GOODS: “Tinhorn Creek” Owner/Winemaker Sandra Oldfield Launching Harvest #TinChat

Tinhorn Creek is located at 32830 Tinhorn Creek Road in Oliver, BC | 1-888-484-6467 | www.tinhorn.com

The GOODS from Tinhorn Creek

Oliver, BC | Tinhorn Creek’s Sandra Oldfield (@SandraOldfield) will host a weekly one-hour Twitter chat (#tinchat) about the Okanagan’s fall wine harvest. Every Wednesday evening, wine + social media lovers everywhere can have a conversation with Sandra, ask questions and pick her brains about grapes, vines and all things wine. Watch for guest hosts and Tinhorn experts to delve more deeply into several topics. Get the details after the jump… Read more

GOODS: Mission Hill To Host Trio Of Food Events During Fall Okanagan Wine Festival

Mission Hill is located at 1730 West Bank Rd in West Kelowna, BC | 250-768-7611 | www.missionhillwinery.com

The GOODS from Mission Hill

Kelowna, BC | Make Mission Hill your harvest haven during the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival, September 30 – October 9. The winery with a view to thrill will unveil the highly anticipated 2008 vintage of its signature wine, Oculus, and present two special dinners during the festival — the 9th Annual Epicurean Dinner with culinary guests Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants, and the Favourites of the Terrace Dinner. In addition, guests to the winery will be privy to a beautiful large-scale sculpture exhibit, courtesy of Parisian artist Nathalie Decoster. The Mission Hill exhibition marks the first public installation in Canada by Ms. Decoster. The sculptures, made from bronze, stainless steel and concrete, will be on display until mid-October. Details after the jump… Read more

Field Trip #590: Devouring Miles & More In The South Okanagan

by Andrew Morrison | The thing about pieces of junk old English cars is that you can’t keep them garaged. You need to drive them fast over long distances from time to time or they get offended. If they get angry, which isn’t out of the ordinary, they can demand $4000 to pass on to a wily mechanic named Felix who finds it no end of amusing that you don’t know the first thing about automobiles (like stubborn horses, they just won’t go unless you feed them). It was with that in mind that I politely declined to join a gaggle of journalists with my wife on a flight up to the South Okanagan. I’d much prefer to drive the 792km round trip, and nevermind that it was going to be so hot that reptiles would burn and Pirelli rubber would turn to Bovril. Some carefully considered music and an unreliable sunroof would help me ignore such things, and in case the brittle engine decided to suddenly get cruelly interesting, there was a bottle of 2009 Blended Coolant from Chateau Canadian Tire in the trunk. Read more

Field Trip #589: How To Deface A Winery And Not Get Arrested…

by Andrew Morrison | I’ve spent the better part of the last few weeks zipping up and down from the Okanagan Valley camping, resort-hopping, eating, sippng and generally taking it easy. In that time I’ve visited dozens of wineries, old and new.

Though I’ve long loved their products, the architecture and design has often left plenty to be desired. The lack of representative style has always irked. More often than not – perhaps out of fear that they won’t be taken seriously – owners tend to produce on a stunted aesthetic that replicates what they see and over-respect in their French, Spanish, Italian and Californian counterparts.

It’s aspirational thinking, and as a consequence we have not a few absurd-looking Italian villa-flavoured Burgundian chateau buildings with Spanish tiled roofs and Napa-inspired tasting rooms painted in seven shades of Tuscan regret. It may be a sad testament to a tremendous lack of self confidence on our part (not to mention taste), but I prefer to think of it as an opportunity to do something different. Read more

The View From Your Window #98

(ed. note: I know the View From Your Window postings are reserved for Scout readers, but I’d love to contribute just once! I took this one last night during a dinner on a beachfront property in Summerland. It was one of the craziest storms I’d ever seen and was lucky enough to catch a bolt)

“A.M.” | Summerland, BC | 9:12pm | SHARE YOUR VIEW

We love posting the photographs that reveal the views from our reader’s windows. Whether it’s a back alley in the fall or a sandy beach in high summer, we’re always stoked to see what you see from home, work or while on the road. Some of our all-time favourite reader submissions below… Read more

Awesome Thing We Ate #846: “Risi Bisi” Arancini At Osoyoos’ Watermark Wine Bar

Last night’s spring pea risotto balls | Watermark Wine Bar | Osoyoos, BC

GOODS: Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars Throws Open The Doors To Its Tasting Room

Blue Mountain | 2385 Allendale Rd. | Okanagan Falls, BC | 250-497-8244 | bluemountainwinery.com

The GOODS from Blue Mountain

Okanagan Falls, BC | Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars is pleased to announce that effective immediately, its tasting room will be open Monday to Saturday from 11:00am to 5:00pm, May through early October. The Okanagan winery changed from appointment-only hours to this more expansive schedule to accommodate the increasing number of visitors wishing to sample its wines on-site.

The extended tasting room hours at the winery will allow more visitors, both domestic and international, to experience tasting Blue Mountain wines at their source, within view of the Okanagan Valley estate’s vineyards and winemaking facilities.  “Blue Mountain is blessed with a truly spectacular setting,” says Christie Mavety, Owner and Sales & Marketing Manager.  “The new tasting room hours will make it more convenient for wine lovers to visit and taste Blue Mountain’s wines, right where they’re made.” Learn more about Blue Mountain after the jump… Read more

GOODS: Mission Hill Family Estate Hosting “Three Chefs In The Vineyard” Dinner

Mission Hill is located at 1730 West Bank Rd in West Kelowna, BC | 250-768-7611 | missionhillwinery.com

The GOODS from Mission Hill Family Estate

Vancouver, BC | On Saturday, August 27, Mission Hill Family Estate and The Glowbal Collection present an exclusive wine country collaboration. The ‘Three Chefs in the Vineyard’ dinner features Matthew Batey (Executive Winery Chef at Terrace, Mission Hill) and Vancouver-based culinary artists Dennis Peckham (Executive Chef, COAST Restaurant) and Ryan Gauthier (Corporate Chef, The Glowbal Collection).

To set the mood and start the soiree, fresh summer wines and canapés are served between rows of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines.

Next, guests stroll to the Terrace restaurant where inviting and dramatic harvest tables are set for an amiable evening of dining ‘al fresco’. A locally-inspired four-course menu is presented by this trio of chefs, expertly paired with highlights from the winery cellar — all while being surrounded by the natural beauty of the Okanagan Valley.

Experience an intimate gathering with fellow food and wine lovers, enticed by rich experiences, great company and creative chefs — from some of BC’s favourite and most memorable restaurants. Details after the jump… Read more

The View From Your Window #87

Reader “J.I.” | Overlooking the lake | Osoyoos, BC | 7:45pm | SHARE YOUR VIEW

We love posting the photographs that reveal the views from our reader’s windows.Whether it’s a back alley in the fall or a sandy beach in high summer, we’re always stoked to see what you see from home, work or while on the road. Some of our all-time favourite reader submissions below… Read more

GOODS: Orofino Winery Teams With Joy Road For True “Farm To Plate” Experience

Orofino Winery is located at 2152 Barcelo Road in Cawston, BC | 250-499-0068 | www.orofinovineyards.com

The GOODS from Orofino

Cawston, BC | This unique event celebrates the beauty of the Similkameen Valley in all her forms. The evening will consist of a five course meal involving only the best foods provided by artisan producers from within a 1.6 mile radius of Orofino Winery.  Each course will be expertly crafted by chefs Cameron Smith and Dana Ewart, owners of the highly regarded Joy Road Catering company. Delectable surprises, unique produce and world-class flavours will be paired with Orofino’s best wines. Please join us in our beautiful winery courtyard for an enchanted evening of fine dining, remarkable wine, and good company! Get all the details after the jump… Read more

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