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Canadian Culinary Championships 2013

Wishing Waterfront Restaurant and Wine Bar, Mark Filatow the best of luck this weekend at the Canadian Culinary Championships.  Mark is representing BC this year. Check out this great interview with Chef Filatow.

Good luck to all the other visiting Chefs from across Canada!  The Canadian Culinary Championships will be held in Kelowna until 2015 so if you missed out on tickets this year make sure you book early for next year.

Photo: Waterfront Wines
Waterfront Restaurant and Wine Bar owner, chef and sommelier Mark Filatow is ready for the Canadian Culinary Championships.

Feb 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM Permalink

Sparkling Wine

“I only drink Champagne when I’m happy, and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company, I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I am not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty.” (Lily Bollinger)

Working at a winery that makes sparkling wine is one of the best parts of my job, it is also one of the most challenging. In the wine shop, on a daily basis I hear our visitors remark that our sparkling would be great for New Year’s or their anniversary…and it would be. But the message I feel I am always trying to share is that sparkling, or champagne or prosecco or any other bubbly is a wine.  Despite the fact that it contains 49 million bubbles it deserves to be treated like any other wine.  You wouldn’t think twice about opening a white or a red wine any day of the week.  So why not open a bottle of sparkling on a Thursday, because it’s almost the weekend or your power bill arrived and it was either higher, or better yet lower than you expected.  Sparkling is not just for special occasions it is for everyday and we all need to drink more bubble for no reason.

Everyone says they have a bottle that they are saving for a special occasion.  My advice is don’t wait for that special occasion, they don’t always happen like you expect. Instead open the bottle of sparkling and make the occasion special. You can always replace the bottle with another for that far off special day. At our house every gathering starts with bubble, usually sparkling or prosecco.  We find it gets everyone into a celebratory mode regardless of the occasion.

Sometimes I wonder if people get hung up on not having the right glassware.  Not everyone has a bunch of champagne flutes in their china cabinet nor does everyone want the hassle of washing them every time.  Enjoy your sparkling in a regular wine glass.  You will be amazed at how much more of the aromatics of the wine come through and it will take away the stuffy feeling of having to enjoy it in a flute.  Don’t get me wrong flutes lend something to the celebration but they are not a must have to enjoy sparkling.

This year make a New Year’s Resolution when you are toasting with friends or family with your celebratory glass of sparkling in hand to drink more bubbly for no reason.  I guarantee it will be the easiest resolution you have ever tried to keep.  And remember life is a celebration!

Cheers!

P.S. If you want to know more about how sparkling is made watch this great video. /blog/how-sparkline-wine-is-made

Nov 20, 2012 at 8:02 AM Permalink

A very special helper in Okanagan Falls

Every year for the past 22 plus years there has been a familiar face at Blue Mountain Vineyard during harvest.  This person is a very special member of our harvest team and although not paid for his many hours of labour, he is appreciated for his genuine heart and the great personality that he brings to Blue Mountain.   Hank Stefaniak although technically a member of the family has been coming to Blue Mountain Vineyard faithfully every year for as long as there have been vintages. 

Living on the Island those early sojourns were sometimes short as for a while he was still working in Education as an administrator and educator. In the beginning 4 day long weekends were all he could get away for but eventually he voluntarily chose to book vacation and spend his week or two of holidays in Okanagan Falls.  Since he retired in 1997 he manages a full month or more whenever possible. 

This year I had the opportunity to meet Hank and to chat with him about his experiences during various harvests at Blue Mountain Vineyard.

What are some of the jobs you have done while you were helping out with the harvesting?  In the early days I photographed many of the days during production and much of the construction and planting that was happening.  These pictures were used for promotional pieces and marketing mainly.  (Hank was the very first person to photograph the iconic image of McIntyre Bluff that graces the labels of all Blue Mountain Wines.)

More recently I did spend a little time in the vineyard pruning. I have been mainly in the cellar since, hosing down bins, driving the forklift, barrel curing, topping up barrels, cleaning and rinsing tanks, what I call grunt work!  In terms of the wine making and testing....not so much. 

Do you have a favorite job in the cellar?  Not really, I just do whatever needs to be done although pump overs, climbing ladders and hauling skins were more fun when I was younger. 

Anything you dislike about working harvest?  Wasps

Most memorable harvest and why?  1996 ...it was super cold and Ian and Jane had the crush pad set up behind the building.  There was a makeshift bin dump and I was scraping berries in with my arm and rain was pouring down off the gutters everywhere.  It wasn’t bad just freezing cold. 

Thankfully this year was the complete opposite and Hank got some lovely long warm days on the crush pad.  On behalf of everyone at Blue Mountain Vineyard thanks for all you do Hank and all you have done in the many years that you have been coming to help out with harvest.  Your smile, great work ethic and sense of humour are greatly appreciated.  See you next year! 

Oct 23, 2012 at 11:00 AM Permalink

Fall Wine Festival Okanagan Falls Style

The Okanagan Fall Wine Festival is fast approaching and events are selling out on a daily basis.  If you haven’t already booked where you are staying and what you are attending now is a great time to make those decisions. 

In Okanagan Falls we are gearing up for a number of events at local wineries and in the community.  We have some great guest houses to stay at in OK Falls as well the Oliver and Penticton areas are only about a 15 minute drive away. 

Here is an overview of some of the many events taking place in Okanagan Falls over the next couple weeks.

September 29, 2012
Harvest Dinner at Stag’s Hollow - 6pm - SOLD OUT

September 29, 2012
Wild Goose Autumn Barbeque - 12:00 noon

Join the Kruger family and celebrate the wine festival with their annual BBQ.  This event is in celebration of harvest and their newly opened tasting room and covered patio.  There will be live music, great wines and a selection of foods from their BBQ.  Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling the winery.  250-497-8919 www.wildgoosewinery.com

September 29, 2012 - Centennial Park in Okanagan Falls - 8am - 8pm
Wild West Fest

Bring the family to the wild, wild west in Okanagan Falls.  Start with a pancake breakfast and enjoy the Pony Express Parade. Take in the Trading Post Exhibitor Fair or try your luck at the Wild West Bingo Hall.  There is something for everyone including a watermelon crawl and an ice cream slam. www.wildwestfest.ca

October 4, 2012
Harvest WORK DAY & Lunch at Noble Ridge - SOLD OUT

October 4, 2012
Blue Mountain Vineyards Wine Dinner - Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna - 6:30 pm

This is a great opportunity to savour the flavours of the elite wines of Blue Mountain Vineyard. Treat your senses to an evening of the phenomenal wines of Blue Mountain Vineyards which will be perfectly paired with a locally inspired five course culinary creation from Executive Chef Dan Werry and his culinary team. Live musical entertainment. Reservations required . Please contact Ryan Brown or Amber Kisling  at 250-862-3177
www.harvestgolf.com
rbrown@harvestgolf.com

October 6, 2012
The Cat’s Pajamas - Kraze Legs Vineyard and Winery

1920’s Slang Trivia & Wines paired with cheese, chocolate and fare. Event details at http://www.krazelegz.com/news-and-events.html info@krazelegz.com  250-497-6957

Enjoy your Okanagan Fall Wine Festival!

Sep 23, 2012 at 11:00 AM Permalink

Best of the Okanagan

Every year thousands of visitors descend upon the Okanagan Valley looking for that little piece of what many of us take for granted.  We live here and we can visit these places anytime but even within the valley we all have our favorites.  We thought it would be fun to come up with our own list of the best kept secrets in the Okanagan.  So we surveyed a few of our staff and asked them to share the best things about being a local in the Okanagan.  We hope if you are here for a weekend or a week long holiday you will enjoy having a few insider tips on where to go and what to do.

Favorite Place to while away an afternoon?

Julie: On any of the lakes in the valley.
Christoph: Okanagan Beach, Penticton.
Felix: Horseback riding in Summerland.
Christie: The mice

Favorite Ice Cream flavour and where you go to get it?
Julie: Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel –Tickleberry’s
Christoph: Chocolate- Tickleberry’s, Ok Falls
Felix: Lemon and Passion Fruit Sorbet at Tickleberry’s, Ok Falls
Christie: Chocolate Chip Mine – Ogopogo’s

Favorite hill to ski or snowboard on in the valley?
Julie: Silver Star Mountain in Vernon
Christie: Mt. Baldy

Best summer event in the Okanagan?
Julie: Feast of Fields
Felix: My birthday so far…
Christie: Feast of Fields

Best view?
Julie: Anarchist Lookout above Osoyoos looking north or south on a clear day.
Christoph: the view from Blue Mountain Vineyards over Vaseux Lake
Felix: Blue Mountain View of McIntyre Bluff
Christie: I am biased….

Best Beach in the Okanagan?
Julie: Powell Beach in Summerland
Christoph: Okanagan Beach, Penticton
Felix: There are beautiful hidden beaches in Naramata
Christie: 3 mile, Naramata

Favorite Drive or ride?
Julie: The old highway between West Kelowna and Vernon
Christoph: East – side of Skaha Lake
Felix: Trails in Naramata, Three Blind Mice
Christie: White Lake Road

Best place for lunch with friends?
Julie: Hillside Winery – have the duck confit sandwich!
Christoph: Barking Parrot, Penticton Lakeside Resort
Felix: The Hooded Merganser, Penticton Lakeside Resort
Christie: The Bench Market, Penticton

Most interesting tasting room experience at another winery?
Julie: Church and State Winery – love that you get to sit and relax while you taste.
Felix: Rustico Farm and Cellars

Favorite Okanagan Syrah?
Julie: Young & Wyse
Christoph: 2009 Syrah, Cassini Cellars, Osoyoos
Felix: Le Vieux Pin
Christie: Laughing Stock

Favorite Okanagan Riesling?
Julie: Tantalus Old Vines Riesling and Upper Bench Riesling
Christoph: 2011 Dry Riesling, Gehringer Brothers, Oliver
Felix: Tantalus & 8th Generation
Christie: Tantalus

Favorite Okanagan Blend? 
Julie: Blue Mountain Sparkling
Christoph: 2010 Honest John’s Red, Road 13, Oliver
Felix: Osoyoos Larose

Best Breakfast or Brunch in the valley?
Julie: Patio at Wild Apple Grill at Manteo Resort
Felix: The Veras Special at the Elite Restaurant
Christie: The Bench Market

Best Fall Wine Festival Event to attend?
Julie: Gourmet and Grapes Iron Chef Showdown at Cabana
Christie: Westjet tastings

Best kept secret about the Okanagan?
Julie: All the talented chef’s we have in the valley.
Christoph: Ogopogo
Felix: Ogopogo
Christie: Joy Road Catering God’s Mountain Dinners

Favorite Fruit Stand?
Julie: Blossom’s In Summerland
Christoph: Farmer’s Market in Penticton
Felix: Matheson Creek Farm
Christie: Matheson Creek Farm

Let us know what your favorites are and if there are some other Okanagan secrets that we haven't thought of.  

Sep 3, 2012 at 1:30 PM Permalink

Euro Connection

Euro Contingent

In June the Euro Cup was held in Poland and the Ukraine.  You wouldn’t think this is a big deal to a bunch of Canadians who didn’t even qualify, but here at Blue Mountain Vineyards it was. This year we have 3 staff members from Germany and one from Poland.  I myself have a British/Dutch heritage so soccer or football as they call it in Europe was very much a part of growing up.  Needless to say the discussions around the lunch table and the interaction between the guys in the cellar and the office staff were pretty focused on the games.  It made it kind of fun to all unite around a common subject. Sport. Sadly none of our teams won but we enjoyed giving each other a hard time and commiserating when our teams were eliminated. 

Two of our Euro Contingent are permanent staff.  Tomasz from Poland who does restaurant and retail sales in the Okanagan as well as helping in the office and tasting room and doing a lot of packing.  Felix is also here on a more permanent basis as well and makes up part of the German trio. Felix assists Matt with the winemaking and Christoph and Christine are here on internships until the end of harvest.   Christoph is working in the cellar and the vineyard and Christine is helping us in the office and the tasting room.  As part of our conversations I thought it might be interesting to get to know these Euro staffers a little better and so I asked them a few questions. Here is what they had to say. 

How did you become interested in wine?
Tomasz: I first got introduced to red wine back in Poland, around 12 - 13 years ago.  At that time there was almost nothing available so when I arrived in Canada 10 years ago I was pleasantly surprised to see all the wine from around the world.
Christine: I was raised on my parents wine estate so I became familiar with working in the vineyard and cellar.  I also represented my village as a wine princess and decided to study International Wine Business.
Felix: My grandpa and uncle farm vineyards in Germany.  As a little boy I already helped out in the vineyards. 
Christoph: Grew up in a traditional wine region and worked at my parent’s winery.

Tomasz Bartkowicz 

Favorite wine region in the world?
Tomasz: I haven’t seen that many places, but I think I like the border of Spain and France.
Christine: There are lots of great wine growing regions and to my mind each is individual and fascinating.  There are nice regions in Germany like Pfalz (palatinate), Baden especially the Lake Constance area and the Douro Valley in Portugal and of course the Okanagan Valley.
Felix: The Pfalz in Germany.  The second largest wine region with 23,000 ha and the most beautiful. The world’s best Rieslings come from there.
Christoph: Wurttemberg, Germany

Christine Krieger

Favorite grape varietal and why?
Tomasz: Chardonnay because it is so beautiful and so underrated nowadays.
Christine: I really like Riesling because this grape is so changeable.  This means that you can produce brilliant dry wines which can be fruity or have mineral qualities, on the other hand it is possible to create great sweet and noble sweet wines.  Riesling has great flavours of green apple, peach, grapefruit and a high acidity which leads to a fresh wine.
Christoph: Riesling - There are many different styles and types are possible. Typical for Germany you can find it anywhere in Germany.
Felix: Definitely Riesling. No other variety is so versatile and expresses the terroir like Riesling does.

What you like best about being in the Okanagan?
Tomasz: Once the summer arrives, there is no better place to be in the world. First class outdoor activities, mountains, wine, lakes...everything is here.
Christine: Friendly people and customers, beautiful landscapes and nice weather.
Christoph:The friendly, helpful and relaxed people.
Felix: Meeting new and interesting people. Beautiful landscape and good wine.

Felix Korb

What do you miss most from home besides your family?
Tomasz: Homemade perogies and white borsch over smoked sausage.
Christine: German breakfast, driving without a speed limit.
Christoph: My fantastic friends!
Felix: Beer, sausage and sauerkraut and my girlfriend of course.

Christoph Klopfer

What do you hope to learn from your experience at Blue Mountain Winery?
Christine: To get an insight  into the Canadian way of producing and selling wine and the wine market. To get to know some new wines with a different style.
Christoph: How to produce high quality wines and how to manage all of the important sequences of work.  Also to improve my English.
Felix: To make good wine, getting more independent and more experience. To gain insight into a successful run winery.

So if you see them in the tasting room or out on a tractor say hi or give them a wave.  They are happy to share their experiences and talk with visitors.  Thank you to all of our Euro connection for being such great sports.  I am sure we will learn as much from them as they are learning with their Canadian experience. Hopefully their time here will leave them with a soft spot in their hearts for Canada in the future.  Go Canada go! 

Aug 14, 2012 at 10:00 AM Permalink

How to Make Truffle Popcorn

Food and wine pairing can be complicated.  It takes lots of practice and if you get it wrong it can be mediocre at best.  If you get it right the experience can be magical.  There are lots of excellent food pairings that have a history of going well together.  Things like Sauvignon Blanc and Goat Cheese, Pinot Noir and Duck or Wild Mushroom Risotto, Pinot Gris and Oysters.  Here is an easy one to get you started on your road to food and wine pairing success and to wow your friends or family the next time you are hosting an event!  Makes a great light starter especially if people are arriving at different times.  Serve with well chilled dry Sparkling wine and celebrate life!

How to make truffle popcorn!

Popcorn- we pop ours in an air popper
Melted Butter - about 2 -3 tbsp
Truffle Oil - start with a little and taste regularily until you get the right amount.  It can be very strong so a little goes a long way.
Salt - we use sea salt infused with fresh thyme
Fresh cracked Pepper

Pop your popcorn in an air popper into a large vessel. We use a large pail so we can distribute the butter, truffle oil, salt and pepper evenly.

Drizzle with ⅓  of the melted butter. Shake or toss. Repeat a couple more times.

Drizzle with a small amount of truffle oil. Shake or toss. Taste and repeat if necessary.

Grind salt in a spice grinder with fresh thyme infusing the salt with the thyme flavour.  It will look bright green to begin with but as it drys out will take on a dried green colour. You can make a fair amount of this and store it in an airtight container for future use.

Sprinkle with thyme infused salt. Shake or toss.

Sprinkle with fresh cracked black pepper. Shake or toss.

Enjoy!  Particularly with Sparkling wine or a buttery Chardonnay.

Why do these two very different items go so well together?  The yeastiness of the Sparkling and the earthiness of the truffle oil marry well as well as the saltiness of the popcorn and the refreshing effervescence of the sparkling.  Try it ...we think you’ll like it....alot!

For a sampling of Truffle Popcorn visit us on Friday afternoons and taste it with our Blue Mountain Sparkling Brut.

Aug 7, 2012 at 3:50 PM Permalink

Local Profile: Penticton Farmer's Market

Local Profile

The Penticton Farmer’s Market is the place to be on Saturday mornings.  Not only do you get a chance to catch up with friends you also get to meet the people who grow the food you enjoy throughout the season.  And in the Okanagan we are fortunate to have some amazing growers.  One of these local producers is Zebroff’s farm in Cawston, BC.  George and Anna Zebroff have been farming organically for 40 years near Cawston B.C. Their name has become synonymous with what  organics is all about.  You will see their son Yuri and his wife, Brandi continue that tradition under the name of Honest Food Farm.  They not only produce and sell beautiful fruit, but organic juices, jams, dried fruit, salsa, and honey.  Make sure you go and try their French Kiss plums! 

One of our favorite staples from the Farmer’s Market is Joy Road Catering’s fresh fruit galettes.  These beautiful pastries in either individual or group sizes make a great morning snack or the perfect end to your dinner party.   Changing with the seasons these delicious pastries are filled with the freshest Okanagan fruits available. Their baking is made with only the finest ingredients bought at the market including certified organic flour, honey from the Similkameen Apiary, Organic eggs from their own chickens, organic unrefined cane sugar and real butter. Visit Cameron Smith and Dana Ewart at the market every Saturday but go early as they sell out quickly. 

The Market starts in May and goes until October and is an excellent place to take your friends or family when they come to visit.  There are great buskers, lots of arts and crafts and of course no end to great food to enjoy on-site or take home and make your own authentically local meal. 

The Penticton Farmer’s Market started in 1991 and is believed to be the third largest farmer’s market in all of B.C. It runs three blocks long, along the North end of Main Street, every Saturday from 8:30am to 12pm.

Don't forget to look for Lisa's flowers, right across from Joy Road Catering!

Aug 2, 2012 at 2:00 PM Permalink

Touring the Okanagan Falls Wineries Association Region

On May 31st we had the opportunity to visit some of our neighbours in the OK Falls Winery Association.  This was an opportunity to get to know some of the people in our association and also find out a little bit about each of the wineries and what makes them unique.

Our first stop was to see Jeri and Josh at See Ya Later Ranch who were very welcoming and did a great job sharing all the wines SYL is producing.  As their new patio is constructed they are encouraging people to enjoy lighter fare out on the grassy lawn in front of the winery for picnics under the shade of the trees.  



Cheese boards and charcuterie are available on site everyday with featured specials on the weekends. Wine shop hours are 10 am till 5 pm every day.

Our second stop of the day was at a new winery in Kaleden that neither of us had visited before.  Top Shelf Winery has a hockey theme and the wine shop has a great memorabilia area.  Myra and Len are in their first year of operation and have three wines to try. All of the wines have great hockey theme names like Slap Shot Chardonnay, Point Shot Pinot Gris and Over the Top (OT) Merlot.  The tasting included great cheese from Village Cheese in Armstrong to complement the wines.  They also sell gelato!

On June 30th they will be celebrating their grand opening from 2 – 6pm and invite everyone to visit for some great food and entertainment.

Next door to Topshelf is Kraze Legs Winery, also relatively new.  The entire winery is themed around the 1920’s and has a great area to bring your own picnic or purchase an assortment of cheeses and crackers onsite.  With stunning views of Skaha Lake from the west side a really unique place to spend a few hours.  All of their wines are named after dances from the 20’s like “All that Jazz” and “The Bees Knees”!

A quick stop at Bighorn Ridge to meet Carla and see the magnificent view from her Guest House was greeted with a brief rain shower on our arrival but we were dry and comfortable under the shelter of the guest house.  What a peaceful place to stay in the Okanagan.  Rustic elegance in wine country.  Also pet friendly!

On our return Noble Ridge was the next stop.  We visited with Katie and Tamsin and sampled some of the wine’s from Noble Ridge including the King’s Ransom.  Noble Ridge is open 10 – 5 each day and has a stunning deck to enjoy a picnic.  You can bring your own or take a sampling of local cheese and charcuterie available at the winery.  They have a great assortment of gift items and are hosting some interesting events in the coming weeks.  June 30th is their Calgary Stampede 100th Anniversary celebration Breakfast complete with white Stetsons and great food and entertainment.  Stop by before you start touring that day!

Our final stop of the day was at Meyer Family Vineyards on Mclean Creek Road where we sampled our way through the majority of their portfolio graciously hosted by Jak, Sharon and Van Dorin. After lots of laughs we were on our way back to Blue Mountain.  Meyer Family Vineyards also offers private Sommelier led tastings.  These are completely customizable and must be booked in advance with the winery.

Alas we were unable to visit all off our neighbours due to time constraints but we are hoping to get out to Painted Rock, Blasted Church, Wild Goose and Stag’s Hollow another day.  Thanks everyone for making us feel so welcome and we look forward to sending visitors to all the unique wineries in the Ok Falls Winery Association this season.

Jun 28, 2012 at 11:51 AM Permalink