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B.C. Wine Culture

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Gail Nugent, Publisher
gnugent@glaciermedia.ca

For editorial enquiries, contact:
Joanne Sasvari, Editor
jsasvari@glaciermedia.ca

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Vitis Magazine is dedicated to BC’s vibrant wine culture. 🍷 An indispensable seasonal guide for vintners, sommeliers & weekend imbibers alike.

Chasselas is not a grape familiar to many North Am

Chasselas is not a grape familiar to many North American palates. While it is grown in France, Germany, Portugal, Hungary, Romania, New Zealand, Croatia and Chile, most of all, it is associated with Switzerland, where it most likely originated sometime in the 15th or 16th century.

Light, fresh and relatively low in alcohol (usually between 11 and 13 per cent ABV), Chasselas is a fairly neutral grape with flavours of apples, apple blossom, mint, melon and sometimes just a hint of smoke. In Switzerland, this food-friendly white is planted in very, very steep, narrow terraces that must be worked by hand.

A little Chasselas is grown here in BC, notably by @quailsgate and @sthubertuswine. But after tasting dozens of Chasselas in Switzerland, Joanne Sasvari is starting to wonder if there shouldn’t be more. Learn more about her exploration of this fruity white grape at the link in our bio.

After taking some time to pause and reflect, the O

After taking some time to pause and reflect, the Okanagan Wine Festivals is beginning 2023 with the inaugural Okanagan Winter Wine Festival 💥

The festival begins on Jan. 22 with an afternoon Grand Tasting at Predator Ridge Resort, featuring Okanagan wines and food inspired by the Burgundy Region of France. Experience an incredible line-up of wines alongside a delectable culinary showcase from Range Lounge & Grill at @predatorridge.

The finale weekend takes place Jan. 27-28 in Penticton starting with Sensation — An Eve for the Senses. This sensory-inspired grand tasting, happening on Friday from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at @theptcc, will feature culinary tasting stations highlighting, contrasting and complementing wines from 20 Okanagan wineries. On Saturday, January 28th the festival will move south to The District Wine Village in Oliver for the Winterfest, presented in partnership with @winecapital and @districtwinevillage.

Learn more about the event and grab your tickets on @okwinefests page.

Vancouver Island Chardonnay or more precisely, Cow

Vancouver Island Chardonnay or more precisely, Cowichan Valley Chardonnay. Why haven't you heard of it before?

The 2019 Unsworth Chardonnay was the first one the Cowichan Valley winery ever produced. Citrusy and mineral-driven, with a thrilling saline finish, @unsworthvineyards reminded @josasvari of some of her favourite wines from Chablis or northern Spain. She wasn't the only one who was smitten—it earned 88 points and a Bronze Medal at the 2022 @decanterawards, one of the highest scores ever for a Vancouver Island wine!

Nearby @bluegrousewines just released its first-ever Chardonnay under its Quill label and is planting 9-12 acres in addition to its one-acre Paula Vineyard. At @averillcreek, “phenolic farmer and winemaker” Brent Rowland just bottled his first Chardonnay—it's a very small amount, only 2 barrels or 50 cases.

Curious to know what Cowichan Valley winemakers think is next for Vancouver Island Chardonnay? Find out at the link in our bio.

📸 Mist drifting over Blue Grouse Estate Winery by @gosnapjax.

Ever wondered what you need to open a winery in BC

Ever wondered what you need to open a winery in BC these days?

After chatting with a fresh crop of small winery owners across BC, Tim Pawsey recommends bringing a heady mix of dreams, a healthy supply of cash (or a wine-loving banker) and a dash of serendipity. While many may harbour dreams of opening a winery, only the hardy follow through, and even then they face both unexpected obstacles and exciting opportunities. So @hiredbelly went on to ask for advice from those who recently got to realize their winemaking dreams across British Columbia. Among them are Tyler Cox from @sagehaywardvineyards on Saturna Island, Laurent Fadanni of @whisperinghorsewinery in Fraser Valley, Eckhard Zeidler from @cliffandgorgevineyards in Lillooet, Robin & Mike Nierychlo of @emandarewine in Cowichan Valley and Michaela & Pavel Horak of @horseshoefound in Similkameen Valley.

Learn more from this small but mighty group of winery owners at the link in our bio.

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