March 29th, 2025- FREE SPIRIT VICTORIA –   non-alc.  zero-proof, alcohol free. A story of our times.

FREE SPIRIT VICTORIA –   non-alc.  zero-proof, alcohol free. A story of our times.

 

THE SHOW 

 

For the first time under one roof in Victoria , importers will be joined by local BC makers from Vancouver Island, Vancouver, the Okanagan etc.,  to showcase the best alcohol-free wine, beer, spirits, and packaged cocktails available.

Organized by Kurtis Kolt.

Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver-based wine consultant who writes about wine, presents seminars, hosts events, judges wine competitions, works with restaurants on their wine programs etc. His various certifications and credits include London’s Wine & Spirit Education Trust, the Court of Master Sommeliers & the Winemaking Program at UC Davis.

In  2010, when  Kurtis received the ‘Sommelier of the Year’ award from both the 2010 Vancouver International Wine Festival and Vancouver magazine, he opted to diversify his focus on wine through different arenas.

In recent years, Kurtis  co-founded and runs ‘Top Drop’ in both Vancouver and Calgary, a terroir-focused trade & consumer wine festival Western Living magazine called, “The one wine tasting of the year you shouldn’t miss.”

 

Guests we could slow down long enough to talk to were:

 

Kurtis Kolt – See above

Kurtis Kolt

Mark Wachtin -storied wines and spirits. Pouring Ones+

Ones Non-Alcoholic Wine - Village Food Markets - Sooke BC

 

Andrea Demers –   Softer Drink Store in Victoria. More than 100 different drinks.   pouring Zamalek and Fin Soda.

Ceri Barlow –  NuBeverage. Pouring Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Co.

Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Co's alcoholic sparkling tea - Product Launch - Just Drinks

Janet Helou – from Glimmer.  pouring Glimmer (BC)

Paul Watkin – from Seacove pouring Medbubble (Spain)

Paul Jordan–   Mondiale.    pouring from Clear Sips (Ontario)  Cognato (S. Africa) OddBird (Italy/France) NOA (Quebec) Cipriani (Italy)

Clearsips

Cameron Duke –  Coastal Craft   pouring from  Soft Crush –  Noughty (UK) Colibi (Italy)  Undone (Germany)

 

 

www.kurtiskolt.com

www.storiedwinesandspirits.com

www.softerdrink.ca

www.nubeverage.ca

www.seacove.com

www.drinkglimmerwine.com

www.mondialebev.com

www.coastalcraftbeverages.ca

 

 

STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON

 

The Hatch – The whole Dang Thang

New Spring releases

Out of BC Wines

Wine Growers BC

Winemakers Cut

Hillside Estate

Best Coast Distillers