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Steven Spurrier has died
Photo: Steven Spurrier at work tasting BC wines Steven Spurrier, perhaps the most influential advocate for British Columbia wine among British wine writers, has died at 79, the victim of aggressive...
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Hurrah for Rust's Syrah
Photo: Rust Winery When Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery two years ago rejuvenated the former Rustico winery as Rust Wine Co., the strategy of focussing on single vineyard wines was adopted to distinguish...
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Osoyoos Larose releases 2017 Grand Vin and plans new winery
Photo: Winemaker Caroline SchallerOsoyoos Larose Estate Winery will finally own its own winemaking facility, two decades after making its first vintage in 2001. The winery, now owned totally by Groupe...
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Bordertown is on a roll
Photo: Bordertown's Mohan Gill Mohan Gill, the proprietor of Bordertown Vineyards & Estate Winery, surely is one of the most ambitious winery owners in the South Okanagan. The winery, located...
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Burrowing Owl unmasked
Photo: Author wearing Burrowing Owl's maskBurrowing Owl Estate Winery’s sampler pack of its red wine releases for spring came with an attractive mask. I donned it for the selfie that accompanies this...
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Pentâge releases wines with maturity
Photo: Paul Gardner and Julie RennieA California winery, Paul Masson, once had this advertising slogan: “No wine before its time.” If it were not trademarked, Paul Gardner and Julie Rennie could apply...
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Painted Rock's 2018 Red Icon and friends
Photo: Painted Rock's John Skinner The wines from Painted Rock Estate Winery have never disappointed this reviewer, nor – I suspect – any of Painted Rock’s customers. This was one of the producers...
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Frind releases its Premier wines
Photo: Markus Frind With the first release of red wines, West Kelowna’s Frind Estate Winery has immediately established itself as one of the Okanagan’s premier producers. The line will strike some as...
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Remembering Chris Jentsch
Photo: Chris Jentsch The sudden death on April 2 of Okanagan winery owner Chris Jentsch at age 58 has shocked and saddened the wine community. If anyone was larger than life, it was Chris. Amber Jones,...
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Bartier Bros. opens for the season
Photo: Michael Bartier (credit Shari Saysomsack)It says something about the popularity of rosé wines that a small producer like Bartier Bros. made almost 3,000 cases in the 2020 vintage. Located just...
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Sandhill Rosé is back
Photo: Sandhill's Sandy LeierYou know that spring has arrived when wineries begin releasing their rosé wines. At Sandhill Wines, Sandy Leier has been making acclaimed Provence-style rosé for several...
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Peak Cellars: rising Lake Country star
Photo: Winemaker Stephanie StanleyPeak Cellars is a winery in Lake Country that opened in 2017 as The Chase Winery. A trademark dispute led to a name change. Whatever the name on the label, the winery...
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Canyonview and Giant Head wines
Photo: John GlavinaJohn Glavina, the owner of Summerland’s Giant Head Estate Winery, finds himself juggling two brands: Giant Head and Canyonview. There is a story here. Giant Head is the name of the...
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Black Hills releases new Carménère
Photo: Winemaker Ross Wise MW Black Hills was the first winery to plant Carménère in the Okanagan. It remains one of three or four wineries growing this venerable Bordeaux red varietal. The wine is...
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Township 7's quartet for spring
Photo: Winemaker Mary McDermottNow celebrating its 21th anniversary, Township 7 Vineyards & Winery’s time in the industry has spanned the (so far) golden age of British Columbia wine. When the...
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Four Shadows releases for spring 2021
Photo: Wilbert and Joka BorrenWhen wine touring returns to normal, consumers can pack in several good wineries with little driving by spending a day on Upper Bench Road at the edge of Penticton. Four...
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Gray Monk's Rotberger now has a supporting role
Photo: Winemaker Jen Oishi (credit Mackenzie Dempsey)Jen Oishi, the winemaker at Gray Monk Estate Winery, went to a remarkable amount of effort to make the winery’s 2020 rosé. There are six grapes in...
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Quails' Gate repeats as a best-managed company
Photo: Quails' Gate CEO Tony Stewart (courtesy Quails' Gate)For the fifth year in a row, Quails’ Gate Estate Winery has received one of the “Canada’s best managed companies” award in the competition...
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Hester Creek's releases in the time of Covid
Photo: The Villas at Hester Creek If ever there is a winery anxious for the pandemic to recede, it must be Hester Creek Estate Winery. The winery’s luxury accommodation – the six suites called The...
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Laughing Stock has not missed a step
Photo: Winemaker Dave Carson Laughing Stock Vineyards legendary Bordeaux blend, Portfolio, was one of the wines that inspired me to write by 2017 book, Icon: Flagship Wines from British Columbia’s Best...
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