The GOODS from the Similkameen Wineries Association

Keremeos, BC | Even an early rain shower could not dampen the fun and festivities of the 7th annual Similkameen BBQ King event, hosted by the Similkameen Wineries Association at the historic Grist Mill & Gardens in Keremeos on July 9, 2016.

Caroline Cottrill, President of the Similkameen Wineries Association, explained the event. “This truly unique Similkameen wine and food experience featured 3 main chefs who competed for the coveted title of Similkameen BBQ King/Queen and 6 local chefs who competed for the title of Best Small Bites. This was a year of variety and choice as each chef created unique dishes from a broad basket of goods that included organic ingredients from local farmers in the heart of Canada’s organic capital. We were also pleased to have Jr. Chefs from the Okanagan Chefs Association join the BBQ King/Queen competing teams this year.”

The event was judged by a panel of food and wine expert including head judge, Andrew Morrison of Scout Magazine. The judges chose the winners for 4 categories of awards, and attending guests cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award.

Adair Scott from Watermark Beach Resort was crowned 2016 Similkameen BBQ King. Adair also won the Best Plating award. He and his team served house made pork sausage with Blood Alley beer and bacon baked beans, aged cheddar and chili beer bread, apricot ketchup and cherry mustard.

James Holmes of Craft Corner Kitchen won People’s Choice award for best food. James served guests beef tagliata 24 hour soaked tri tip with a pickled cherry, pepper grilled peach and roasted beet.

Brenda Marunchak and the kitchen crew at the Grist Mill and Gardens won best Small Bite and Most Creative Dish serving guests cherry smoked Osoyoos Lake salmon, cream cheese and fresh local herbs on a hand-made cracker made with Grist Mill ground flour, topped with a calendula leaf from their edible flower garden.

Guests were provided with suggested wine pairings but were encouraged to enjoy any of the fantastic wines and ciders from the wineries and cidery of the Similkameen Wineries Association throughout the evening. Guests also enjoyed live entertainment provided by Aiden Mayes and Mandy Cole, and were able to bid on amazing items at the silent auction, which was a partial fundraiser for the Grist Mill.

Similkameen BBQ King competing chefs were:

• Adair Scott, Executive Chef, Watermark Beach Resort
• Shayna Merritt, and Josh Shulman, Shayna & Shulman Culinary Adventures/Smugglers Smoke House
• James Holmes, Chef Partner at Craft Corner Kitchen

Small bites competing chefs were:

• Rick Chaicomdee, Benja Thai
• Kirsten Steele, The Wrong Turn
• Traci and Brian Russell, Branding Iron
• Andrew Wurz and Stéphan Cantavénéra, Tree To Me
• Harker family, Harker’s Organics
• Brenda Marunchak and team, The Grist Mill and Gardens

Cottrill concluded, “We want to thank the many people who make this event successful including judges, our sponsors, the chefs and wineries, the farmers and all of the volunteers and the staff at the Grist Mill.”

The Similkameen is one of the hot spots for grape and fruit wine and cider in British Columbia, Canada. It was named by enRoute Magazine as one of the world’s 5 Best Wine Regions You’ve Never Heard Of! The Similkameen Wineries Association is a collective of 10 wineries and a cidery located in Cawston and Keremeos in the Similkameen Valley including Cerelia, Clos du Soleil, Corcelettes, EauVivre, Forbidden Fruit, Hugging Tree, Orofino, Robin Ridge, Rustic Roots, Seven Stones and Twisted Hills Craft Cider. For more information on the Similkameen Wineries Association or any of its fine award-winning wineries and cidery, visit www.similkameenwine.com, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Details

Similkameen Wineries Association
PO Box 246 | Keremeos, BC | V0X 1N0
Telephone: 250.488.0878 | Email: [email protected]
Web: www.SimilkameenWine.com | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Photos & Video

The People

Nine of the Similkameen wineries have joined together to form the Similkameen Wineries Association (SWA) to help put the spotlight on the exciting developments in this region. Clos du Soleil, Eau Vivre, Forbidden Fruit, Orofino, Robin Ridge, Rustic Roots, Sage Bush, Seven Stones and VineGlass are working together to welcome everyone to the beautiful Similkameen Valley!

About the Similkameen Wine Region

Soak up the sunshine and dare to dream while meandering through the vineyards of the family-run boutique wineries of the Similkameen. Sip award-winning wines with the winemakers while learning about their love of the land in one of the hot spots for grape and fruit wine in British Columbia. Discover for yourself why this special little wine region was named by enRoute Magazine as “one of the world’s 5 best wine regions you’ve never heard of!” This little patch of vineyards and orchards in the hot, dry and sunny Similkameen Valley is turning out some stunning grape and fruit wines.

There are currently over 600 acres of vineyards in the Similkameen and a large number of orchards. In fact, the region is considered to be the organic farming capital of Canada with an estimated 42% of all crops grown organically. This is due to the ideal conditions of dry heat, long hours of sunlight and the famous wind that whips through the valley keeping out pests and diseases.

The Similkameen Valley has been growing fruit and grapes for many years, but it is only recently that there has been a rapid expansion in the number of wineries. Prior to this, many of the grapes were sold to Okanagan wineries and contributed to a number of award winning wines. Now the awards are piling up for wineries in the Similkameen! Hundreds of medals have been awarded to Similkameen wineries over the past few years.

On the second Saturday each July, we join together for a very special event called the Similkameen BBQ King. Guests enjoy an extraordinary summer evening savouring the award-winning wines from nine of the Similkameen wineries and nine distinguished chefs who are vying for the title of Similkameen BBQ King. Passion and expertise rule the competition as some of the most sought after Chefs from BC prepare a plate of locally grown food for each guest. This award-winning event is held in the lovely outdoor gardens at the historic Grist Mill and Gardens in Keremeos. The Similkameen is becoming one of Canada’s premier wine destinations.

Located 3.5 hours east of Vancouver along beautiful highway 3, and just 30 minutes from Penticton and Osoyoos, the location makes the Similkameen the perfect weekend adventure or the perfect first stop on your Okanagan wine getaway! Kick back, relax and enjoy a glass of wine while you discover the hidden gem called the Similkameen Valley.

Press

The Similkameen Valley: The new frontier | Macleans

Okanagan spring reveals secrets | Vancouver Sun

Similkameen BBQ King | Vines & Designs

Similkameen Wineries Awarded 37 Medals | BC Wine Lover

Similkameen wineries enjoy success at Kelowna culinary event | BC Local News

BCs Similkameen Valley Proves Itself To Be Intriguing Wine Region | Georgia Straight