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- news
Canada’s Best Restaurants 2025: 16 Metro Vancouver restaurants named to annual list
14 top spots in Vancouver plus two in Richmond make the prestigious annual rankings The nation’s culinary scene is in the spotlight, as Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants revealed its list of the top places to dine on Monday, May 5. Of the 100 restaurants ranked, 14 are in Vancouver, two are in Richmond, and three more are located […] The post Canada’s Best Restaurants 2025: 16 Metro Vancouver restaurants named to annual list appeared first on VITIS .
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Focused on the future
Pioneering Stag’s Hollow Celebrates 30 Years When Stag’s Hollow founders Larry Gerelus and Linda Preugger opened their winery in 1995, it was only the third to be established in and around Okanagan Falls. Now the area is home to some 20 successful wineries. In the years since, this small but important enclave, in almost the […] The post Focused on the future appeared first on VITIS .
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A banquet of fine dining
Hungry? Then get yourself to wine country. There are always good eats to be had at the Okanagan’s winery and other restaurants, but this summer the region is also seeing a buffet of exciting chef collabs and winemaker dinners galore. Leading the charge is chef Chris Van Hooydonk, who’s gathering some of his favourite chef […] The post A banquet of fine dining appeared first on VITIS .
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On the road again
Last year, due to circumstances beyond my control, I barely made it to wine country and I have to tell you, this is not a situation that makes me very happy. So this year, I plan to go as often as I can, to reconnect with all the people I love and to savour all […] The post On the road again appeared first on VITIS .
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Nine spring and summer wine events you don’t want to miss
Summer is always a good time to visit wine country and these great events are an even better reason to go. Over the next few months there are concerts, parties, train rides and even a few wine-soaked events beyond the Okanagan Valley. Here’s just a taste of what’s going on. BC Wine month Until April […] The post Nine spring and summer wine events you don’t want to miss appeared first on VITIS .
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New CEO for Wine Growers BC
For the past 11 years, as executive director of B.C.’s Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC), Jeff Guignard has been the calm, thoughtful presence championing the interests of liquor, hospitality and cannabis retail businesses. Now, at one of the most challenging times in the province’s wine industry, he’s stepping into the role of CEO at […] The post New CEO for Wine Growers BC appeared first on VITIS .
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B.C. wine sector seeks end to provincial trade barriers
A new agreement with Alberta enables direct-to-consumer sales by registered B.C. wineries U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 25-per-cent tariffs on most Canadian imports has prompted Canadian premiers to underscore the need to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. The challenge will be to convert talk into action. A March 5 joint statement from the premiers […] The post B.C. wine sector seeks end to provincial trade barriers appeared first on VITIS .
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B.C. wine industry leaders honoured at annual Recongnition Awards ceremony
Wine Growers British Columbia proudly honoured outstanding individuals and organizations at the annual BC Wine Industry Recognition Awards presented at the BC Wine Industry Insight Conference in Penticton on March 12, 2025. This year’s award recipients, celebrated for their remarkable leadership, innovation and exceptional hospitality, are recognized across three categories: the Ultimate BC Wine Ambassador […] The post B.C. wine industry leaders honoured at annual Recongnition Awards ceremony appeared first on VITIS .
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Rising temperatures could transform B.C. wine sector
Climate change could improve grape-growing conditions for the province—at a cost British Columbia’s vineyards could see the number of grape-growing days spike over the next 75 years, with climate change transforming conditions into something closer to Spain’s Rioja region or the Sonoma Valley in California, a new study has found. Published this week in the […] The post Rising temperatures could transform B.C. wine sector appeared first on VITIS .
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Tannin
The bitter truth about this elusive flavour When you hear someone talk about tannins in wine, they are talking about astringent sensory components that contribute to a wine’s structure and complexity. On the palate, they create a dry, puckering sensation on the palate, often perceived as a bitter taste. Tannins are chemical compounds that belong […] The post Tannin appeared first on VITIS .
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California Dreaming
Fall for the Golden State’s new wave of fresh, vibrant and sunshine-driven wines What do you imagine when California comes to mind? Hollywood, Disneyland and the Golden Gate Bridge; surfers, street tacos and Erewhon smoothies? “Sunshine, beaches and the bold flavours of Cabernet Sauvignon and buttery Chardonnay,” says Mike Cooke, wine director of Wildlight Kitchen […] The post California Dreaming appeared first on VITIS .
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An Easy Quick Pickle for Any Vegetable
This process works with just about any veg, but it works better if the pieces are smaller so the brine can penetrate more easily. Makes 2 (500 mL) jars INGREDIENTS 1 lb fresh vegetables, such as cucumbers, carrots, green beans, zucchini, fennel, cherry tomatoes and cauliflower or broccoli florets. 1 cup vinegar (white, apple cider […] The post An Easy Quick Pickle for Any Vegetable appeared first on VITIS .
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L’Abattoir’s Andrew Forsyth Wins the 2025 CAPS Best Sommelier of BC Competition
L’Abattoir’s head sommelier Andrew Forsyth has won the title of Best Sommelier of BC at the annual competition hosted by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS). Each year, British Columbia’s top sommeliers gather to compete in this rigorous test of skill, knowledge, and composure under pressure. The competition begins with a gruelling theory exam, designed […] The post L’Abattoir’s Andrew Forsyth Wins the 2025 CAPS Best Sommelier of BC Competition appeared first on VITIS .
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Red Onion Quick Pickle
This pickle is so easy, you don’t even have to heat the brine, and you get a delicious topping for burgers, sandwiches, tacos or grain bowls, as well as a tasty garnish for your cheese and meat boards. Makes about ½ cup of pickles from a 500 mL jar INGREDIENTS: 1 Tbsp granulated sugar 1 […] The post Red Onion Quick Pickle appeared first on VITIS .
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In a (quick) pickle
Try these flavourful garnishes for your cheese and charcuterie boards When you dine on something rich and fatty like, say, Oyama’s Belgian truffle pâté or the ridiculously creamy cheese known as Délice de Bourgogne, you need something tart to balance it and refresh your palate. Yes, wine plays that role to some extent, but what […] The post In a (quick) pickle appeared first on VITIS .
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Yes, we can
The convenience of canned wine is just part of its appeal It may be hard to believe, but there’s nothing new about wine in cans. In fact, it’s almost a century since they first were produced, in California, followed by various less-than-stellar efforts over the following 60 years or so. The most successful wines in […] The post Yes, we can appeared first on VITIS .
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Pondering PIWIs
Our global wine columnist and educator explains why these hybrid grape varieties matter PIWI is the name adopted and trademarked by an international working group for the promotion of fungus-resistant grape varieties founded in Switzerland in 1999; the name is an abbreviation of the German phrase “Pilzwiderstandsfähige Traubensorten,” which means fungal-resistant vines. PIWI vines are […] The post Pondering PIWIs appeared first on VITIS .
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WTF (What the Fermenter!??)
Forget your basic stainless-steel tanks and old-school barrels. Fermentation vessels can be innovative — and beautiful. Here are just a few examples. The post WTF (What the Fermenter!??) appeared first on VITIS .
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Red barn, purple tanks
This rustic-looking winery takes an organic approach to innovation Seeking an authentic wine experience in the South Okanagan, a curious oeno-tourist might just bypass the soaring sculptures and luxe premises of other wineries and follow a dusty back road along the Black Sage Bench to what appears to be a modest-looking barn. This winery is […] The post Red barn, purple tanks appeared first on VITIS .
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The triple bottom line
The future is interconnected, and so are sustainable practices Sustainability is a cornerstone of the British Columbia wine industry, and one that is essential for its long-term success. In April 2024, I attended the U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit in Lodi, California, where I was inspired by cutting-edge practices in vineyard management, social responsibility and environmental […] The post The triple bottom line appeared first on VITIS .
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Phantom Creek’s vineyard revival
A pause in production offers time to re-evaluate practices Times may be tough in the B.C. wine industry, but Phantom Creek Estates director of farming Mike Anderson has discovered there may be a silver lining after all. In fact, he’s positively delighted. “The extent to which our vineyards have recovered has been quite significant from […] The post Phantom Creek’s vineyard revival appeared first on VITIS .
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The state of Washington wine
We’ll be tasting a lot more of it soon, so let’s get to know the region Washington state, even though it’s our immediate neighbour to the south, is not on the wine radar for most British Columbians. It might seem strange that we don’t imbibe in more of the delicious wines from our nearest non-Canadian […] The post The state of Washington wine appeared first on VITIS .
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Get cozy with these B.C. Merlot & winter blanket pairings
Celebrate World Merlot Day on November 7 When it comes to Merlot, Miles and the movie “Sideways” can suck a cork. The versatility of Merlot and its ability to stand on its own or in the perfect harmony with its most famous peers, is exceptional. Love it or hate it, Merlot is here to stay, […] The post Get cozy with these B.C. Merlot & winter blanket pairings appeared first on VITIS .
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The temptations of Tofino
Yes, it’s worth the drive to this delicious destination When you think about it, Tofino isn’t exactly the most likely culinary destination. It’s way out there on the edge of the world, shrouded in fog and rain much of the year, with neither farmland to supply ingredients nor a big city to supply diners. Yet […] The post The temptations of Tofino appeared first on VITIS .