BC Wine

The earliest record of wine production in the Okanagan Valley dates back to Father Pandosy’s Okanagan Mission in 1859. Today, the wine industry represents an important part of the British Columbia economy. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

British Columbia wine industry began in 1850s

Father Pandosy’s Okanagan Mission produced wine in 1859

The earliest record of wine production in the Okanagan Valley dates back to Father Pandosy’s Okanagan Mission in 1859. Today, the wine industry represents an important part of the British Columbia economy. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Paul and Jayne Graydon of Saxon Estate Winery are selling their Summerland property and are relocating their business. (Black Press file photo)

Summerland winery moves north to Peachland

Saxon Estate Winery lands and buildings have been sold

Paul and Jayne Graydon of Saxon Estate Winery are selling their Summerland property and are relocating their business. (Black Press file photo)
Bailey Williamson, winemaker, with wine barrels at Blue Grouse Estate Winery. Don Denton photo

A Passion for Pinot

Sea to sky on the BC pinot noir trail

  • Apr 28, 2021
Bailey Williamson, winemaker, with wine barrels at Blue Grouse Estate Winery. Don Denton photo
A bin of Pinot Gris grapes harvested in the north Willamette Valley rests before being crushed at Ponzi Vineyards. The pomace and lees from these grapes would normally go to waste, but Okanagan-based company Winecrush is changing that. (Photo courtesy of Ponzi Vineyards)

This Penticton company is crushing wine-making’s sustainability goals

Program utilizes derivatives from the winemaking process, rather than letting them go to waste

A bin of Pinot Gris grapes harvested in the north Willamette Valley rests before being crushed at Ponzi Vineyards. The pomace and lees from these grapes would normally go to waste, but Okanagan-based company Winecrush is changing that. (Photo courtesy of Ponzi Vineyards)
B.C. wineries are open for indoor tasting despite new provincial health regulations. Photo- 50th Parallel Winery, Instagram.

Indoor wine tastings still allowed in B.C., not considered a ‘social gathering’

“Tasting is really just part of the retail experience. The analogy I use is you wouldn’t buy a pair of pants without trying them on.”

B.C. wineries are open for indoor tasting despite new provincial health regulations. Photo- 50th Parallel Winery, Instagram.
Chris Turyk, Marketing Director, stands outside the tasting room at Unsworth Vineyards. Don Denton photo

Secrets and Lives Interview with Chris Turyk

Marketing Director and Sommelier at Unsworth Vineyards talks wine and food

  • Apr 7, 2021
Chris Turyk, Marketing Director, stands outside the tasting room at Unsworth Vineyards. Don Denton photo
Summerhill Pyramid Winery. (Contributed)

Fear of ‘hotel in a vineyard’ prompts Kelowna council to defer culinary school decision

City council needs assurance the educational facility proposed at Summerhill Winery will be used as stated

Summerhill Pyramid Winery. (Contributed)
Chris Herbert in the PQB News/VI Free Daily studio. (Peter McCully photo)

PQBeat: Writer Chris Hebert discusses the wine scene on Vancouver Island and around B.C.

Podcast: Talk also includes food pairings, tips for beginners and more

Chris Herbert in the PQB News/VI Free Daily studio. (Peter McCully photo)
Painted Rock Estate Winery has had their “Red Icon” Merlot blend recognized as one of the country’s best wines. (Painted Rock Winery / Facebook)

Penticton winery’s Merlot blend recognized as Canada’s best

Decanter’s 2020 ‘Wine of the Year’ list includes only one Canadian wine, and its local

Painted Rock Estate Winery has had their “Red Icon” Merlot blend recognized as one of the country’s best wines. (Painted Rock Winery / Facebook)
Sample local wines while getting your holiday shopping done this year at select South Okanagan wineries.(Black Press Media file photo)

Annual ‘Holiday Cheer’ event offers Pentictonites a chance to sip and shop

The Heart of Wine Country is bringing back its annual event at member wineries

Sample local wines while getting your holiday shopping done this year at select South Okanagan wineries.(Black Press Media file photo)
This year’s fall Okanagan Wine Festival is a subdued event with all the signature events, like this Kelowna Airport event, being cancelled due to COVID-19. (Black Press file photo)

COVID cancels main events of Fall Okanagan Wine Festival

One in 10 wineries at risk of closing - said BC Wine Institute

This year’s fall Okanagan Wine Festival is a subdued event with all the signature events, like this Kelowna Airport event, being cancelled due to COVID-19. (Black Press file photo)
Frind Estate Winery, owned by tech entrepreneur Markus Frind, has been developing 900 acres of land in Vernon, including 820 acres on the mountainside south of Bella Vista Road. (Frind Estate Winery photo)

Tech mogul growing North Okanagan’s wine industry

The founder of online dating site Plenty of Fish is developing 900 acres in Vernon

Frind Estate Winery, owned by tech entrepreneur Markus Frind, has been developing 900 acres of land in Vernon, including 820 acres on the mountainside south of Bella Vista Road. (Frind Estate Winery photo)
(Pixabay)

Canada agrees to tax homegrown wine in trade settlement

The change is expected to occur by June 30, 2022

  • Jul 29, 2020
(Pixabay)
Blue Grouse’s winemaker led the initiative, but it would not have been possible without the enthusiastic co-operation of every winery and grape grower in the valley (Citizen file)

‘Made in the Cowichan Valley’ coming to a wine bottle near you

Cowichan Valley has the honour of being the first sub-GI outside of the Okanagan

Blue Grouse’s winemaker led the initiative, but it would not have been possible without the enthusiastic co-operation of every winery and grape grower in the valley (Citizen file)
New owners have purchased TIME Winery, Evolve Cellars and McWatters Collection. From left are new owners Shelley and Ron Mayert, with Darrien McWatters and Christa-Lee McWatters, who will remain as the operations manager and general manager. (Photo by Chris Stenberg)

New owners announced for Penticton’s TIME Winery

Ron and Shelley Mayert have purchased TIME, Evolve and McWatters Collection

New owners have purchased TIME Winery, Evolve Cellars and McWatters Collection. From left are new owners Shelley and Ron Mayert, with Darrien McWatters and Christa-Lee McWatters, who will remain as the operations manager and general manager. (Photo by Chris Stenberg)
Roie Manoff of Silkscarf Winery in Summerland pours a glass of wine in this file photo. Wineries in Summerland are now in the process of opening their tasting rooms to the public. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland tasting rooms opening to the public

Bottleneck Drive members following provincial guidelines as they reopen

Roie Manoff of Silkscarf Winery in Summerland pours a glass of wine in this file photo. Wineries in Summerland are now in the process of opening their tasting rooms to the public. (Summerland Review file photo)
(Stock photo)

Summerland not considering allowing alcohol in public spaces

Penticton and North Vancouver have both passed bylaws to relax alcohol consumption rules

(Stock photo)
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks on pandemic response at the B.C. legislature, May 6, 2020. (B.C. government photo)

Keremeos winery co-owned by Dr. Bonnie Henry

B.C.’s provincial health officer is part of the original ownership group of Clos du Soleil in Keremeos

B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks on pandemic response at the B.C. legislature, May 6, 2020. (B.C. government photo)
Bottleneck Drive, which represents 23 wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries in Summerland, has a consistent look to its signs on the roads. At the municipal council meeting of May 25, Summerland council adopted a sign policy for these signs. (Contributed)

Summerland adopts sign policy for Bottleneck Drive members

Policy governs directional signs for wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries

Bottleneck Drive, which represents 23 wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries in Summerland, has a consistent look to its signs on the roads. At the municipal council meeting of May 25, Summerland council adopted a sign policy for these signs. (Contributed)
A winery in Summerland was recently sold for $5.2 million (Contributed)

Summerland winery sold for $5.2 million

Property overlooking Okanagan Lake was on the market 160 days

A winery in Summerland was recently sold for $5.2 million (Contributed)
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