Right after the grapes have finished fermenting, 10 local wineries are inviting the public to sample their product right from the barrel.
As part of the Fall Okanagan Wine festival, members of the Naramata Bench Wineries Association will be participating in Roll Out the Barrels on Oct. 10. Wine enthusiasts will have the chance to try out new and interesting blends from many different producers before they’re even bottled.
“Roll Out the Barrels is a behind-the-scenes opportunity for people to go to the wineries and taste wine straight from the barrels,” said Tina Baird, spokesperson for the Naramata Bench Wineries Association. Taking part in the event are the following wineries: Poplar Grove; Hillside Winery; Tightrope Winery; Lang Vineyards; Therapy Vineyards; Moraine Estate Winery; Van Westen Vineyards; Black Widow Winery; Bench 1775 Winery, Quidni Winery.
To learn more about each participating winery, visit naramtabench.com.
“Harvest is an exciting time,” said Lyndsay O’Rourke, winemaker at Tightrope Winery. “There’s the anticipation of the coming harvest, the optimism of what the harvest will bring – and there’s lots going on.”
Roll Out the Barrels takes place between noon and 4 p.m.
“People can just walk into the wineries and experience that,” said Baird.