Quails’ Gate Founders Series Builds on BC Legacy
While Quails' Gate was established in 1989, the family’s history in the Okanagan Valley dates from much earlier in the 20th century.
‘New’ Blue Grouse Celebrates 10 Big Years
Blue Grouse Estate Winery, Cowichan Valley. I’ll confess I’m not a great judge of time. Even so, it still took me by surprise that a decade has flown by since the Brunner family bought Blue Grouse. To be fair, it was actually in 2015 that the team unveiled new (soon to be destination) winery, which [...]
Fort Berens: 6 Wicked Wines to Celebrate #3
Fort Berens, in Lillooet, BC may well be the province's most remarkable winery. Think about it. In vine terms a decade is a barely a blink of an eye. And a couple of decades might be a wink. Yet, where many thought it couldn’t be done—Fort Berens has made its mark in well under 20 years.
Horseshoe Found: A Delightful Similkameen Surprise
Horseshoe Found is more than worth a detour, especially if you’re Similkameen bound. We ‘found’ Horseshoe Found after a tip from nearby Orofino, where we’d just enjoyed an idyllic tasting.
Darryl Brooker Signs with Okanagan Crush Pad
Trailblazing Okanagan Crush Pad has announced the appointment of BC wine industry veteran Darryl Brooker as CEO. Brooker returns to the BC industry after a brief sojourn with Cannabis, following his 2021 departure from Mission Hill. Over the years he has held several key positions, initially as senior winemaker with Andrew Peller before moving to [...]
Valley Commons Opens in District Wine Village
Newcomer Valley Commons recently opened in District Wine Village. It joins a number of other (mainly) neophytes who are taking advantage of all that DWV has to offer. Husband and wife duo Kyla Richey and Rudy Verhoeff Valley Commons owners, husband-wife duo Kyla Richey and Rudy Verhoeff, worked with Mark Simpson of BC [...]
Hester Creek’s Roots Run Deep—with a Tuscan Twist
‘Our roots run deep,’ says Hester Creek’s motto. Too true. Indeed, scratch the surface and it doesn’t take long to find out what makes things tick. The winery traces its origins to some of the very first vinifera plantings in the Okanagan. They date back over 50 years, to 1968, [...]
1 Mill Road: It’s All About Pinot
Updated: July 8th, 2021 1 Mill Road Pinot Noir 2019 Naramata Bench The current release invites with cherry, leather and some earthy aromas, bright red berry notes followed by a plush but precise palate of dark cherry and strawberry. Wrapped in silky and beautifully integrated tannins with a touch of spice and a definite savoury [...]
2020 was “A Very Good Year” — in BC Wine, At Least
Overall, the consensus is that it was a pretty challenging vintage for BC wine ...
A Taste of Nostalgia Offers a New Twist
A tasting of Nostalgia wines on Black Sage bench in the Okanagan Valley