The Wine Knows - British Columbia

NW winery search

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:55:00 -0400

Over the past few months, we've been working on a better way to provide information on Northwest wineries. Our old Web site had a searchable database, but it was difficult to maintain. Our new system will provide a way for site visitors to provide updates, which then will be easy for us to upload.

We know we're missing a fair bit of information in this first release, which is why we're counting on all of you to take a look at your favorite wineries and provide us with any updates you might have.

Take a look:

A taste of B.C. by the Bay

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:47:30 -0400

Since first sip, we've been fans of Joie Wines in Naramata, British Columbia. In the next few weeks, patrons of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., will have the opportunity to discover the joy of some of the finest wines to come out of the Okanagan Valley.

Happy La fête du Canada

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:15:31 -0400

Here's a nod to my Québécois roots (Great-Grandfather Perdue emigrated from French Canada), though I'll prefer to celebrate Canada Day with a fine wine from British Columbia, as Quebec wines have a less-than-stellar reputation (and I've never actually ever seen one).

Breadth of Northwest Riesling production

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:17:53 -0400

One item of note as we prep for our Riesling competition this weekend: The noble white wine grape of Germany and Alsace is produced throughout the Pacific Northwest. In fact, I'm a bit amazed at how many various appellations are represented on wine bottles.

And the winner is ...

Fri, 02 May 2008 19:03:39 -0400

For the second consecutive year, a wine from British Columbia has won best of show at the annual Northwest Wine Summit. This year, however, the victorious wine was more "traditional."

The winner was Mission Hill Family Estate for its 2006 Select Lot Collection Riesling Icewine.

Award-winning Toasted Oak for sale

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:02:33 -0400

The Toasted Oak restaurant and Wine Country Welcome Centre wine shop in downtown Oliver, B.C., is up for sale. No price is listed, but you can view the listing here.

Rolling Stones get sticky fingers in B.C.

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:19:32 -0400

The Rolling Stones and Ex Nihilo Vineyards in Okanagan Centre will release an Okanagan Valley ice wine next month in honor of the Stones' song Sympathy for the Devil. Just 222 cases of half-bottles of the sweet dessert wine will be release at a price of $125 per bottle.

Sinclair Philip, the force behind Sooke Harbour House

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:20:24 -0400

Sinclair Philip, the force behind the fabulous Sooke Harbour House, also is a national leader in Canada's Slow Food movement.

Eric Degerman, Wine Press Northwest managing editor, sat down recently with Philip to talk about the Sooke Harbour House, Slow Food and a number of other subjects. Watch the interview here:

A rosé for Easter

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:01:51 -0400

This afternoon, we had two couples over for an Easter meal. As the various toddlers screamed through the house, the adults enjoyed a glazed ham, green bean casserole and freshly baked bread.

For me, ham means rosé. I haven't gotten around to drinking up all my '06 rosés, so I rooted around in the cellar and found a Joie Wines 2006 Rosé, a pink blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir.

Tilman Hainle, Fred Couples highlight B.C. resort

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:15:28 -0400

North of Kelowna, B.C., a resort community called The Rise features a Fred Couples golf course and an on-site winery operated by none other than Tilman Hainle.

Inside Sooke Harbour House

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:41:17 -0500

One of the great gems in the Pacific Northwest is the Sooke Harbour House in Sooke, British Columbia. This gorgeous destination is southwest of Victoria on Vancouver Island and is world renowned for its luxury accommodations, wine list and cuisine.

B.C.'s McWatters to leave Sumac Ridge

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:22:50 -0500

Harry McWatters is stepping down as president of Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in Summerland, British Columbia. He was a founder of the winery, which has been a shining example of success in the emergence of the Okanagan Valley as a world-class wine-producing region.

Winter blast helps B.C. finish ice wine harvest

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:21:53 -0500

Last week's blast of cold weather that swept into the Pacific Northwest helped British Columbia wineries finally finish their 2007 harvest - well into 2008.

Lisa Cameron of the British Columbia Wine Institute reported that 24 wineries harvested 520 tons of ice wine grapes this season, with everything wrapped up Thursday.

Joie Wines, Gastropod head to James Beard House

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:04:33 -0500

Joie Wines of Naramata, British Columbia, and Gastropod Restaurant in Vancouver will present a dinner March 15 at the James Beard House in New York.

Win copy of 'Northwest Wining & Dining'

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:49:41 -0500

We are giving away four copies of Braiden Rex-Johnson's latest book, Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining. Braiden, our longtime food-and-wine-pairing columnist, has penned a beautiful book that helps to further define Pacific Northwest cuisine, especially as it relates to Northwest wine country.