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Cheese in British Columbia - Village Cheese

The Village Cheese Company is a micro cheese plant based on the estate winery concept in Armstrong, BC. Their old fashion good times atmosphere will return you to a time when life was relaxed and fun. A time when delicious cheese was as close as your local dairy. When butter on your table was churned from field fresh cream just hours earlier. When a dip in the old swimming hole couldn't beat a scoop of luscious homemade ice cream.

Wine and Cheese Pairings:

Pinot Gris - A mild cheddar is a good partner for this crisp, lively wine.  Enjoy a fresh salad, and your mom's home made grilled cheese on hearty baked bread for lunch. It doesn't get any better.

NV Brut - The expression is bubbles go with everything. In this case a nice sharp parmesan crumbled on a cheese board with some crostini's just out of the oven.

The Village Cheese Company
3475 Smith Drive
Armstrong BC, VOE 1B1
Phone: 250-546-8651
Fax: 250-546-8659
vcheese@villagecheese.com

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Mon to Fri 8:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Sunday 9:00 am to 4:30pm

May 29, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars Reserve Wines

In 2013, Blue Mountain re-packaged their Estate wines.  Wanting to focus more on being 100% Estate grown the new labels reflect the importance of place celebrating the extraordinary view from Blue Mountain facing south down the Okanagan Valley towards McIntyre Bluff.  These wines were formerly called cream label and are now called Estate wines.  In 2014, the first of the Reserve wine re-packaging will be introduced.  These are the former Stripe Label wines.

The Reserve wines are made from the following process.  There are 10 to 13 lots of Reserve Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown on site, each with its own unique make up of clones and clone combinations. Each lot is harvested separately and then aged in either barrel or tank seperately.   The wine produced from these individual lots are then tasted blind and 2 or 3 lots are chosen that become the Reserve Wine.  The blend of those 2 or 3 lots is then tasted against back vintages of Blue Mountain wines to maintain consistency.  The wines are then aged for an additional year and a half in French Oak Barrels before they are released giving them greater complexity, structure and ageablility.

In early May, Blue Mountain released the 2011 vintage of the Reserve Pinot Gris, Reserve Chardonnay and a small amount of the Reserve Pinot Noir.

Here are the labels you may be familiar with alongside their new replacements.

Cream Label is now known as Estate Wines:

Stripe Label is now known as Reserve Wines:

May 26, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

International Chardonnay Day - May 22, 2014

May 22nd, 2014 is Chardonnay Day, an annual celebration where tasters and tweeters around the world discuss the virtues of our favourite grape varietal. The conversation takes place over 24 hours, all through the day, regardless of where in the world you’re located.  There are meetups and tweetups and Taste & Tweets – join in on Twitter at #chardday.  Better still drop in and see us – we’re toasting Chardonnay Day all day long.

Receive free shipping in BC on your online orders, placed between May 19th and May 25th, that include at least one bottle of the 2012 Blue Mountain Estate Chardonnay or 2011 Blue Mountain Reserve Chardonnay.

Use Promotional Code : CHARDDAY2014

May 19, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

Shelter Restaurant, Tofino BC

Shelter restaurant in Tofino offers the basics - food, wine, shelter - at its best. Shelter combines a sophisticated seasonal menu with a relaxed attitude and panoramic view.

At Shelter Restaurant they use local, organic ingredients and ethically raised, all-natural meats whenever possible. The salmon, halibut, and prawns are caught by Tofino's fisherman.  The poultry is free run and farmed on Vancouver Island. Shelter offers hormone free, grass-fed beef, as well as anti-biotic and hormone free pork, including bacon from the Fraser Valley.

Located behind the restaurant is a garden they have started in 2010 that supplies produce and fresh herbs to the kitchen and bar for many months of the year. In addition, they have implemented an extensive two-tier composting program as well as a rainwater catchment system that helps reduce their dependency on the delicate municipal water source.

Shelter aims to minimize their global footprint and are happy to be able to work with like-minded suppliers. With the help of the Tofino Ucluelet Culinary Guild, they are consistently moving forward in the world of sustainability and local cuisine. "After all there is no more a gracious host than one who shares with their guests that which their habitat has provided"

Chef Matthew Kane has provided a great Pan Roasted Spring Salmon, roasted garlic emulsion, marinated asparagus & gnocchi recipe to pair with Blue Mountain Chardonnay. "To pair with the Blue Mountain Chardonnay, I have chosen a very springtime dish to compliment it’s crispness, but also chose to add some richness to the dish to compliment its buttery finish. The cream in this recipe lends really well to the hints of vanilla found in this light Chardonnay", Chef Matthew Kane - Shelter Restaurant, Tofino.

Shelter Restaurant
601 Campbell Street
Tofino, BC
250-725-3353
 

May 15, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

Changing Seasons in the Vineyard at Blue Mountain, Okanagan Falls

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer at Blue Mountain Vineyard overlooking McIntyre Bluff to the south.  Which season will you visit the Okanagan this year?

Here are some of our favourite photographs of the four seasons.

   Fall at Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars

Winter at Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars

by Gordon Hartley

Spring at Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars

Summer at Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars

by Andrea Johnson Photography

May 13, 2014 at 10:33 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

Kelowna Restaurants

Here are a few of our picks for places to eat in Kelowna:

Raudz - get there early, they don't take reservations unless you have a party of 8 or more and the place is full by 5:30pm Or try their new offering Micro, just a couple doors down towards Bernard Ave.

Waterfront Grill - one of the most talented Chef's in our country. We are fortunate to have Mark Filitow in the sunny Okanagan.  The food is authentically local and unique to the valley.

Bouchons - An elegant French bistro in the heart of Kelowna, incredible flavours, extensive wine list.  Treat yourself to our bubbly by the glass.

La Bussola- Classic Italian for over 25 years.  Great wine list.

The Eldorado - one of the original hotels on the water, historic and probably one of the best patio's on the lake.  Join them for Sunday Brunch

Cabana - If you just want to head out with friends and enjoy a fun night out this place is always ready to party.  Great food, great wine, bring your great friends!

Smack Dab- The newly named restaurant at Manteo Resort is modern and cool.  There is something for everyone on the menu and the patio provides some of the best people watching anywhere.

Fixx Cafe -  Fresh, tasty, extensive menu with something for everyone.  Great for lunch or dinner in the mission area of Kelowna.

Mabui - Authentic Japanese , great for sharing plates and genuine hospitality.

Poppadoms- authentic Indian  with all the ingredients on the menu being sourced locally except for the spices. Cozy atmosphere, friendly staff.

Joey's - Casual dining with a global theme.  Enjoy our Gamay Noir.

Of course there are many other great restaurants throughout the Okanagan Valley.

If you have any other suggestions, or if there is somewhere that you've particularly enjoyed, please feel free to comment below!

May 7, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

Time Lapse of Blue Mountain Vineyard looking south over McIntyre Bluff

Time Lapse of the vineyard at Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars looking south over McIntyre Bluff. Created by our 2013 Tasting Room Intern, David Schafer.

The Blue Mountain tasting room is open May - October, 7 days a week from 11am - 5pm.

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars
2385 Allendale Road
Okanagan Falls, British Columbia V0H 1R2 Canada
Tel: (250) 497-8244
email: bluemountain@bluemountainwinery.com

Tasting room hours:
Monday - Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm  
 

May 2, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink