The Chronicle
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109 results across all types
- news
Quails’ Gate: An Okanagan legacy
Five decades in, the winery focuses on Pinot and Chardonnay Few wines are as emblematic of the Okanagan than Quails’ Gate Stewart Family Reserve selections, which continue to highlight the top-tier varieties first introduced by the pioneering Stewart family some 50 years ago. Over the last few decades, “the Family Reserve line has always been […] The post Quails’ Gate: An Okanagan legacy appeared first on VITIS .
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Groovy glassware
It’s the annual summertime dilemma: You want to enjoy good wine in good glasses at your outdoor events, but you don’t want to risk broken glass all over your patio, not to mention how annoyed you’d be if someone smashed your precious Vinum stems. Luckily, acrylic glassware is getting better and better all the time, […] The post Groovy glassware appeared first on VITIS .
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Where sustainability rules
At Le Vieux Pin and LaStella, good practices lead to resilience in challenging times Ask award-winning winemaker Severine Pinte what motivates her unwavering belief in sustainability and she’ll tell you, “I’ve been doing it all my life.” It’s the foundation of good winemaking and sound viticulture, says Pinte who has been at the fore of […] The post Where sustainability rules appeared first on VITIS .
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Recognition for BC wine champions
Cheers to frequent Vitis contributor Rhys Pender MW, winner of this year’s BC Wine Industry Leadership Excellence Award, which was announced at the 2026 Canadian Wine Industry Awards earlier this month. Wine Growers Canada presents the awards each year, recognizing the individuals, organizations and businesses that have gone above and beyond to support and enhance […] The post Recognition for BC wine champions appeared first on VITIS .
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Phantom Creek Estates’ First Decade
New releases and special events in the works to celebrate an impressive milestone One of the South Okanagan’s most significant winery projects to date, Phantom Creek Estates is marking its 10-year anniversary with special events and exciting new releases. In the decade since it was established in 2016, Phantom Creek has garnered an impressive array […] The post Phantom Creek Estates’ First Decade appeared first on VITIS .
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The value of slow
There’s a lot to be said for taking it slow, for savouring life and supporting smaller, more sustainable communities and the people who make them thrive. That’s what Cittaslow is all about. The name literally means “Slow City,” inspired by the Slow Food movement. Some 308 communities around the world are certified as Cittaslow, including […] The post The value of slow appeared first on VITIS .
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Sip, savour and stay on the Westside Wine Trail
Sixteen wineries. One unforgettable stretch of wine country. Winding along the volcanic slopes of Mt. Boucherie and overlooking Okanagan Lake, the Westside Wine Trail is where historic vineyards, destination dining, and relaxed lakefront living come together. This is a place to slow down, explore deeply, and savour every moment. From rolling vineyard hills and lakeside […] The post Sip, savour and stay on the Westside Wine Trail appeared first on VITIS .
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Taxes, trade, trying times
It sounded like good news, but is it really? The federal government recently announced a two-year extension to the excise duty relief that was set to expire this April. Certainly, the news could have been a lot worse. But critics insist the tax—which increases year after year automatically—is unfair by its very nature. And with […] The post Taxes, trade, trying times appeared first on VITIS .
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The future of wine is clairet
Fifty years ago this spring, on May 24, 1976, the wine world was stunned when two California wines beat their top French counterparts in a blind tasting that famously became known as the Judgment of Paris*. Several events are being held in commemoration, including a US$3,500-a-head dinner at The French Laundry in Napa. If you […] The post The future of wine is clairet appeared first on VITIS .
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Grilled Summer Peach and Burrata Salad
This recipe from the Okanagan Eats cookbook highlights the valley’s famous peaches. True, they are long gone by fall, but while waiting for next summer’s bounty, you could replace them with early autumn pears or use preserved peaches and skip the grilling step. Reprinted by permission of Figure 1 Publishing. Serves 4 Suggested wine pairing: […] The post Grilled Summer Peach and Burrata Salad appeared first on VITIS .
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Maritime climate
Hybrids and hope mark Canada’s newest wine-producing region One of my favourite home-entertaining hacks is to surprise guests with an elegant and fresh sparkling rosé that’s a perfect expression of the terroir found in Moncton, New Brunswick. Folks in my Toronto-based kitchen are surprised, to say the least. But, to be fair to my pals, […] The post Maritime climate appeared first on VITIS .
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Stelvin
The twisty science of screwcap closures From freshness keeper to age-worthy ally, Stelvin closures are twisting tradition in all the right ways. Once upon a time, a screw cap meant “cheap plonk.” Today, the Stelvin closure can be as much a sign of quality as a grand cru label. But what’s actually happening under that […] The post Stelvin appeared first on VITIS .
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Outside influence
Imported talent is just part of the Okanagan Valley’s unique blend When Mission Hill Family Estate owner Anthony von Mandl lured New Zealand winemaker John Simes from Montana Wines in 1992, it marked a pivotal moment proving that the Okanagan was capable of attracting significant talent from elsewhere. Just two years later the owner’s bold […] The post Outside influence appeared first on VITIS .
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Making bubbles in the name of Mother Nature
You could say that fighting for what is right comes naturally to Telmont Champagne. The acclaimed house was founded in 1912 by Henri Lhôpitel, one of the leaders of the 1911 Champagne Riots, who battled to uphold the region’s high quality standards. Four generations later, as Telmont Champagne enters the Canadian market, the fight for […] The post Making bubbles in the name of Mother Nature appeared first on VITIS .
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Value Vintage
The rules for finding bargain bottles on a wine list may not be what you think they are When I was young, my mother told me of the holiest commandments. Thou shall not add ice to your wine. Thou shall not drink red wine with fish. And when buying a bottle, thou shall order the […] The post Value Vintage appeared first on VITIS .
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Designed to swirl
The way the story goes, Maximilian Riedel came up with a line of stemless wine glasses when his beautiful Vinum stems wouldn’t fit into the cupboards in his New York kitchen. The “O” series he launched was fun, practical, affordable and solved a common problem. So what to make of the Aequilibrium wine glass by […] The post Designed to swirl appeared first on VITIS .
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Future in the vines
Sustainable farming for generations to come When Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie purchased a previously undiscovered 320 acres tucked away in the hills behind Summerland, they were struck by its natural beauty. And while the land that’s now become Garnet Valley Ranch suited their purpose of establishing a unique, high-altitude vineyard, they knew from the […] The post Future in the vines appeared first on VITIS .
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Leading sommeliers step into new roles at Le Crocodile and L’Abattoir
Two of Vancouver’s established sommeliers join new restaurant teams this month Vancouver’s wine scene is seeing a shift this month, as two restaurants welcome well-known sommeliers into new roles. At Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie, Andrew Forsyth has stepped into the role of wine director. Forsyth is the 2025 CAPS Best Sommelier of BC and […] The post Leading sommeliers step into new roles at Le Crocodile and L’Abattoir appeared first on VITIS .
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Perfectly Imperfect
Five wine flaws you secretly think are sexy In the world of wine, faults are the skeletons in the cellar—uninvited, yet undeniably fascinating. They’re the quirks that make a sommelier lean in for a second sniff, or cause a winemaker to purse their lips in professional curiosity. While the aim is for purity and precision, […] The post Perfectly Imperfect appeared first on VITIS .
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Travel planning hub for B.C. wine lovers
If you’re the person in your friend group who always ends up planning your B.C. wine country adventures, you’ll be glad to learn that you now have help. Wine Growers British Columbia has just revamped the WineBC.com website to become the ultimate planning tool for discovering the province’s wine regions. Designed to be a strategic […] The post Travel planning hub for B.C. wine lovers appeared first on VITIS .
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New leadership at Phantom Creek Estates
Early harvest and exciting updates for wine lovers New Director of Winemaking Phantom Creek Estates is pleased to announce that Jean-Marc Enixon has joined the team as Director of Winemaking. Enixon grew up in Manot, France, where he helped with his family’s quarry, forestry and wine businesses. After graduating at the top of his class from the […] The post New leadership at Phantom Creek Estates appeared first on VITIS .
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Old Vines, new times
One of the Okanagan’s original winery restaurants celebrates a major milestone, deliciously A few weeks back I had dinner at Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery in West Kelowna and it was just as magical as the very first time, which was longer ago than I’d like to admit. There was that same mesmerizing […] The post Old Vines, new times appeared first on VITIS .
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Winning on the world stage
Canada may be among the world’s smallest and youngest wine-producing nations, but it is steadily proving that it has the potential to be among the best. Take the most recent Decanter World Wine Awards, announced in June. Of the 57 countries that submitted wines to the world’s largest international wine competition, Canada took home 347 […] The post Winning on the world stage appeared first on VITIS .
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Lovely Languedoc
A fresh take on one of the world’s oldest wine regions In picturesque Narbonne, the 2,000-year-old trading crossroads of the Côte du Midi, history beckons at every turn. Wander down the shady, tree-lined boulevard bordering the central Canal de la Robine, and you’ll eventually come across this sign on an unassuming building. Titled “1907— C’est […] The post Lovely Languedoc appeared first on VITIS .