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A Celebration of Okanagan Bubbles with Joy Road Catering at Linden Gardens

On July 18th we were invited to pour our NV Brut Sparkling wine at an inaugural and exclusive Sparkling Wine-only event. This Gatsby-themed event got hosted by Joy Road Catering at Linden Gardens in Kaleden with pours from some of the Okanagan's favourite sparkling wine producers and food pairings from Joy Road.

Sumac Ridge Stellar's Jay
                -
Gruyere Gougiere with House Cured Prosciutto
Herbed Truffle Omelette

Therapy Fizziotherapy
                -
Spicy Thai Cucumber Salad with Thai Basil, Humpback Shrimp, Peanuts & Cilantro

Blue Mountain NV Brut "Gold Label"
                 -
Wild Salmon Caviar with Crème Fraiche Chantilly & Chives
Purple Potato Chips

Bella Sparkling Rosé
        -
Pissaladiere
Puff Pastry with Heirloom Tomatoes Anchovy & Caramelized Onion

Elephant Island Methode Champenoise Sparkling Wine
              -
Pork Belly Steam Buns with Apple, Cabbage & Picked Pink Onions

8th Generation Confidence
             -
Salt Cod Fritters with Local Espelette Aioli

Haywire The Bub
         -
Browned Butter Halibut Cheek
Cauliflower, Fried Capers, Lemon & Parsley

Orofino Muscato Fizzante
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Freshly Shucked Outlandish Shellfish Oysters with Strawberry & Cracked Black Pepper Mignonette

Jul 24, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

Tickleberry's, Okanagan Falls

A visit to Okanagan Falls is not complete without a stop at the end of your wine touring day at the colourful and busy Tickleberry's on the highway.  Established in 1990 by the Hoy family, Tickleberry's makes it's own chocolate, fudge, kettle korn and stock over 50 flavours of ice cream.  The line ups can sometimes be long but on a hot summer day a nice cool treat makes all the difference.

Tickleberry's
1207 Main Street
Okanagan Falls
250-497-8862

Jul 10, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

An Evening of Effervescence at Linden Gardens

We invite you to join us on July 18th at Linden Gardens in Kaleden for an "Evening of Effervescence". Get ready for the party of the summer: an art deco celebration of Okanagan Bubbly! 

When is it?
Friday, July 18th from 6:30 - 9:30 with pours from some of your favourite sparkling wine producers Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars, Bella, Sumac Ridge, Therapy Vineyards, Orofino, 8th Generation, Elephant Island & Haywire!

How much is it?
Tickets are $99/person and can be purchased at http://www.joyroadcatering.com/contact.php

Where is it? 
Linden Gardens in Kaleden

Fabulous food pairings by Joy Road Catering.

Costumes are required (think Gastby!) and you'll be glad you dressed up for an elaborate setting of antique cars, food and wine stations hidden throughout the gardens, and vignettes for photo ops from Vintage Origami.

We have put together some clothing ideas on Pinterest, check our Pinterest page for inspiration.

Follow Blue Mountain Winery's board Evening of Effervescence on Pinterest.   

Chef Dana Ewart at Joy Road Catering was on CTV Vancouver on June 9th, 2014 making some tasty bites and telling the big city about the "Evening of Effervescence" event at Linden Gardens, click here to watch the video. Joy Road Catering also got featured on Breakfast Television this past Tuesday and Chef Dana made a delicious asparagus hazelnut pesto.

Come celebrate Okanagan bubbles in style!

Jun 19, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

Okanagan Falls Party in the Park 2014

The Okanagan Falls Winery Association’s annual Party in the Park is back & tickets are on sale now!

Come join us and our neighbouring Okanagan Falls wineries for an authentic Southern-style BBQ dinner prepared by The Chef Instead, live music by local minstrels Uncorked, and wine tasting by 12 Okanagan Falls wineries (Blasted Church Vineyards, Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars, Krāzē Legz Vineyard and Winery, Liquidity Wines, Meyer Family Vineyards, Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery, Painted Rock Estate Winery, See Ya Later Ranch, Stag's Hollow Winery and Vineyard, Topshelf Winery, Wild Goose Vineyards and Winery)

Also, Blue Mountain Winery is giving away 2 tickets to the event. To enter, find your way to our Facebook page, "like" us (please!),  like our post about the Party in the Park event & share it with your friends. Simple!

When is it? 
Friday, July 11th, 2014 from 5pm till 9pm
• 5 to 7 PM taste and learn about each winery’s specialty
• 6:30PM – 9 PM dinner buffet & live music
• Wines by the glass will be available at a nominal fee

How much is it?
Tickets are $50 + tax and can be purchased at the following locations:
• Member winery tasting rooms
• Penticton Visitor Information Centre
• http://www.eventbee.com/v/ofwapartyinthepark2014

Where is it? 
At Kenyon Park in Okanagan Falls (on the shores of Skaha Lake behind the IGA)

Shuttles are available for your convenience
• from Osoyoos & Oliver, contact Landsea Okanagan Tours and Charters
• from Penticton, contact Grape Escapes Wine Tours

Accommodation discounts are offered for your convenience subject to availability
• 12% off rooms at the Ramada Inn and Suites Penticton, email Gord at gm@pentictonramada.com or call 250-492-8926 (mention Okanagan Falls Winery Association or Party in the Park when booking)
• discounted rooms at the Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos, book online or email Courtney Fossett at cfossett@watermarkbeachresort.com

Participants must be 19 years of age or older. For more details on the event check out OFWA.ca

Jun 10, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

Bighorn Ridge Guest House, Okanagan Falls

Bighorn Ridge Guest House is owned by Blue Mountain's lovely neighbours Carla Leinweber and Roger Hawthorne.

Overlooking the most iconic photographed view (same view as Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars) in the South Okanagan sits Bighorn Ridge Guest House on 10 native acres in the Great Basin Desert. The award winning "adobe" styled Guest House is adult-only, pet friendly (with prior approval) and has 2 private suites (accommodating 2 adults per suite) and a common kitchen. Stunning views of sweeping vineyards, hills and Vaseux Lake place you midway between Oliver and Penticton and 45 minutes north of the US border.

Each non-smoking suite has an electric fireplace, A/C, Wi-Fi, flat screen TV, queen size bed and a 3 piece bathroom.  The common area has a fully equipped kitchen with cook-top, microwave, dishwasher and private fridge for each suite.  Not designated as a "bed and breakfast" the common kitchen allows you to prepare your own meals.  Covered outside veranda with common BBQ and private patio for each suite.  Pet friendly with prior approval (no pets allowed unattended in your suite).

Planning a weekend in the Okanagan? We suggest that you book with Bighorn Ridge Guest House, as this is the perfect spot for a getaway.

Click here to make your reservation

Bighorn Ridge
2357 Rolling Hills Rd
Okanagan-Similkameen, 
BC V0H 1R2

Reservation Phone: 1-250-497-8981
Toll Free: 1-866-339-8139
Email: crzretiredok@shaw.ca

Jun 3, 2014 at 10:00 AM Permalink

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

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

Meet Tatjana Peceric, our Cellar Intern from Serbia

How did you become interested in wine?

Although my country Serbia has a long wine tradition, the idea of working in the sector came somewhat later for me. As a member of dance group I have had the opportunity to travel each year to France for a tour. We visited many different wine regions and wine was served each lunch and dinner. And that is when I started understanding wine and how people appreciate and admire it. The choice to work in the wine industry was rather logical and therefore for my Bachelor studies I opted for viticulture and fruit pomology where I found a further profound interest in vine & wine. During my Master studies which I did in France and Germany, I just confirmed my passion for wine, and got the opportunity to broaden my knowledge, experience, travel and discover the beauty of the wine world.

Favourite wine region in the world?

There are so many great wine regions in the world and each of them being so special in its own and unique way. I still need and want to discover more, but if I have to name a single one, at this moment it would be Douro region in Portugal. I was really impressed by its views, vineyards, terraces, river and wine of course.

Favorite grape varietal and why?

My favorite red variety is definitely Pinot Noir! A very delicate grape that needs a lot of attention, but when properly managed it gives great wine and lot of pleasure. It is a very special variety that plays an important role in many sparkling wines, and is also used in red or rose wines. Riesling is another grape variety that I appreciate as it has great acidity which gives wines an aging potential, and it can be used for either very dry or sweet, botrytis styles. Chardonnay is the third variety I prefer, as it can be grown in many different places around the world and can express itself in so many different ways depending on the country, region, terroir or simply winemaking technique.

Favorite wine?

Similar reflection as to the question about grape varieties, as I prefer Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay wines. Besides those I also like some full bodied and more powerful reds such as Bordeaux, Australian Syrah or South African Cabernet Sauvignon. I could always have a glass of good sparkling wine as well. Some indigenous grape varieties could also give very interesting wines and reflect the country from where they come from (think of Eastern Europe...).

What you like best about being in the Okanagan?

Beside wine, I love being outside in the nature and enjoying great views and lakes.

What do you miss most from home besides your family?

As I am already four years studying and travelling in Europe and around the globe, I have become used to being away from home, but in my heart home is never far away. Most of all I miss my boyfriend (coming from the same country and the same town, but currently in France) who is with my family, my biggest support all these years. Of course I miss some of my closest friends as well.

What do you hope to learn from your experience at Blue Mountain Winery?

Besides handling and making great white and red wines of Blue Mountain winery, traditional method of sparkling wine production is something that I am really looking forward to learning even more about in the upcoming period. The winemaker Matt Mavety and his wine and life philosophy and approach to all different situations is something that I really appreciate. I am sure to learn many more things about vine & wine from him and the whole team over the 2014.

What do you hope to be doing 5 years from now?

I would like to travel a bit more to gain more experience and discover other important wine regions in the world. There are three projects where I could see myself in the future and those closely reflect what I am interested in and want to do in my life:

1. Winemaking

2. Wine sensory analysis

3. Sommelier

Winemaker anywhere in the world that you most admire and why?

There is no winemaker that I admire the most. All of them that I have been working with up to now, I admire for some particularity and different reasons. I appreciate a lot their passion, philosophy, and winemaking! Being able to express yourself through wine and in the same time having great results and success is something definitely to admire!

Favorite wine memory?

I love wine tastings and I really enjoy participating in blind tasting. There are always great surprises when you don't see the outside of the bottle, rather just taste what is inside it. Every souvenir from wine cellars, likewise tasting some special or old vintages left a strong impression on me. Traveling around the world, getting to know the regions and their wines, people and wine culture of the country - that is my favorite wine memory and my passion!

Apr 24, 2014 at 9:20 AM Permalink

Okanagan Falls Spring Visitors - Big Horn Sheep

Approximately 100 Bighorn Sheep spend the spring in the Vaseax Lake area and many are found on the slopes and the grassy areas along the drive to Blue Mountain winery.  They are a recovering herd that has bounced back after a pneumonia epidemic that reduced populations throughout the Okanagan in the late 90's.  Known for their large curling horns and the charging they do during mating season these majestic beauties are placid herbivores that live 6 - 15 years.

These are all images of our resident Big Horn sheep here at Blue Mountain.  Should you get any great pictures of the sheep on your way to visit us please submit them to bluemountain@bluemountainwinery.com and we will try and post them on our facebook page.  To help you identify what you are seeing, here is a sketch of the various horn shapes as the sheep age.

Classification diagram for Bighorn Sheep from Geist 1971 (Mountain Sheep: a study in behaviour and evolution)

For more information:  South Okanagan Bighorn Sheep Inventory 2013 

A big thank you to Aaron Reid, R. P. Bio Wildlife Biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations.

Apr 10, 2014 at 9:00 AM Permalink

Cheese in British Columbia - Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan

Carmelis is a family owned boutique dairy, which takes pride in the uncompromising approach taken to ensure the unique quality of its cheeses. The cheeses are produced on a small scale which enables them to closely monitor each and every cheese while placing an emphasis on their place’s design and its integration into nature, the landscape around them, and the quality of the environment.

Located near Okanagan Lake, some 12 km south of downtown Kelowna, close to the entrance to Okanagan Mountain Park. We desire to impart a sense of the breathtaking views of the Okanagan Valley.

Wine and Cheese Pairings:

Pinot Noir & Misty - The ash coating on this cheese is bold and earthy but still creamy.  Enjoy with some dried Okanagan cherries in the cooler months to bring back memories of summer.

Pinot Blanc & Chabichou - This mild, tangy cheese in its youth would be a brilliant accompaniment to Pinot Blanc on a summer's day on a deck overlooking the lake.  Include some nuts and a little apricot jelly and you have the recipe for a perfect afternoon.

Pinot Gris & Lior - Nibble away at this sharp and tart cheese with a sweetness throughout.  Grate onto salad and enjoy a long luxurious lunch. You deserve it!

Carmelis
170 Timberline Road
Kelowna, BC, Canada
Phone: 250-764-9033
Email: info@carmelisgoatcheese.com

Hours of operation:
March 1st till April 30th: 7 days a week from 11:00am to 5:00pm
May 1st till October 31st: 7 days a week from 10:00am to 6:00pm
November/December/January/February: Closed

 

Mar 25, 2014 at 11:00 AM Permalink