overwhelmingly voted in a plebiscite to create a sub-appellation, or as some call it in the wine industry, a sub-geographic indicator, according to vote results announced December 4.
That means that they want to be able to put the words Skaha Bench on wine bottle labels if the wine is produced entirely from grapes grown in a small area on the east side of Skaha Lake, north of McLean Creek Road, which is at the southern edge of Blasted Church Vineyards.
We couldn’t be happier with the results of this vote,” says John Skinner, Painted Rock’s Proprietor. “The ability to put exactly where our grapes are grown on our label has always been exceptionally important to me. It is about truth in labelling and transparency with consumers. If they want to know, I want to be able to tell them.”
The WINES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Stand up to the World at the Fourth Annual Judgment of BC
For immediate release:
October 26, 2018
KELOWNA, BC -
The Wines of British Columbia were put to the ultimate test at the fourth annual Judgment of BC on Wednesday, October 24, pitting 12 BC wines against 12 acknowledged global benchmarks. We are proud to announce BC's Poplar Grove Winery The Legacy 2014 BC VQA Okanagan Valley ranked first among the flight of Bordeaux-style red blends, with BC’s Laughing Stock Vineyards Portfolio BC VQA Okanagan 2015 close behind in second place. Roederer Estate Brut NV from Anderson Valley, California came out on top for the flight of traditional method sparkling wines with BC placing fourth, fifth and sixth.
Hosted by the BC Wine Institute, and curated by Vancouver based wine expert DJ Kearney, the Judgment of BC took place in Kelowna in the heart of wine country, during which 37 international and national wine judges blind tasted and ranked the 24 wines. 12 were traditional method sparkling wines and 12 were Bordeaux-style red blends, six of each were from BC and six were international benchmarks.
The BC wines selected for the Judgment were hand chosen through a blind tasting by a Selection Committee of Barb Philip MW, Rhys Pender MW, Dr. Janet Dorozynski, Kurtis Kolt, Michaela Morris and Jason Yamasaki, led by DJ Kearney. Ninety-nine wines were tasted prior to selecting the final 12 BC representatives.
“The fact that two BC wines topped the red blends challenge was a true testament to our distinct terroir and climate, but most of all to skilled farming and winemaking.” Says Kearney. Poplar Grove Winery, celebrating its twentieth vintage, first made The Legacy in 2004. Over the years have honed this style to a standard of high quality. Just as impressive, Laughing Stock’s stylish Portfolio beat out benchmarks from Bordeaux and Napa Valley.
Twenty-six top wine professionals from around the world and across the country had just spent four days immersed in Wine BC BootCamp. Hosted by Master of Wine Rhys Pender and the British Columbia Wine Institute, the group delved deep into BC’s wine culture learning, tasting and discussing everything BC wine during a series of Masterclasses, panel discussions and regional visits. A further 11 Canadian wine critics and sommeliers descended on the Okanagan Valley to join the group for the Judgment tasting.
“It has been the most fascinating tasting,” says International judge Christine Austin, British wine writer for the Yorkshire Post. "BC Wine can stand up on the world stage with their own character, flavours, personality and hold their head up high against some of the best wines in the world.
" Tasting both traditional method sparkling and red blends shows BC’s diversity. “Many regions say they can produce a variety of styles. British Columbia is unique due to its climate and geology in actually being able to produce many grapes and styles at high quality,” notes Master Sommelier James Tidwell. “I look forward to the day when these wines are more recognized in the international market.”
"Our traditional method sparklers showed elegance, finesse and refinement." notes Kearney. Blue Mountain’s Blanc de Blancs 2010 R.D. proved to be the top ranked BC wine, placing fourth place.
Vancouver based wine writer, educator and international judge Michaela Morris was impressed by how well the BC sparkling wines showed. "Most of my top ranked wines in the sparkling flight turned out to be from BC which I found very impressive."
"It was a fun, enlightening exercise that reinforced the point of the quality of wines coming out of British Columbia,” says Katelyn Peil Wine Director for the Heavy Restaurant Group in Seattle, USA. “The wines are exciting and fresh with a purity of fruit that also offers a sense of place. It is amazing to see the caliber of wines coming from this region and the rest of the world should be paying attention."
“As an industry, we are so thrilled and humbled that there is such close attention from the world’s top wine influencers on what is happening with BC wine,” notes Laura Kittmer, Media Relations Manager of the BC Wine Institute. “We had top palates from the UK, USA, Asia and across Canada all of whom were enthusiastic about the quality of the wines.”
“The annual Judgment of BC allows us to gain insights and knowledge into how we compare internationally. Introspection is a critical part of ensuring we continue to make high quality wines, and also allows us to collectively celebrate as an industry. We have so many reasons to be proud, and the future is very bright.” says Kearney.
SPARKLING WINE RESULTS
1. Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut NV California | 12% | $46.99
2. Champagne Veuve Clicquot Brut NV France | 12% | $69.99
3. Champagne Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut XIII France |12.5% | $67.99
4. Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars Blanc de Blancs R.D. 2010 Okanagan Valley, BC | 12.5% | $39.90
5. Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery The One 2012 Okanagan Valley | 12.0% | $47.90
6. Sperling Vineyards Brut Reserve 2011 Okanagan Valley, BC | 11.5% | $50
7. Graham Beck Brut Zero 2011 South Africa | 12% | $29.99
8. Tantalus Vineyards Blanc de Noir 2015 Okanagan Valley, BC | 12.0% | $30
9. Segura Viudas Heredad Brut Reserva Spain | 12% | $33.99
10. The View Winery Pearls Traditional Brut 2016 Okanagan Valley, BC | 11.8% | $30
11. Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards Fitz Brut 2015 Okanagan Valley, BC | 11.6% | $32.99
12. Mumm Napa Brut Prestige NV California | 13% | $25.99
RED BLEND RESULTS
1. Poplar Grove Winery The Legacy 2014 Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.0% | $52
2. Laughing Stock Vineyards Portfolio 2015 Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.9% | $50
3. Blackbird Arise 2015 Napa Valley, California | 14.5% | $86
4. Dominus Estate Napanook Napa Valley Red 2014 California | 14.5% | $125.99
5. Intersection Estate Winery Axiom 2014 Okanagan Valley, BC | 13.9% | $39
6. Chateau Poujeaux 2015 Moulis-en-Médoc, France | 14% | $65
7. CedarCreek Estate Winery The Last Word 2014 Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.6% | $84.99
8. Osoyoos Larose Estate Winery Le Grand Vin 2015 Okanagan Valley, BC | 14.0% | $45
9. DeLille Cellars D2 2013 Columbia Valley, Washington State | 14.3% | $85
10. Clos du Soleil Winery Signature 2014 Similkameen Valley, BC | 14.8% | $45
11. Chateau de La Dauphine 2015 Fronsac, France | 14.5% | $50
12. Chateau d’Armailhac Grand Cru Classé 5th Growth Pauillac, France 2015 | 13.5% | $90
Painted Rock Estate Winery
It is with great pleasure that we announce that Painted Rock Estate Winery has won Winery of the Year honours at the 2018-19 InterVin International Wine Awards. It’s the second time in five years that our estate was the top-performing producer at the respected international competition.
This year’s awards featured over 1,200 entries from 17 countries. Our 2015 Cabernet Franc, 2014 Cabernet Franc and 2014 Syrah were awarded gold medals and our 2014 Merlot, 2015 Malbec and 2015 Red Icon were awarded silver medals.
InterVin Head Judge Christopher Waters said Painted Rock has been a consistent performer at the wine competition. “Since entering InterVin for the first time in 2013, Painted Rock has always been in the hunt for the competition’s top awards,” Waters explains. “The ambitious family-owned estate winery overlooking Skaha Lake won Winery of the Year honours in 2014 and repeated that feat over wineries from 17 countries again this year.”
Consistency is key for Painted Rock as we continue to build our reputation both at home and internationally. “An award like this is extremely validating” according to Painted Rock Proprietor John Skinner. “Our journey has always been to create the highest quality wines from our single vineyard estate. It is through the efforts of our winemaking and viticultural teams, both overseen by our Bordeaux consultant Alain Sutre, and lead by Assistant Winemaker Gabriel Reis and Vineyard Manager Barry Green, that we have been able to harness the potential of the estate. My focus now is introducing the world to Okanagan wines. Waving the flag for Canada and winning business for our community.”
End of an era at Black Hills Estate Winery!
After 11 years at the helm of Black Hills Estate Winery, director/president Glenn Fawcett is officially stepping down from the day-to-day operations. After leading a remarkable evolution of the business since 2007, he is now embarking on a three-month sabbatical to recharge his batteries and spend time with family.In early 2019 Glenn will return to the wine industry to take on the newly created position of “Chief Wine Evangelist” for the parent company, Andrew Peller Ltd. (APL). In this capacity, Glenn will bring his energy and ideas to the other APL Canadian wineries while lending his entrepreneurial perspective to potential new ventures within the business. He will also serve as an advisor to and “Bon Vivant” for the winery so dear to his heart, Black Hills!
“I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to lead this winery since 2007 and to have the continued support from our shareholders, employees and customers along the way,” says Fawcett.
“Going forward, the day-to-day operations of the business will be managed by talented team members running the respective Vineyard, Winemaking, Estate and Marketing operations of the business, while they are reporting to and working closely with the team from APL. It gives me great satisfaction to know that the passionate team from APL shares the same values for the Continual Quality Evolution of the Black Hills Estate Winery wines. This will bode well for what I am sure will be an exciting future for better and better-quality wines for our customers and trade partners. Best of all, I still get to come to the major parties and events of Black Hills and help maximize the fun factor for our guests.”
Please join us in congratulating “G-Force” on his many accomplishments over the years, to his upcoming sabbatical and his new position as “Chief Wine Evangelist” with our parent company.
Your friends at Black Hills Estate Winery
GREAT ESTATES OKANAGAN TO OPEN WINE EXPERIENCE CENTRE IN PENTICTON THIS SEPTEMBER FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Penticton, B.C. (September 6, 2018)
— Great Estates Okanagan announced today it will open the Great Estates Wine Experience Centre in Penticton, B.C. on September 22, 2018. The Centre will serve as a hub for visitors to the region to learn more about the wines and wineries in the South Okanagan within the Great Estates Okanagan portfolio which includes Black Sage Vineyard, Inniskillin, Nk’Mip Cellars, Jackson-Triggs, Sunrock Vineyards, Dark Horse, Steller’s Jay, See Ya Later Ranch and Sumac Ridge.
Located in downtown Penticton on Lakeshore Drive, the Great Estates Wine Experience Centre will offer a variety of daily tastings and educational seminars throughout the year. Single-vineyard, winery-exclusive and regional-specific selections will be available for tasting and purchase at the Centre, offering visitors a taste of differing South Okanagan terroirs.
“The Great Estates Wine Experience Centre will offer visitors the opportunity to discover and taste what makes this area of B.C. so special,” said Josie Tyabji, Senior Director, Great Estates Okanagan. “We believe the Centre will provide a rich educational backdrop to our vibrant region, offer a wide-range of experiences for guests, and be a must-stop destination before they set out to explore the award-winning wineries within the South Okanagan.”
Designed by Penticton’s Landform Architecture, the Centre houses three distinct tasting areas and is also available for private functions. The Tasting Bar will rotate wine selections daily and offer four tastings for a $10 fee (CDN), refunded with a purchase of $50 (CDN) or more. Other experiences – such as food and wine pairing classes focused on specific varietals or types of cuisine – will have a fixed price based on the experience and food provided. The Great Estates team will lead educational seminars covering topics ranging from the history of the South Okanagan to growing regions and bring in guest educators for select classes as well. More information and a complete list of experiences can be found at www.greatestatesokanagan.com.
The Centre will be open throughout the Summer from May 1st to September 31st, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily and October 1st to April 30th, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.
ABOUT GREAT ESTATES OKANAGAN Great Estates Okanagan is a collection of Okanagan wine brands and wineries. The portfolio includes Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin, Nk’Mip Cellars, See Ya Later Ranch, Sumac Ridge, Steller’s Jay, Sunrock Vineyards, Dark Horse and Black Sage Vineyard. Hospitality experiences are available in Summerland, Osoyoos and Penticton.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kristine Wilkinson Milk Creative CommunicationsBrittany Siddall Arterra Wines
For Immediate Release August 15, 2018
Osoyoos, BC First Urban Winery for Osoyoos Bruce Fuller, formerly the Founder and Proprietor of Rustico Farm & Cellars today announced that he’d entered into a Preliminary Agreement to develop the first Urban Winery in Osoyoos.
To be located on Main Street, Osoyoos it’s expected that the Osoyoos Urban Winery will complement many of the recommendations the town has been considering for their downtown revitalization initiative and certainly attract renewed activity to the core area. Fuller had been looking at a number of alternatives over the past months since the closing of Rustico Winery in January 2017 and while there were a number of winery and vineyard properties on the market in the South Okanagan, he was not able to identify one that met his site selection criteria and decided to explore the “Urban Winery” concept, now trending in parts of the U.S. and Canada.
“I needed to fully understand the unique differences between a traditional winery-vineyard operation and the, “Urban Winery” model. Simply put, an Urban Winery is a real winery that does not have an adjacent vineyard property, but does have a limited, small-lot production capability right on the premises.
Conceptually Osoyoos Urban Winery will be an old-west, cowboy-style Saloon paying tribute to Osoyoos’ colourful border history. If you ever visited Rustico Winery near Oliver... you'll get the drift. Fortunately we’ve been able to collaborate and share insights with the co-founder of the well-known, Vancouver Urban Winery. For instance, while Osoyoos Urban Winery will be presented with an old-time look, we’ll be installing a sophisticated, state-of-the-art Wine-On-Tap system allowing guests an extensive wine selection from many of our neighbouring South Okanagan wineries. In this way we can provide a terrific showcase for folks wanting to sample wines they may not be familiar with or otherwise miss from many of these local wineries.” Fuller said.
From a timing perspective Osoyoos Urban Winery will open later this year but is expected to be fully operational in early Spring 2019. -30-
The BC wine industry, it turns out, may not be as resistant to change as some feared. Involving an onerous ‘double majority’ approval (BCWA requiring support from at least 65% of all wineries AND support from member wineries that produce at least 50% of all BC wine), and uniquely including all licensed grape wineries in BC, the plebiscite demonstrated support for the strong consensus amongst industry in general.
Unfortunately with the change to a new provincial government and other delays, Ministry of Agriculture’s and Cabinet’s review of the amendments was slow.
Finally last week, a number of key amendments were announced, including Thompson Valley, Shuswap, Lillooet and the Kootenays being recognized as new BC VQA Geographical Indications (GIs), standard elements of appellation systems used around the world. Also, there was a streamlining of the process for recognizing sub-GIs. Previously Golden Mile Bench was the only sub-GI, but wineries on the east side of the Okanagan Valley, from Vaseux Lake to just north of Shuttleworth Creek, now are permitted to label their wines with the “Okanagan Falls” sub-GI.
An additional change implements a flat fee for small wineries to enable and encourage more wineries to participate in the BC Wine Authority’s programs. The change has already borne fruit, with Vancouver Island’s Rocky Creek Winery’s and Unsworth Vineyards’ wines receiving BC VQA certification, and both wineries joining as BC Wine Institute members.
While it’s taken some time, and there’s still work to be done, changes to the Wines of Marked Quality Regulation reflect the dynamic and evolving BC wine industry.
- Miles Prodan, President & CEO. BC Wine Institute
For immediate release:
July 13, 2018
Suggested Tweet: New Board of Directors for @WineBCdotcom & industry leaders recognized at the 2018 Canadian Wine Industry Awards ceremony on July 10 #BCWine #RootedinCool
KELOWNA, BC – Following another successful Annual General Meeting (July 10, 2018 at the Delta Hotel, Kelowna), that brought together winery owners from across BC, the BC Wine Institute (BCWI) is pleased to announce its new Board of Directors.
Nine voting BCWI Directors represent all British Columbia wineries. Newly elected or re-elected members of the Board of Directors are:
- Christa-Lee McWatters Bond from Encore Vineyards
- Josie Tyabji from Arterra Wines Canada
- Erik Fisher from Monte Creek Ranch Winery
- Charlie Baessler from Corcelettes Estate Winery
Also continuing their terms on the Board are Greg Berti (Andrew Peller), Ezra Cipes (Summerhill Pyramid Winery), Leo Gebert (St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery), Tony Holler (Poplar Grove Winery) and David Wilson (Mark Anthony Group). BCWI President & CEO Miles Prodan, BC Grapegrowers' Association representative David Kozuki and Independent Director Douglas Friend remain on the Board as ex officio non-voting members.
“It has been a busy year in the BC wine industry, and we appreciate the time commitment and dedication of our volunteer Board of Directors and committee members,” notes Prodan. “We look forward to working with our newly appointed Board member Charlie Baessler and continuing Board members, including BCWI Chair Christa-Lee McWatters Bond, to evolve the BC wine industry and take the vision of our member wineries to the next level.”
The BCWI would also like to thank outgoing Director Ian MacDonald (Liquidity Wines) for his contributions to the Board during his term.
In the evening, the BCWI welcomed the Canadian Vintners Association (CVA) to co-host the 2018 BC Wine Industry Awards alongside the Canadian Wine Industry Awards aimed to recognize individuals that have gone above and beyond to support and enhance Canada’s grape wine industry.
BCWI President & CEO Miles Prodan was honoured to present CJ Smith, a champion ambassador for BC VQA Wine, with the BCWI Industry Recognition Award in gratitude of her many years of outstanding contribution to the British Columbia wine industry.
“CJ’s passion for BC wine, ability to build community, and eagerness to help others transformed the local Westwood Wines BC VQA Wine store into a vibrant part of the local community and a vital contributor to the BC wine ecosystem,” remarked Prodan. “Today we thank CJ for her industry contributions and for supporting BC VQA Wine and wineries for more than eight years.”
The BCWI Award of Distinction was presented to Vera Klokock, founder of Hillside Winery in recognition of her outstanding leadership, commitment and passion for the advancement of the British Columbia wine industry.
“Vera Klokocka was one of few female winemakers in the Okanagan in the early 1990s whose fortitude and pioneering spirit were instrumental in shaping the BC wine industry as we know it today,” said BCWI Chair Christa-Lee McWatters Bond. “Vera’s role in leading the charge to bring about the Farmgate Winery Policy in 1989 changed the BC wine industry and until today she remains an unsung hero.”
The Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction, regarded as the highest form of peer recognition in the Canadian wine industry, was awarded to Anthony von Mandl, founder of Mission Hill Family Estate, and proprietor of CedarCreek Estate Winery, CheckMate Artisanal Winery, and the radical new gravity-fed Martin’s Lane Winery.
“Anthony’s lifelong commitment to putting the Okanagan Valley on the international map as a region producing world class wine is remarkable,” said Dan Paszkowski, President and CEO of the CVA. “His vision and dedication have been instrumental in the development of the BC wine industry, a region whose exceptional quality wines can stand alongside the best in the world.”
The Wine Industry Champion Award was presented to David Lawrason, a prolific wine journalist and authority on Canadian wine, who has spent more than 30 years reporting on wine, travelling across Canada tasting and making wine more accessible to Canadian consumers.
The inaugural Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award, created to celebrate great Canadian winemakers in honour of the legacy of the late Karl Kaiser, a Canadian wine industry pioneer and viticultural visionary, was awarded to Bruce Nicholson, Senior Winemaker at Inniskillin Niagara. With more than 30 years of experience in both British Columbia and Ontario, Bruce has made world-class wines and continues to demonstrate the endless potential for Canadian wines.
This year set a benchmark for the BC Wine Industry with BC VQA Wine reaching an all-time high of 18 per cent of wine market share in BC (litres). BC VQA Wine sales (litres) experienced a 7.3 per cent growth over the previous year.
- 30 -
Editors: Photos are linked for your consideration with the following cutlines,
Photos 1 - British Columbia Wine Institute Board of Directors (Back Row L-R: Charlie Baessler (Corcelettes Estate Winery), Greg Berti (Andrew Peller), Ezra Cipes (Summerhill Pyramid Winery), Erik Fisher (Monte Creek Ranch Winery), Leo Gebert (St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery) and Douglas Friend (Independent Director). Front Row L-R: Josie Tyabji (Arterra Wines Canada), Miles Prodan (BC Wine Institute), Chair Christa-Lee McWatters Bond (Encore Vineyards), David Wilson (Mark Anthony Group) and David Kozuki (BC Grapegrowers' Association).
Photos 2 - British Columbia Wine Institute and Canadian Vintners Association Industry Award Winners (L-R: Bruce Nicholson (recipient of the Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award), CJ Smith (recipient of the BC Wine Institute Industry Recognition Award), Anthony von Mandl (recipient of the Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction), Dan Paszkowski (President and CEO of the Canadian Vintners Association), Miles Prodan (President & CEO of the BC Wine Institute), Vera Klokocka (recipient of the BC Wine Institute Award of Distinction), David Lawrason (recipient of the Canadian Wine Industry Champion Award), Christa-Lee McWatters-Bond (Chair of the BC Wine Institute), Geoff McIntyre (Representing MNP, Sponsor of the Canadian Wine Industry Awards), David Wilson (Chair of the Canadian Vintners Association).
For the complete image gallery click here.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2018
Olivier Humbrecht MW joins Phantom Creek Estates as Consultant
Oliver, British Columbia: Phantom Creek Estates is pleased to announce a long-term collaboration with Olivier Humbrecht MW of Alsace’s Domaine Zind-Humbrecht. Phantom Creek is Humbrecht’s first and only winery consulting project.
Olivier Humbrecht, France’s first Master of Wine, is the owner and winemaker of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht. The renowned estate has been in his family since 1620, and today is one of the world’s leading Pinot Gris and Riesling producers. Humbrecht initiated the winery’s transition to organic and biodynamic practices in 1997. He is now the President of Biodyvin, a prestigious biodynamic certifying body based in Europe.
As Phantom Creek expands its portfolio to include Pinot Gris and Riesling, two of British Columbia’s signature grape varieties, Humbrecht will be instrumental in helping to select and develop vineyard sites that have the potential for excellence.
“Having visited three times already, I know the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys are capable of producing exceptional Pinot Gris and Riesling with great vineyard character,” said Humbrecht. "With the ambition of ownership and the skilled team at Phantom Creek, I am enthusiastic about what we can achieve.”
Working closely with Winemaker Ross Wise, Humbrecht will have an integral role in Phantom Creek’s white winemaking program. The state of the art winery, including an Alsatian inspired foudre room, was designed with Humbrecht’s input.
Humbrecht will also guide Phantom Creek’s transition to organic and biodynamic farming practices. The winery’s 67 acres of estate vineyards on the Black Sage Bench, including the historic Phantom Creek and Sundial Vineyards, have been farmed according to organic practices since 2017.
“We believe organic and biodynamic farming will result in the highest quality fruit from our estate vineyards,” said Ross Wise. “As the authority on biodynamic farming, Olivier is an indispensable source of knowledge.”
Phantom Creek’s inaugural wines will be released in Spring 2019, coinciding with the opening of the winery. Since 2016, the winery has farmed heat-seeking varieties ideally suited to the South Okanagan, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah.
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