Darryl Brooker Signs with Okanagan Crush Pad

By |2022-03-29T10:31:11-07:00March 29th, 2022|Latest Posts, Wine|

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 [...]

9 Valentine’s Wines to Wow & Woo Your Beloved

By |2024-04-28T10:58:04-07:00February 11th, 2022|Latest Posts, Wine|

Valentine’s beckons—so the Hired Belly has been working diligently on the Gentle Art of Seduction. Only in theory, you understand. But in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day it feels appropriate to suggest a few wines (and bites) to serve your beloved. You might be surprised how much of a challenge narrowing such a selection can [...]

Kamloops Wine Trail Rocks the Thompson Valley

By |2023-11-03T10:26:38-07:00November 9th, 2021|Features - sponsored posts, Latest Posts, Wine, Wine Reviews|

Over the last decade Kamloops has also emerged as the anchor of one of BC’s newest of 9 designated wine regions (Geographic Indications). The Thompson Valley is currently home to four established producers and six vineyards totalling 125 acres.

Valley Commons Opens in District Wine Village

By |2021-11-14T18:02:03-08:00October 25th, 2021|Latest Posts, Wine, Wine Reviews|

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 [...]

5 Reasons Why Bag in Box Wine is Big

By |2021-11-14T18:18:51-08:00September 3rd, 2021|Latest Posts, Wine, Wine Reviews|

There was a time when ‘bag in box wines’ were viewed with a degree of disdain—and generally with good reason. The formula was pretty straightforward. Big wineries took their ‘also-ran’ grapes (or whatever they could buy on the bulk market), dumped them into a nondescript blend and came up with a clever name. […]

Coletta Reflects: Okanagan Crush Pad Turns 10

By |2021-11-20T11:21:51-08:00August 27th, 2021|Latest Posts, Wine, Wine Reviews|

Ten years since opening Okanagan Crush Pad, owner Christine Coletta oversaw a minor facelift. This summer the giant, abstract mural on the winery’s 100 ft. south facing wall was reworked by artist Scott Sueme. Scott painted the original mural ten years ago.

The Ultimate Customized Wine Tour: Striking Gold in Burgundy

By |2023-03-03T15:18:49-08:00August 24th, 2021|Latest Posts, Top Drops, Travel, Wine|

Updated August 25th, 2021... I recently caught up with Youri Lebault, by phone. During the pandemic the owner of Bourgogne Gold Tour has been rethinking what he’s been doing since he started in 1999. In June he purchased a Mercedes Marco Polo luxury camper van, to offer a truly unique kind of tour. Youri [...]

Hester Creek’s Roots Run Deep—with a Tuscan Twist

By |2023-06-09T20:19:15-07:00July 28th, 2021|Features - sponsored posts, Latest Posts, Wine|

‘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, [...]

Blasted Church: Evelyn Campbell Bids Farewell to the Ministry

By |2021-11-29T08:08:45-08:00July 26th, 2021|Features - sponsored posts, Latest Posts, Wine|

Campbell truly relishes the ride of just over 19 years, which started when she and her now former husband Chris took over struggling Prpich Hills Winery and Vineyard in 2002.

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