BC’s VQA Wineries showcase Spring/Summer wines at Bloom 2019 in Victoria
THE SHOW
Wine fans across Canada and now around the world are increasingly aware of
what British Columbians have known for years – BC produces some
of the world’s most unique and in some cases very best wines
* Each year BC wineries contribute $2.8 billion
annually to the provincial economy and welcome more than 1,000,000
visitors.
* There are more than 10,499 acres under vine in British Columbia with
nine geographical indications (GIs) and two sub-geographical indications
(sub-GIs): Okanagan Valley, Similkameen Valley, Fraser Valley, Vancouver
Island, the Gulf Islands, Thompson Valley, Lillooet, Shuswap, and Kootenays.
Two sub-GIs include Golden Mile Bench and Okanagan Falls, and fall within
the larger Okanagan Valley GI.
Every Spring the wineries select their showcase wines, hit the road and
gather in Vancouver and Victoria. It’s the perfect opportunity for wine
lovers to kick off the season, celebrate new wine releases, meet the actual
makers of these wines and reconnect with those who share the same passion.
This feature is for those who attended and wanted to make further notes on
their experience.(which can be a busy blur)
However, it’s really for those of you who didn’t get to taste and make
notes.
As a public service and for “research purposes” we hit the floor of the
Crystal Ballroom in downtown Victoria and tasted our way through some 40
wines.
As always, we simply didn’t have time to talk to everyone. So we sought out
winemakers, owners and growers who took the time away from home and vines to
join us.
Very much appreciated.
If you are confused by the growing number of BC wines available we truly
hope this week’s show helps you find your Wine of the Year or at least The
Summer.
There is one special story here.
Michael Mosny was winemaking in Slovakia when he became a fan of Hollywood
and Vines TV co-hosted by Jason Priestley and myself. When he and his wife
Martina saw Jason and I visiting vineyards in The Okanagan it helped inform
the decision to move here. Years later we finally get to meet.
Thank You to
Kimberly Hundertmark – BC Wine Institute
Guests this week include:
Joe Luckhurst – GM. Road 13 (Golden Mile)
2018 Canadian Winery of the Year
Stefan Arnason – Head Winemaker Poplar Grove/Monster Wines (Naramata Bench)
Michael Mosny Winemaker and Co-Owner Winemakers Cut (Oliver)
Bobby Gidda – Owner and President Volcanic Hills (West Kelowna)
https://volcanichillswinery.com/
Jeff Hundertmark – Head Winemaker Mt Boucherie (West Kelowna)
Tim Turyk – Proprietor Unsworth Vineyards (Cowichan Valley, Vancouver
Island)
Bob Johnson – Owner Baillie-Grohman (Creston Valley/Kootenays)
Richard Da Silva – Proprietor and Vigneron Da Silva/Misconduct (Naramata
Bench)
Jody Switt – Hillside Wines (Naramata Bench)
STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON:
Tofino Food and Wine
Top Drop 2019 Victoria
Charles Smith and Rose Gathering Jet City Seattle
A special on “field blends”
Fire Season in The Okanagan
The Wickaninnish Inn reopens a spectacular cellar
Tofino mid-week experience
BC Shellfish Festival
Cowichan Valley Wine Festival