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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
PermalinkMeet 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 AMCelebrate Easter with Blue Mountain wines
Busy planning your Easter dinner? You should also think about wine pairings. Here are a few food suggestions that will perfectly pair with wines from Blue Mountain.
Brunch Dishes
Smoked Salmon and Scrambled eggs or
Baked French Toast with Salmon, Bacon and Veggies
Wine pairing - Blue Mountain NV Brut or Blue Mountain 2006 Blanc de Blancs R.D.
Ham Dishes
Ham with a pineapple/ orange glaze or
Apricot Glazed Ham
Wine pairing - Blue Mountain 2012 Pinot Gris
Chicken Dishes
Rosemary-Garlic Roasted Chicken
Wine pairing - Blue Mountain 2012 Chardonnay
Lamb Dishes
Barbecued Lamb Chops or
Garlic Leg of Spring Lamb with Mint
Wine pairing - Blue Mountain 2012 Pinot Noir
Do you have another wine pairing to recommend for Easter? Share it in the comments section below.
Apr 13, 2014 at 10:00 AMContest: Are you a #BlueMtnFan ?
Are you a #BlueMtnFan? Showcase your love for Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars and stand a chance to WIN!
HOW TO ENTER:
1. Follow this link and upload your photo (make sure that you are logged into your facebook account & that you have '"liked" us at https://www.facebook.com/BlueMountainVineyard) or post your pic to facebook, twitter or instagram with the hashtag #BlueMtnFan.
2. Share with your friends and family on facebook and get them to 'vote' for your photo.
The person with the most 'votes' at the end of the month is the winner! One winner will be announced every month.
PRIZE:
A unique winery tour and tasting experience for two people plus a Blue Mountain goodie bag.
PLEASE NOTE:
You are able to enter once per day per Facebook account.
Voting is allowed one vote per Facebook account.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Follow this link to read the official contest rules.
Remember to "like" us on facebook and "follow" us on twitter / instagram!!
Apr 1, 2014 at 10:00 AMA Mexican Vineyard Crew in an Okanagan Vineyard
Today we welcome back our Mexican vineyard workers. At Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars we have ten Mexican vineyard workers that come to the Okanagan through Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. They work our 80 acre vineyard for eight months of the year. The first group of six arrived on Tuesday, February 25th and four more will arrive later this month. This hardworking team of vineyard workers has been coming to the Okanagan to work at Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars for the past 6 years. The Mexican crew has made an impact with their highly efficient and skilled viticulture techniques.
Javier Lopez, From: Puebla Antonino Mayoral, From: Oaxaca
Alfredo Calderon, From: Estada de Mexico Cirilo Jaramillo, From: Guanajuato
Lucas Garcia, From: Veracruz de Ignacio Valente Acosta, From: Puebla
Jose Perez, From: Yucatan Paulino Augulo, From: Baja California Sur
Alfonso Galindo, From: Estado de Mexico Juan Bedolla, From: Guanajuato
Thanks to all our vineyard crew for making our 80 acres look so spectacular all year long. Blue Mountain visitors, feel free to wave to these friendly faces with the big hats when you pass them on your way to the wine shop this summer.
Mar 13, 2014 at 8:00 AMFoodies Under 40 Western Living
In their new issue, Western Living has named their 6th annual collection of the best and brightest foodies in the West, "From restaurateurs who used Kickstarter to fund a new space, to chefs who brought gluten-free to the discerning masses, to visionaries who are designing restaurants that change the way we look at food, these are Western Living’s Foodies of the Year". Our winemaker, Matt Mavety is humbled to be included among them.
Here are the twelve "Foodies" that made the list:
THE HOME TEAM: Ayden, Saskatoon
THE KICKSTARTERS: Darcy Scott—Whimsical Cake Studio & Edmonton and Dane Brown & Clinton McDougall—Bestie, Vancouver
THE ENTERTAINER: Cody Willis—Native Tounges, Calgary
THE LOCAL HEROES: Clark Deutscher & Francois Pilon—Hank's, Ucuelet and Victoria
THE VISIONARY: Mandel Hitzer—RAW:almond, Winnipeg
THE STATEMENT MAKER: Craig Stanghetta—STE. Marie Art & Design, Vancouver
THE PURISTS: Brett & Adam Yakimetz—Yakimetz Farm, Vegreville
THE WINEMAKER: Matt Mavety—Blue Mountain Winery, Okanagan Falls
"Here in Canada, oenophiles use the terms winemaker and vigneron almost interchangeably to describe a person who makes wine, But whereas a winemaker may buy grapes from all sorts of places, the vigneron is steadfastly connected to the land. They select the grapes, farm them, nurture them and practice tough love to draw out their true nature. And while the Okanagan has a nice complement of excellent winemakers, there aren’t many true vignerons like Matt Mavety. But it couldn’t be any other way at Blue Mountain, his home turf. Matt’s father, Ian, planted the first vines 1971, which may as well be in the Pleistocene, it’s so ancient by Okanagan standards. From the get-go the place was all about the land, and what grapes can and should grow in our climate. It was this ethos that Matt was raised on, and when he took over as head winemaker in 2002, there was scant danger of him producing a tempranillo or a cabernet with grapes from Osoyoos. It’s the difference between wanting to be a star or a steward."
THE LIBERATOR: Kerry Bennett—Care Bakery, Calgary
THE CRAFTSMEN: Everywhere, Vancouver
THE HEIR APPARENT: Matthew Stowe—Cactus Club, Vancouver
THE CONSERVATIONIST:Twyla Roscovich—Activist, Sointula
Congratulations to everyone who made the 2014 Foodies of the Year list! Click here to read the article.
Mar 5, 2014 at 4:00 PMWhere to find Blue Mountain Wines in Calgary, Alberta
Looking to purchase Blue Mountain wines in Calgary? We recommend paying a visit to J.Webb Wine Merchant. J.Webb have been selling Blue Mountain's wines for more than 13 years.
Since its inception as one of the first private wine stores in Calgary, J.Webb has always sought to distinguish itself from the typical liquor store. J Webb’s philosophy is based on a simple idea: outstanding service and wonderful wines. It harkens back to the past when these were central themes to a successful merchant.
The staff at J.Webb are not just retailers, but people who enthusiastically live and breathe wine. They travel, they taste, they learn and are continually challenging themselves to improve. Wine is not a product, it is a passion to be shared with their patrons.
This kind of passion has gone on for some two decades and you can witness the success of this approach on the shelves: a wonderfully diverse collection of extraordinary wines.
J.Webb is not about mass production wines it is about relationships with quality family producers. J.Webb is committed to work as directly as possible with its producers and therefore eliminate any unnecessary costs.
J.Webb is more than an assortment of bodies; it embodies a philosophy and a passion. It is a place where you can discover something new, something unusual and without doubt, something wonderful.
Visit their website for more info.
Locations:
Glenmore Landing
c157 1600 90th ave SW
Glenmore Landing Shopping across from Safeway
(403) 253-9463
Casel Marché
2507 17th ave SW on the Crowchild trail turn off
(403) 685-5218
Jan 21, 2014 at 11:00 AMMatheson Creek Fruit Stand- Okanagan Falls
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The Sloan Family has been farming along the east shore of Skaha Lake for over 50 years. They take pride in producing quality fruit picked fresh for you each day.
They invite you to relax under the grape arbor with a juicy peach or a crisp apple... why not try their ice cream, fresh fruit smoothie or ice cold apple juice? Take in the beauty of the area and share their love and passion for farming.
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Matheson Creek Farm
10 minutes south of Penticton, on the Eastside Road
Open Daily August 1st to October 31st
9:30am to 6pm
(250) 497-8989
mathesoncreek-strawbale@telus.net
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Aug 28, 2013 at 10:00 AMLieutenant Governor General's Wine Awards 2013
Congratulations to all of the 2013 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines. Here are the Okanagan Falls Winery Association wines that won:
Stag's Hollow Winery
Cachet No. 03 Limited Edition 2010
Synchromesh Wines
Storm Haven Vineyard Riesling 2011
Wild Goose Vineyards and Winery
Mystic River Vineyard Pinot Blanc 2012
This year was the largest competition in the 11-year history of the awards, with 402 wines submitted from 109 wineries across the province. For a full list of the 2013 winners, check out the website.
Jun 26, 2013 at 9:00 AMValhalla Heli-wine Tours
From vineyard rookies to those connoisseurs who need a new angle on the Okanagan wine scene, try a Heli-Wine Tour. This is a one of a kind experience tailor-made by you which combines scenic helicopter flights around the Okanagan with stops at your choice of several participating wineries to enjoy the beverage that has made the valley so well-known. Valhalla Helicopters has agreements to land at approximately 30 vineyards around the Okangan, Shuswap and Similkameen.
A full day Heli-Wine tour is a 6 hour experience - starting at 10am and ending at 4pm - where you select about 4 wineries to visit. There are over 30 participating wineries from the Shuswap in the North to the US border in the South.
You may choose to go north with winery options in Kelowna, Lake Country and Salmon Arm, or select a southern route with vineyard choices in Lake Country, Kelowna, Summerland, Naramata, Penticton, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, Cawston and Keremeos.The helicopter can seat up to 4 people (weight restrictions apply), but some wineries are only accessible with one couple onboard.
Most wineries have picnic spots and several have restaurants or will do a special catered lunch if you'd like to add that on.
Click here for a list of the Heli-Wine Tour Participating Vineyards.
Book by emailing tours@valhallahelicopters.com or call them at 1-866-769-1486.
May 29, 2013 at 10:00 AM
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