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Cheese in British Columbia - Little Qualicum Cheeseworks
Nestled in the cool moist climate of Vancouver Island in the shadow of Mt. Arrowsmith, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks produce a selection of hand-crafted cheeses to delight the senses. Using the highest quality milk from their own herd of Holstein, Brown Swiss and Canadienne dairy cows, they have an artisan cheese to suit any occasion, meal, or just a light fresh snack.
Visit them at the farm! Watch the cheese makers in action and learn a bit about how they make cheese. Take a self-guided tour of the farm and enjoy a stroll along the walking trails. Stop by the Farmgate Store for samples of all their cheeses and stay for a picnic. And you just can’t leave without visiting all the animals: cows, calves, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, bunnies and Carl (the llama)!
Here are some cheese and wine pairings we think you will enjoy:
Pinot Gris - Pair with their best-selling Brie. It has a creamy texture, velvet white rind, with mushroomy overtones that works beautifully with the richness of the Pinot Gris and the acidity brings out the creaminess of the brie. The little wooden board, rescued from the burn pile of a local guitar manufacturer, can live again as a coaster.
Pinot Blanc - Caerphilly, Famous as the key ingredient in Welsh “Rarebit”, it is a good cheese for sauces as it toasts well. As a table cheese it is characterized by a buttery tang. Perfect for the richness of Pinot Blanc.
Gamay Noir - Rathtrevor - Inspired by Swiss Gruyere and named after the local provincial park. Its careful ripening process and long aging make for a fine table cheese that pairs well with fruits, nuts, and a good wine. This cheese will compliment the juicy berry characteristics that come through in the Gamay.
Little Qualicum Cheeseworks
Open daily year-round from 9am – 5pm!
403 Lowrys Rd, Parksville, BC V9P 2B5
(250) 954-3931
Dec 30, 2014 at 10:00 AM
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Staff Selections: Christmas Holiday Traditions
A few of our Staff members shared their favourite Christmas Holiday Traditions - Dinner Ideas and Wine pairings!
Christie Mavety & Jason Michiel
"Jason Michiel is the chef in our household and therefore I would like to add his input…Our tradition on Christmas eve is to have Cassoulet and pair it with a Beaujolais Cru, Daniel Bouland Morgon", Christie.
Recipe: Smoked Sausage Cassoulet
Wine pairing: Beaujolais Cru, Daniel Bouland Morgon
Ernst & Chantelle Bruwer
"Christmas in South Africa is in the middle of summer, so Christmas tradition would be to enjoy Cold Cuts - think Ham, Leg of Lamb and lots of salads for Christmas Eve or for Christmas lunch. Since we will be Celebrating Christmas in Canada this year, we will make a traditional South African Chicken Pie (Meraai se Paai), Roasted Potatoes and Veggies. Our wines of choice would be Hamilton Russel Chardonnay, Hemel en Aarde Valley, South Africa or Blue Mountain's Estate Chardonnay", Chantelle.
Recipe: Chicken Pie ("Meraai se Pie")
Wine pairing: Hamilton Russell Chardonnay or Blue Mountain Chardonnay
Julie and Roger Planiden
" A holiday tradition in our family is to have lobster for Christmas Eve (which happens to be my birthday) We always pair this with a rich buttery Chardonnay. While Roger is preparing dinner we always enjoy a glass or two of bubble. Some of our favourite chardonnays are: MerSoleil, Rombauer, La Crema Chardonnay" , Julie
Bill Adams and Petra
"For many years this French Canadian classic was prepared by my Grandmother for our family dinner on Christmas Day, and it is a tradition that I still carry on. Chef David Lee has added venison for a slight twist, which provides a more “gamey” taste to compliment this rustic dish", Bill
Recipe: Venison and Pork Tourtière
Wine pairing: Blue Mountain Gamay Noir, Quails Gate Old Vines Foch Reserve or Pfaffenheim ‘Steinert’ Grand Cru Gewürztraminer
Do you have Holiday traditions? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Happy Holidays!
Dec 23, 2014 at 10:00 AM
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Sparkling for the Holidays
The holidays are the perfect time for sparkling. Think Christmas morning, New Year's Eve or any of the other great reasons to give or receive a pressure packed bottle of deliciousness. In 2012, I wrote a blog about Sparkling wine and how troubled I was that many customers felt that sparkling, or bubbly was only for anniversaries or New Year's Eve. See www.bluemountainwinery.com/blog/Sparkling I am pleased to report visitors to the winery seem to be reading the blog and acting on some of the suggestions that were made. People are now drinking more bubble for no reason at all. In addition, in the last few years we have had more wineries in the Okanagan starting to produce sparkling wines.
Recent additions to the bubble scene in the valley including "The Bub" from Okanagan Crush Pad, Natural Brut Sparkling Riesling from Tantalus (sold out), Stoneboat Piano Sparkling, Bella Sparkling Chardonnay and Sparkling Gamay Noir, 8th Generation Confidence. And the grapevine swirl's with other producers starting sparkling production.
A couple of recent reviews of some great holiday sparkling have been provided by Beppi Crosariol from the Globe and Mail, Anthony Gismondi from the Vancouver Sun, Christoper Waters from Canoe.ca, Darren Oleksyn from Calgary Herald and the Wine Align team. Be sure to check out their lists before you head to your nearest retail outlet.
Maclean's magazine even did a feature on the sparkling wine industry in Canada last year and slowly it seems wine lovers everywhere are starting to realize that they can enjoy sparkling any day of the week for any reason or no reason at all. We all have lots to be thankful for in our lives so be sure to have a bottle or two on hand for those days when life needs celebrating.
Cheers!
Dec 16, 2014 at 10:00 AM
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12 days of Christmas contest
To celebrate a great year we’re toasting with a "12 days of Christmas" giveaway! We will feature one Blue Mountain wine or gift for each of the next 12 days along with the perfect holiday occasion to enjoy them or ideas on who to share them with.
To win you have to share, like, comment, tweet as much as you can over the next 12 days. One of our dedicated friends will win the dozen!! The details on how to enter are at the bottom of this blog (Enter the contest daily). Check back daily for special offers. Limited to British Columbian residents. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below.
Day 1: Blue Mountain 2013 Pinot Gris
Price: $20.90
***SPECIAL OFFER! - Order a 12 bottle case of our 2013 Pinot Gris on Monday, December 1st and receive FREE shipping in British Columbia!! USE Promo code: PGRISFREESHIP
Review: Some Okanagan Valley Pinot Gris are fermented and aged in oak barrels and others see no oak at all. Both styles can produce outstanding versions of BC's most planted white variety (2011 acreage report). Blue Mountain successfully combines the best of both worlds with 60% of the fruit fermented and aged in stainless steel and the remaining 40% in new-to-3 year old French oak. The blended wine brings together lively, citrus, apple, kiwi and white peach aromas and flavours with beautiful, rounded characters of orange blossom, wheat, vanilla, light spice and just a hint of warm brioche in the background. A lemon/lime acidic kick keeps the finish crisp and clean. A delightful Pinot Gris to be enjoyed now, or over the next 2-3 years. Drink now-2017.
Score 90 - Liam Carrier, iconscores.ca, October 2014
Pairing Suggestion: Apricot Glazed Ham
Where to find: Vancouver/ BC Interior - winery direct / follow this link to find stores in your area, Alberta: Jwebb Wine Merchant
Day 2: Blue Mountain Sparkling Stopper
This beautiful Sparkling Wine Stopper preserves the fizz and flavour in sparkling wines for several days after opening by creating an airtight seal.
***SPECIAL OFFER! We are including a FREE Blue Mountain stopper with the purchase of a case of Blue Mountain wine consisting of at least one bottle of Sparkling, ordered on December 2nd. Add #bluemtnbubbly to your order notes.
Day 3: Blue Mountain 2010 Brut Rosé R.D.
Price: $33.00
Review: This terrific bubbly is mostly Pinot Noir with a bit of Chardonnay and gets the balance between complexity and freshness right. It's a beautiful wine to enjoy with oysters, seafood or even your festive turkey dinner.
Christopher Waters, canoe.ca, November 2014
Articles: Click here to read "10 sparkling wines for the holidays" by Christopher Waters via Canoe.ca
Where to find: Vancouver/ BC Interior - winery direct, Alberta - Jwebb Wine Merchant
Day 4: Jewels of the Okanagan by Mike Biden
Price: $20.00
This glossy coffee-table book showcases 80 pages of Mike's stunning photographs of the Okanagan and features the iconic Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars view on the cover.
To purchase contact Mike Biden at mikebiden@shaw.ca / 250-486-2112 or follow this link to purchase your copy online.
Day 5: Blue Mountain 2006 Reserve Brut
Price: $39.90
Review: Exceptional, complex, silky. Recently disgorged (RD) refers to the fact that this sparkling aged on its lees to add complexity, until just months prior to release. Renowned for elegant and often intricate bubbles, this one is no exception. Made from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a splash of Pinot Gris, it suggests patisserie aromas of warm buttery croissants and nutty brioche slathered in pear compote alongside golden apples, field berries, orange zest and white flowers. Expect a fine bead (bubbles) and a mosaic of fruit, exotic citrus, nuts and bready toasted flavours. It is silky and undeniably elegant with exceptional power balanced by mouthwatering acidity." Daenna Van Mulligen, winediva.ca, October 2014
Where to find: Vancouver/ BC Interior - winery direct or follow this link to our blog on Retail locations where you can buy Blue Mountain Vintage Sparkling wines the Lower Mainland, Whistler and Vancouver ; Alberta: Jwebb Wine Merchant
Day 6: Blue Mountain Corkscrew
At Blue Mountain we use natural corks as the closure for all our wines. Read more on 'How Wine Corks are Chosen' on our blog. Are you a corkscrew collector? Feel free to share a photo of your corkscrew collection, email it to bluemountain@bluemountainwinery.com and we will post it on our facebook page.
***SPECIAL OFFER! We are including a FREE Blue Mountain corkscrew with the purchase of a case of Blue Mountain wine, ordered on December 6th. Add #bluemtncorkscrew to your order notes.
Day 7: Blue Mountain 2013 Pinot Blanc
Price: $17.90
Review: We loved last year and edition 28 may be even better. Lively juicy fun and fresh on the nose and palate this wine is really over delivering. Two clones are behind this 50/50 mix of wine raised in wood and stainless steel. Love the lively citrus, mineral, green peach flavours flecked with guava and pear. Any type of shellfish works here and I’m thinking spaghetti vongole is the perfect match.
Score 89 - Anthony Gismondi - gismondionwine.com, September 2014
Pairing Suggestion: Butter Popcorn
Where to find: Vancouver/ BC Interior - follow this link to find stores in your area, Alberta: Jwebb Wine Merchant
Day 8: Blue Mountain tote bag
A of bottle of wine (or sparkling wine) is always welcome, whether for the hostess, for your secret Santa or for under the Christmas tree. Make it extra special by choosing a creative way of wrapping the bottle of wine.
Check out our Pinterest page -we've created a Pinterest board with some inspiration. For creative gift basket ideas - check Julianna Hayes' article on "Getting creative with gift baskets" via The Daily Courier.
***SPECIAL OFFER! We are including a FREE Blue Mountain Tote bag with the purchase of a case of Blue Mountain wine, ordered on December 8th.
Day 9: Blue Mountain 2007 Blanc de Blancs
Price: $39.90
Review: "Bone-dry and razor-sharp with acidity, this all-chardonnay beauty displays great depth of flavour, hinting at lemon pastry, green apple, honey and classic champagne-style tangy-toasty autolytic character. www.bluemountainwinery.com".
Score 93 - Beppi Crosariol, globeandmail.com, November 2014.
Articles: Click here to read "Top-notch wines just in time for the holidays" by Beppi Crosariol via The Globe and Mail.
Where to find: Vancouver/ BC Interior - winery direct or follow this link to our blog on Retail locations where you can buy Blue Mountain Vintage Sparkling wines the Lower Mainland, Whistler and Vancouver ; Alberta: Jwebb Wine Merchant
Day 10: Blue Mountain Key Chain by Creative Corkworks
Unique Key Chain made with love by Creative Corkworks with upcycled Blue Mountain wine corks.
To purchase contact Raelene Rozander at creativecorkworks@gmail.com, order on Etsy or visit the Penticton Visitors Centre. To see more of Creative Corkworks' products visit their facebook page.
***SPECIAL OFFER! We are including a FREE Blue Mountain key chain with the purchase of a case of Blue Mountain wine, ordered on December 10th. Add #bluemtnkeychain to your order notes.
Day 11: Blue Mountain NV Brut
Price: $23.90
Review: "Just released in Ontario Vintages stores and also available direct from the winery, this non-vintage bubbly from one of Canada’s top Champagne-style producers is superb. A blend of mostly pinot noir with chardonnay and pinot gris, it’s bone-dry, rich and creamy, with a sherry-like tang and bread-like autolysis essence. Wonderfully yeasty, honeyed depth; $23.90 direct from the B.C. winery bluemountainwinery.com."
Score 93 - Beppi Crosariol, globeandmail.com, October 2014
Articles: Click here to read "Salut: Sparklers that shine" by Anthony Gismondi via The Vancouver Sun.
Where to find: Vancouver/ BC Interior - winery direct or follow this link to find stores in your area; Alberta: Jwebb Wine Merchant, Ontario - LCBO Vintages
Day 12: Okanagan Valley British Columbia 2015 Calendar
Price: $14.99
This beautifully photographed 12-month 12" x 12" wall calendar of the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia features Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars on the cover. To purchase follow this link.
CONGRATULATIONS to Cathi Shaw, the winner of our 12 days of Christmas contest!
Dec 12, 2014 at 10:30 AM
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Retail locations - Where to buy Blue Mountain Vintage Sparkling wines
A of bottle of sparkling wine is always welcome over the holidays, whether for the hostess, for your secret Santa or for under the Christmas tree. We have recently released our vintage sparkling wines - 2010 Brut Rosé R.D., 2006 Reserve Brut R.D. and 2007 Blanc de Blancs R.D.
Are you looking for a retail location in the Lower Mainland, Whistler or Victoria where you can purchase some Blue Mountain vintage sparkling wines over the holidays? Our agent, Christine Fawcett at Keystone Fine Wines provided a great list of locations that will most likely have our Sparkling wines available this December.
Lower Mainland:
220 16th Street, West Vancouver
#1-4573 Chateau Blvd. Whistler
3045 Main St, Vancouver
2448 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
Everything Wine - North Vancouver
998 Marine Dr, North Vancouver
15735 Croydon Dr, Surrey
Firefly Fine Wines and Ales – Cambie
2857 Cambie Street, Vancouver
2658 Granville Street, Vancouver
Kitsilano Wine Cellar
2239 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
1633 Manitoba, Vancouver
Liberty Wine Merchants - Commecial Drive
1622 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Liberty Wine Merchants - Granville Island
1660 Johnston Street, Vancouver
Liberty Wine Merchants - Park and Tilford
560-333 Brooksbank Ave, North Vancouver
Liberty Wine Merchants - Park Royal
704 Main Street, Park Royal SE Mall West Vancouver
Liberty Wine Merchants - Point Grey
4583 W 10th Avenue, Vancouver
1034 Davie St. Vancouver
990 Seymour St., Vancouver
Suite 111 - 960 Quayside Drive, New Westminister
Sunshine Hills Liquor Store
6439 120 St, Delta
855 Burrard Street, Vancouver
IC 900 Main Street Village at Park Royal
1450 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver
5503 West Blvd, Kerrisdale
Yaletown Liquor Store
1116 Hamilton St, Vancouver
Vancouver Island:
230 Cook St., Victoria
#131-2401 Millstream Road
3201 Shelbourne Street, Victoria
653 Pandora Ave, Victoria
Email us a picture of Blue Mountain on your dinner table this holiday to bluemountain@bluemountainwinery.com and we will feature it on our facebook page!
Dec 5, 2014 at 10:00 AM
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