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Wine Shop & Tasting Room Update

To Our Valued Blue Mountain Supporters,

Due to the current and ongoing health situation, our tasting room will remain closed until further notice. We will continue to evaluate the situation surrounding COVID-19 and post any further updates on our website.  We hope to have further information late June.

Your support continues to mean a lot to us.  For those of you who would like to pick-up their wines from the winery we are now offering curbside pick-up.  We do require the following steps to be taken if you would like to take advantage of our curbside pick-up:

• All orders must be processed ahead of time.
• Please provide 48 hours notice prior to pick-up.
• When you arrive at the gate please pull off to the side of the road and open your trunk so we can load your wine safely. Please call upon arrival (250) 497-8244.

It is our utmost importance to keep yourself and our employees safe so please stay in your car and we will do the heavy lifting for you!

Please do not hesitate to reach out and call the winery, (250) 497-8244 or email at bluemountain@bluemountainwinery.com.

As an update, the 2019 white wines have now been bottled and will lay to rest for another 2 months in the cellar prior to release.

Thank you and we appreciate your understanding at this time.  Please enjoy your Victoria Day weekend and stay safe.

Cheers,

Christie Mavety

May 12, 2020 at 3:10 PM Permalink

Blue Mountain COVID-19 Update

To Our Valued Blue Mountain Supporters,

Due to the current and ongoing health situation, our tasting room will remain closed until May 11th. We will continue to evaluate the situation surrounding COVID-19 and post any further updates on our website.

Many of our customers are independent restaurants and small businesses who will be hit very hard by the current social climate. If you are able, please order takeout from these small businesses, or maybe grab a bottle of wine or two for those evenings in from your local wine merchant. We can help make light of these times by supporting each other and being reasonable in our actions.

Your support continues to mean a lot to us. If you are still looking to purchase wine directly from the winery, we offer FREE SHIPPING with a minimum 12-bottle purchase, use the code 2020THANKYOU to take advantage of this offer. Order online at www.bluemountainwinery.com.

Please do not hesitate to reach out and call the winery, (250) 497-8244 or email at bluemountain@bluemountainwinery.com.

In the meantime, we will continue to make wine and look out for the health and well being of our staff, their families, and our community. We wish you all good health and look forward to seeing you when the appropriate time comes.

Thank you and please take care of yourselves,

Christie Mavety

Mar 18, 2020 at 11:36 AM Permalink

Tasting Room Opens for the Season

Image on right by Andrea Johnson

May marks the start of another exciting tasting room season at Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars.  We are now open seven days a week, daily from 11am - 5pm.  If you haven't visited the winery yet, this is the year to come see us.  We highly recommend packing a picnic lunch and spending a little time taking in the stunning scenery at the winery.  Surrounded by vineyards and well off the beaten track, bask in the view of McIntyre Bluff and enjoy the sunshine Blue Mountain is well known for. 

If you can't plan lunch, our neighbours down the road at Liquidity Bistro will be happy to feed you.  Across the way there are a couple of other great spots to grab a bite.  Wild Goose Vineyards last year opened the Smoke N Oak Bistro where you can enjoy southern BBQ.  On the other side of the valley, enjoy the stellar views from See Ya Later Ranch looking north up Skaha Lake.  Their outdoor patio is a great place to while away an afternoon. 

With no shortage of great places to eat and excellent wineries to visit your trip to Okanagan Falls is a destination in itself.  Make a day of it, call your friends and come see us. 

See you soon!

May 15, 2015 at 4:00 PM Permalink

Meet our Tasting Room Staff

It is our third official season for the tasting room to be open with no appointment necessary.  We are now open daily from 11am to 5pm for you to drop by to taste and purchase our wines. 

I am very fortunate to have a handful of knowledgeable staff to guide you through your wine tasting of Blue Mountain wines and make helpful recommendations for visits to other wineries, events and activities to partake in while visiting the Okanagan Valley. 

I would like to introduce you to some of the personalities behind the tasting bar at Blue Mountain for the 2014 season! 

How did you become interested in wine?

Angela Grant - Although I did take my first wine course over 10 years ago as part of the Hotel and Restaurant Management Program, I think touring the Okanagan really peaked my interest when I saw how much soil, climate and the wine making process can change the way each varietal tastes.

Chantelle Bruwer - I studied Marketing Management in Stellenbosch, South Africa. In my final year of studies I met my (now) husband, Ernst - who's passion for wine & the wine industry had an influence on my career choice.

Heidi Astles - As a former flight attendant, I travelled extensively, and was fortunate to experience different wines from around the world.

Julie Planiden - Growing up in the Okanagan, wine was always in my backyard so to speak.  Then I married a chef and had the opportunity to travel and live in many parts of Canada.  During these years I had many amazing food and wine experiences.

Kornelia Brieke - In the 80's I met Albert Le Comte who introduced me to Gewurztraminer and I have loved wine ever since.

Favorite wine region in the world?

Angela Grant - Call me biased but I love the wines from the Okanagan! Unlike many other wine regions in the world, there are less guidelines, allowing wine makers to be creative and I love how the orchard fruits shine through in them.

Chantelle Bruwer - I'm going to be true to my roots... South Africa. Some of my favourite wine regions in South Africa include Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, the Overberg, Walker Bay, Elim, Constantia & Cape Point.

Heidi Astles - I would have to say Australia, my husband and I have visited all of the wine regions there. We especially enjoyed the Yarra Valley, which is just east of Melbourne.

Julie Planiden - Although I have travelled, I have not visited many wine regions.  So on my bucket list are Champagne, Sancerre, Burgundy, Oregon, Tuscany, Australia, and South Africa. 

Kornelia Brieke - Alsace Region - Rhine in Germany

Favorite Grape Varietal and why?

Angela Grant - Pinot Noir, it makes my favourite red, can be made into sparkling and also Rose.

Chantelle Bruwer - Shiraz, my love for this varietal started when I worked at Raka winery in South Africa.

Heidi Astles - Gamay Noir - It is a great red to drink in its youth, slightly chilled.  Pair it with red meat, or a rich flavourful fish like salmon.

Julie Planiden - Lately I have been drawn to Chardonnay.  I think it is a versatile grape variety, extremely food friendly, think halibut, buttery popcorn, lobster, or nothing at all.  I appreciate that it has so many incarnations, fully oaked, stainless steel fermented, lightly oaked, malolactic fermentation, the list goes on.   

Kornelia Brieke - Gewurztraminer as it has nice tropical fruit flavours, spice and sometimes smokiness.  It goes great with lots of foods.

Aug 21, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

#VisitBlueMtn Tasting Room Contest

Planning to visit Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars between May 1st and October 12th? Take a photo of yourself, friends or family using our #visitbluemtn frame. Share you photo on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and tag it with #visitbluemtn.

 Tweet your image @bluemtnwinery with #visitbluemtn

Post your photo to instagram with @bluemtnwinery #visitbluemtn

Post your image to Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars with #visitbluemtn

The winner will be drawn on October 15th, 2014. 
 

Remember to "like" us on facebook and "follow" us on twitter / instagram!!

May 9, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

An international student in an Okanagan Falls Winery Tasting Room

How did you become interested in wine?
It all started with tasting it, enjoying it at wine festivals and simply having a good time. I wanted to know more about the beverage which is not only a great pairing to food but also an awesome companion for good times with friends and family.

And then I pictured what a lot of people dream of: Overlooking my own vineyards one day. Thanks to my twin brother who started studying viticulture, when I was still thinking about the idea of getting into the wine business I got inspired and have started to turn my passion into a profession. Cheers to wine ;)

Favorite wine region in the world?
I definitely need to see a lot more wine regions to answer this question appropriately. However, so far I enjoyed the D.O. Penedès in Spain. I enjoy Cava - the fresh uncomplicated Spanish sparkling wine and I like the pride of the local people for Cava. Besides this I loved the atmosphere of a little community called Aniane close to Montpellier in the wine region Languedoc Roussillon in the south of France. There are lots of wine regions in the world to discover and I am just about to experience another amazing one in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley!

Favorite Grape Varietal and why?
Red or white? ;) I am generally passionate about wine  and I love it’s diversity. “Anything but Chardonnay. No matter if it’s oaked or unoaked” was what I used to answer. However, I experienced it is not only the variety but also the winemaker and his philosophy what can make the difference. I am a big fan of Pinot Noir. It is not easy to cultivate, takes a lot of attention and comes with a nice fruit and acidity. It is also very versatile - as a single varietal wine or in a blend for example in Champagne, Pinot Noir always takes a big part. It is an elegant variety which is not bold but comes with a  strong personality. However, I also like full bodied varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon or crisp white varieties like Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc with a bit more acidity and minerality. And then there is Pinot Gris. Smoother, creamy and nice peach flavors.

Favorite wine?
Red, white, rosé and sparkling wine ;) It would probably be the wine I enjoy drinking without even thinking about the wine itself because the company I am having it with is that great. HonestIy I can’t think of my favorite wine from any particular wine maker or region. I enjoy whites which are gently matured in French Barriques or white wines with a nice crisp taste. I love Tempranillo from the Rioja, Chianti and other full bodied reds for example from Chile or the South of France. I think it also depends on the season, the mood and the occasion. I discovered that taste is actually an ongoing process which is constantly changing almost like evolution. However, that’s what I love about wine…its so versatile and there is always something new to discover.

What you like best about being in the Okanagan?
Besides the beautiful drive next to the lake and vineyards every morning on my way to work it would be: new impressions and experiences in a different culture. It’s a great privilege to live and work at a place where people go for holidays because it is that awesome. I really appreciate being here and the best: It feels like holidays.

What you miss most from home besides your family?
Friends!

What do you hope to learn from your experience at Blue Mountain Winery?
To clear up some clichés about Canadian (BC) wines when I am back home. Canada is mostly pictured with hockey, the Rockies, and forests but not with wine and if it was wine then its ice wine. Discovering a new wine region and specially one that is not very famous in Germany and Europe is a great opportunity. I hope to learn more about different and innovative marketing tools and activities being used and to experience Canadian customer needs.

What do you hope to be doing 5 years from now?
Still enjoying the wine business as much as the first day I decided to get into it.
To provide people with sparkling wines they enjoy.

Winemaker anywhere in the world that you most admire and why?
My brother. For the passion and ideas he puts into producing our own sparkling wine.

Favorite wine memory?
Les vins de Gérard Depardieu ''Le Bien Décidé'' Aniane Rouge in the Summer of 2011 in Aniane

Sep 4, 2013 at 12:00 PM Permalink

Inside the Tasting Room: An Outsider's Perspective

The tasting room at Blue Mountain is a place that from a visitor’s perspective possesses a sort of mystical quality. With its high ceilings, and windows looking out to the infamous view over Vaseux Lake and McIntyre Bluff, it feels totally removed from my normal reality. In short, it's a beautiful place to come and taste some nice wines, but it is also a beehive of activity — most of which happens oblivious to people like me who normally spend their time in front of the tasting bar, gazing out the windows, and sipping my way into an ethereal wine high.

Recently I awoke from that wine daydream when an invitation was extended by Christie to come work a shift in the Blue Mountain tasting room to see what really goes on in a typical Saturday. As a more-or-less behind the scenes marketing and social media consultant for the winery, my inner wine geek jumped at the chance to get my hands dirty so to speak.

Right from the get go I had to question my own sanity for accepting this temporary role! I am exaggerating of course, but from my first step onto the tasting room floor everything was more complicated and busy than I could ever have expected.

The first visitors in for the day were tasting with a fairly intense looking notebook filled with detailed observations about each wine, and their questions were nothing short of expert. It was only 11am and I was already well out of my depth.

Julie, who is a regular host in the tasting room, acted as my mentor for the day and upon seeing the look of bewilderment on my face, smartly sent me to the back room to deal with dishwasher and glass polishing duties.

While I've loaded and unloaded many a dishwasher in my day, it became apparent that I was not actually that great at this. The sheer number of tasting glasses that get used in a day creates a constant need for glasses to be cleaned and polished. While I was thorough, I noticed that I worked about half the speed of Julie. When it came time to carry the glasses I could carry maybe four or five at best, Julie can carry twice this amount — my technique is clearly lacking.

After several rounds of dishwasher duty, I find myself back in the tasting room where I am running boxes of wine from the warehouse to the front as the supply levels dwindle in front. Also, with the number of white wines that Blue Mountain tastes it's always important to have the supply fridge stocked with the next few rounds of Sparkling Brut, Pinot Blanc, etc., so that the visitors can enjoy their wine tastings at the correct temperature. I'm breaking a sweat, but this is apparently normal.

Finally, just after lunch, the tasting room erupts into pandemonium…at least for me.

While I'm still sweating, Julie is looking quite calm dealing with the four groups of five or so that have just shown up. I see a chance to make myself useful, and bring glasses to the waiting folk and start pouring some wines in the small groups that have formed while waiting.

By this point I have become fully aware that about all I can do competently is be a good host, tell some bad jokes, and keep people happy, which in some sense is what wine is really all about — fun times, good people, and good conversation — simple moments. Still, I’m looking over at Julie for approval as I’m starting to realize that things are a bit different on this side of the bar.

Around mid afternoon I finally start to hit my stride, and this whole tasting room adventure is becoming less stressful and much more fun. The sheer variety of people that come into the tasting room is fascinating, and there are literally people from all over the world that come to visit. Older folk, younger folk, wine connoisseurs, and newbies, that all share a common interest in wine.

Everything is going swimmingly until the barrage of technical questions begin in my sidebar tasting group. First a question about battonage, then carbonic maceration, then electric fencing in the vineyard, then Methode Traditionnelle champagne making, then about French Oak and forests in the nether regions of France, then about vineyard microclimate, then about corks vs. screw caps, then about…well, you get the idea. Thankfully by this point Blue Mountain's winemaker Matt Mavety has stepped into the tasting room and is able to answer all of these inquiries in great depth.

By the end of the day my feet are tired, I’ve talked to a couple hundred people, and I’m starting to wonder where I left my half-eaten sandwich. Perhaps Nikita or Chablis the vineyard dogs ate it while I wasn't looking.

Over the course of the day I had memorized most of the information available on the back of the bottle, and also picked up a lot of interesting knowledge from Matt & Julie. Most importantly though, it was a fun day for both me and hopefully for the people I had the opportunity to chat with.

While it was a completely humbling experience, I come away from this with a great appreciation for how much there is to know about wine, and the level to which many wine drinkers really want to learn about the craft of winemaking.

Next time I'm in for a tasting I will have an understanding of just how hectic things can be in these summer months, and will appreciate the knowledge of those behind the bar much more. Who knows, I may even moonlight on the other side of the tasting room again again if the good folk at Blue Mountain will let me.

The stories and happy visitors made for a hectically satisfying day!

Chris Stenberg is a guest contributor to the Blue Mountain Winery blog.

By day he is a media producer and online marketing consultant to the winery, and has spent a good deal of time around the wine industry in the Okanagan, but still considers himself a humble student, learning as much as he can one glass at a time.

Jul 18, 2012 at 3:40 PM Permalink