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A taste of Burrowing Owl
So often in cookbooks the wine pairing is secondary to a recipe, an afterthought or a nice-to-have rather than an essential feature. That is, if there is a pairing at all. But in Jennifer Schell Lirag’s new book, the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Cookbook, the wine comes first. Each section starts with one of the […] The post A taste of Burrowing Owl appeared first on VITIS .
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Wild Mushroom Crostini
From the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Cookbook by Jennifer Schell Lirag. Pair these savoury toasts with Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Pinot Noir or Malbec. Serves 8 Crostini • 1 baguette, sliced into ½-inch thick rounds • 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1 garlic clove, halved Wild Mushroom Topping • 2 Tbsp butter • 1 […] The post Wild Mushroom Crostini appeared first on VITIS .
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The time is right for Evolve Sparkling House
Winery to open on Naramata Bench Time marches on, so the saying goes, no more so than at TIME Family of Wines, where a number of exciting events are unfolding to further enhance the winery’s broad appeal for premium wine and food experiences, both in downtown Penticton—and beyond. Next year will see a dynamic new […] The post The time is right for Evolve Sparkling House appeared first on VITIS .
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Island time, island wines
As palates turn to lighter, crisper flavours, Vancouver Island’s small, pretty Cowichan Valley wine region is attracting new attention. Now, as the first generation of winery owners begins to retire, younger winemakers are bringing in fresh ideas, like the Charmat-method sparkling Charme de L’île that has become the region’s calling card or the sudden passion […] The post Island time, island wines appeared first on VITIS .
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Tidbits: news from the world of B.C. wine
Farewell to the castle In what might be bittersweet news to some, what was likely the Okanagan Valley’s kitschiest tasting room is no more. That’s right: The castle at Road 13 Vineyards has been demolished. Road 13 originally opened as Golden Mile Cellars, back in 1998, in a building designed to resemble a 17th century […] The post Tidbits: news from the world of B.C. wine appeared first on VITIS .
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Sandhill Wines looks to the future
Small lots, big plans, a lasting legacy As head winemaker at Sandhill Wines, Sydney Valentino knows she’s got a tough act to follow. “It was the job I was always working toward,” she says. “But when I started, I was working with Howard Soon. It’s tough as a new person to set your sights on […] The post Sandhill Wines looks to the future appeared first on VITIS .
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Shelter from the perfect storm
In what has been a couple of truly bad news years, there is at last some good news to report. In the wake of January’s devastating cold event, which decimated more than 90 per cent of the grape harvest in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys, the provincial government is allowing wineries a one-time exemption to […] The post Shelter from the perfect storm appeared first on VITIS .
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The joy of wine
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve had enough bad news for one year. I’m looking across the border at an election campaign that’s all about joy, and thinking yes! That’s what we need. More joy, and plenty of it, stat. Now, I don’t want to underplay the challenges so many people […] The post The joy of wine appeared first on VITIS .
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Six fall and winter wine events you don’t want to miss
Clear your schedule for these essential experiences MICHELIN Guide Vancouver Launch October 3 All Vancouver foodies will be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the 2024 entries into the prestigious guide. Catch the latest at: guide.michelin.com/ca/en/british-columbia/ca-vancouver/restaurants. Victoria International Wine Festival October 4 to 5 Sample nearly 400 wines from 16 different countries and, of course, the […] The post Six fall and winter wine events you don’t want to miss appeared first on VITIS .
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‘A generous vintage’
Blue Mountain captures the nuances of 2022 in its single-block Pinot and Chardonnay In all the angst over the Okanagan Valley’s troubled 2023 and ’24 vintages, we’ve almost missed the good news of just how remarkable a year 2022 turned out to be. “It was definitely, we can’t use the word strange anymore, but it […] The post ‘A generous vintage’ appeared first on VITIS .
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Cabernet Sauvignon: A Royal Rebel in B.C.’s Wine Country
International Cabernet Sauvignon Day is August 30 “Imagine a grape variety so revered it’s called the “King of Grapes.” Is British Columbia ready for the crown jewel of the wine world? You bet. British Columbia’s wine regions are at the extreme limits of where grapes can grow. As a result, Cabernet Sauvignon, a late-ripening variety […] The post Cabernet Sauvignon: A Royal Rebel in B.C.’s Wine Country appeared first on VITIS .
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Okanagan winery opens wine event space in Richmond
Phantom Creek Estates has released a Bordeaux-style blend called Baoshan. An Okanagan winery has opened an events space close to the Richmond Olympic Oval. Phantom Creek Estates announced Monday it’s opening a “multi-function space” for VIP and special events as well as an office on Pearson Way in conjunction with the release of its “ultra-premium-tier” Halo […] The post Okanagan winery opens wine event space in Richmond appeared first on VITIS .
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Australian love affair
Our relationship isn’t always easy, but enjoying the wines is Canada has always had a bit of a love affair with Australian wine, but it is a somewhat fickle relationship and one that can be tumultuous at times. Although Canada is Australia’s fourth largest export market by value, numbers have been dipping over the years. […] The post Australian love affair appeared first on VITIS .
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Brix
The sweet clue to finding balance in wine Brix is a magical number in the world of wine that sounds more like a secret code than a measurement. Picture this: You’re strolling through a vineyard, the sun kissing your skin, the grapes ripe and juicy, and suddenly someone mentions Brix. Fear not, fellow wine geeks, […] The post Brix appeared first on VITIS .
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Virtuous Consumption
For these somms, the future of wine is organic, regenerative and delicious If you walk into a wine bar in any major metropolis, chances are the trendiest pour is something new and naturally inclined: a colourfully labelled bottle with whispers of funk and wondrously virtuous practices. These bottles are born from vineyards dotted with grazing […] The post Virtuous Consumption appeared first on VITIS .
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Longtime wine grape growers open new winery in Oliver, bottling their own product
Vasanti Estate Winery is the new winery in town. But as longtime wine grape growers for 20 years, the Sidhu family were no strangers to the wine game when they opened their own wine shop along Hwy 97 in Oliver at the end of June. “We decided, why not make some wine? We’ve been farming […] The post Longtime wine grape growers open new winery in Oliver, bottling their own product appeared first on VITIS .
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Wine-soaked reads for armchair travellers
For those times you can’t hop a plane to explore the vineyards of France, Italy or Kelowna, these new books are the next best thing. A Year in the Vineyard by Sophie Menin and Bob Chaplin This gorgeous coffee-table book is a tribute to the cycle of the vine, following the seasonal rhythms from winter […] The post Wine-soaked reads for armchair travellers appeared first on VITIS .
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B.C. wineries can sell direct to Albertans again
B.C. and Alberta resolve tax issues that prevented B.C. wineries selling direct to customers The governments of B.C. and Alberta have struck an agreement that will allow wineries to sell directly to customers in each other’ provinces. As BIV wrote in May, Canada tends to have more free trade with the U.S. than it does […] The post B.C. wineries can sell direct to Albertans again appeared first on VITIS .
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Material goods
Innovations and discoveries from the world of wine Dressed to (prevent) kill As we veer closer and closer to climate apocalypse, winegrowers around the world are turning to innovative technologies. Too much sun, heat and excessive cold temperatures for vines can be mitigated by specially engineered fabrics called geotextiles. Not at all like the burlap […] The post Material goods appeared first on VITIS .
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Softly, softly
The demand for low- and no-alcohol beverages just continues to grow. But while there are plenty of good n/a beers and sprits these days, it’s been a lot tougher to create a good de-alcoholized wine. Now Soft Crush, a spinoff from Calgary’s Crush Imports, has managed to round up some surprisingly palatable n/a vinos from […] The post Softly, softly appeared first on VITIS .
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Gris vs. Grigio
What’s in a name? Style and so much more In the world of wine, few grape varieties have captured the hearts and palates of enthusiasts quite like Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris. Its widespread popularity transcends borders, making it a beloved choice for wine lovers around the globe. Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same grape […] The post Gris vs. Grigio appeared first on VITIS .
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The new temperance movement
If you’ve been wondering how our attitude toward beverage alcohol went from moderation to abstinence in the time it takes to crack open a Stelvin closure, well, you’re not alone. Over at WineBusiness Monthly, writer Felicity Carter was wondering the same thing. And so began her deep dive into a story titled “How Neo-Prohibitionists Came […] The post The new temperance movement appeared first on VITIS .
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This summer rooftop garden dinner series in Vancouver is creating a buzz
Peak seasonal ingredients in a unique garden setting with wine, cocktails, and…bees Summertime in Vancouver means dining al fresco and some of the region’s most stunning fresh produce and there’s no better setting than a rooftop garden situated amidst the downtown skyline. The Fairmont Hotel Waterfront and its restaurant, Arc, are offering a summer rooftop garden dinner party series that […] The post This summer rooftop garden dinner series in Vancouver is creating a buzz appeared first on VITIS .
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Ready, set, sip
Your guide to wine bars in Vancouver and Victoria It should come as no surprise that here at Vitis, we love a good wine bar, and we really love the fact that there are suddenly a lot more of them around. Of course, a wine bar isn’t just a place to get tipsy on, say, […] The post Ready, set, sip appeared first on VITIS .