By Kate Colley – Last weekend was Banée, the South Okanagan’s Secret Wine Festival. I was hired to put together a Lower Mainland food/wine media press trip, and 10 of us spent three days in Osoyoos and Oliver learning about the terroir and taste of the South Okanagan. We stayed at the desert-inspired Spirit Ridge Resort and it was a blast. Despite being six months pregnant and surrounded by (mostly) tasty wine for days, I had a good time helping Jay Drysdale lead the group. We began standing atop “vistas” on the east and west sides of Hwy 97 – named the Golden Mile Bench and Black Sage Bench accordingly – to gain perspective on what is arguably BC’s best growing region. There are subtleties and benefits to each bench and these were discussed in a “Bench vs. Bench Smackdown” tastings.

Having listened to winemakers and media at each stop and during tastings, it was clear that there were many different opinions on pesticides, slope, temperature, soil, aspect, grape varietals, public opinion and resulting sales. Representatives included winemakers from Gehringer Brothers, Dunham & Froese, Black Hills, Tinhorn Creek, Oliver Twist, Quinta Ferreira, Cassini Cellars, Hester Creek, Desert Hills, Road 13 and more. Their goals are straightforward – to make the best possible South Okanagan wines that reflect the area’s distinctiveness (and to sell them all for a profit).

Exceptional palates and the expertise that years of traveling and tasting through the world’s wine regions gave the media in attendance a very global perspective – something that area winemakers can definitely benefit from. Constructive criticism, colourful discussions and, thanks to David Scholefield, several unusual analogies flew about the room – all with the purpose of getting to know the South Okanagan better.

Newcomer Cassini Cellars, with its brand new burnt orange winery (virtually on the curb of Hwy 97 in Oliver) is one to watch. Tasting blind, the winery was liberally praised from wine heavy weights for its Pinot Noir and to-be-named blended red. Currently priced at under $25 – it’s a steal.

We paid a visit to hidden gem Covert Farms, a 700-acre largely organic (striving for biodynamic) farm on a picturesque clearing with an unparalleled view of McIntyre Bluff, worth a stop in the summer for fresh local produce, to visit Dunham & Froese vineyards and to park for a hike up the celebrated rock face.

Osoyoos’ answer to Urban Fare and Tools & Techniques is Home Hardware – come here for cooking demos (we just missed Edible BC’s Eric Pateman) and elusive culinary wares and products. Don’t miss lunch at Dolce Deli, also on the main drag. Pedigreed bakers and owners, run a fantastic little shop featuring charcuterie, cheese, quiche, desserts (TO-DIE-FOR), a cosy outdoor patio and some specialty finds like pickled plums and white balsamic that got all the foodies tingling. So good.

We saddled up to the Corkscrew Saloon, a community event for Oliver residents to taste local wines and restaurant fare, fearing a whole lotta hokey. It was indeed hokey, with a casino, jail and Mae West-esqe MC, but it was fun. Lots of wines to taste, all the local vintners on hand to chat, hearty local food and a sincere community feel.

Back at Spirit Ridge, the in-house restaurant, Passatempo’s new chef Jonathan Thauberger put on a great spread of rabbit, bison, duck and delicious Orin apple courses – all paired blind with South Okanagan and global wines for contrast and benchmarking.

The finale of the weekend was the much ballyhooed Banée. Held for the first time on the outdoor patio of Passa Tempo, the event’s elegance was kicked up a notch this year. It was fantastic! A ticketed and open-to-the-public (in the know) dinner, the Banée brings together South Okanagan winemakers, owners, industry, media and aficionados. Everyone brings wines from their own shop as well as wonderful wines from around the world. I didn’t know about the second part going in and ended up with a brilliant seat across from David Scholefield , Sid & Joan Cross and in between chef Ned Bell and Quinta Ferreira’s winemaker.

Dozens of bottles of wines are placed on shelves or in iced buckets that everyone can help themselves to. The idea is that you grab a bottle, taste it and pass it on for another table to try. David and Sid brought bottle after bottle of celebrated wines to our table – shared their significance with our group and brought everyone’s palates up to speed. Wines were regularly scooped up from the table and new ones took their place throughout the night. Food was served family style and a great sense of fun and camaraderie ruled the night. I am eagerly anticipating next year’s Banée when I can actually drink the wines – though this year’s clarity helps in reporting all the fun.

Summer’s Coming!

One of my very favourite things about the Okanagan – the Penticton Farmer’s Market – starts next weekend! Saturday, May 2. We made it through the winter!

The Okanagan Spring Wine Festival begins on Friday, April 30th – visit www.ows.com for complete details. There are dozens of events happening across the region from north to south. I’m excited about the Naramata Bench’s free Roll Out the Barrels celebration and the Terasen Gas Gourmet & Grapes Gala held at Kelowna’s Cabana Grille on May 3., when chef extraordinaire David Hawksworth will take part in an Iron Chef Showdown with Cabana chef/co-owner Ned Bell.

Love Nota Bene? Love Jason Priestly? Black Hills is having their ultra-chic Nota Bene Release Party on June 12 at the winery.

Feast of Fields’ Okanagan date and venue have been confirmed. Mark your calendar for a day of local eating and drinking on Sunday, August 23 at Summerland’s Valentine Farms.

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Kate Colley is one of BC’s top lifestyle and tourism media specialists. Her work has seen her in travel and tourism; the luxury, culinary, interior design and retail sectors; and promoting the brands of spas, destinations and wineries. Kate established her private communications business in 2006 following her roles as communications director at Top Table Restaurant Group and Manager of Travel & Trade Media Relations at Tourism Vancouver. An avid traveler, Kate splits her time between offices in Vancouver and the Okanagan where she takes advantage of the two regions’ vibrant restaurant and wine scenes.

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Granted, few travellers will set out to Penticton in blustery, blizzardy weather, and in the case of avoiding a long line up for the city’s (perhaps the world’s) best sandwich at Il Vecchio’s Delicatessen…I’m glad of it. I don’t want to share.

A few (million) snowflakes didn’t stop me from driving 10 kilometers straight across town to the off-the-beaten track deli where a trio of seemingly serious, hard-working Italian mamas put together delicious custom combinations of meat, cheese and condiments for less than five bucks. In fact, for less than five bucks ($4.47) I had the four-meat (prosciutto, salami, capicollo, ham), double cheese (hit me twice Havarti) sweet mustard, marinated artichoke, sun-dried tomato and lettuce combo on a crusty Kaiser roll with pickles on the side. Knowing this kind of quality sandwich is out there for such a fantastic price reminds me of that sad-looking, pre-packaged $9.99 USD Wolfgang Puck turkey bun I just couldn’t bring myself to buy during a hungry wait at the Orange County airport a few weeks back. This tiny slice of top notch Commercial Drive Italia (at retro prices) makes Il Vecchio’s a prized local institution. I figure if I give it up in winter I won’t get beaten up as much for making the worthwhile wait a bit longer.

You can find it at 317 Robinson Street, near the bus station.

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Catch the holiday spirit in the Okanagan this month with musicals, trains, hockey games, live music performances, multi-course dinners, New Year’s Eve bashes, winter markets and yes, even a celebrated Neil Diamond impersonator…

In Summerland & Penticton…

If your New Year’s resolution was less Access Hollywood and more culture vulture head down to the circa 1956 PenMar movie theatre for Saturday morning broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera. The cameras get so close you can see the spit fly! Next up Thaïs (Massenet), La Rondine (Puccini) and Orfeo ed Eruadice (Gluck), to name a few. Click here for complete schedules and story lines.

And in Kelowna

The Kelowna Farmer’s & Crafter’s Market is the biggest farmers market in the interior of BC with over 160 stands at the height of the summer. While smaller in the winter months, steadfast merchants still display their wares indoors at the Parkinson’s Recreation Centre.

I am confused…. and this is a good thing.

The ability to become aware of one’s mental state is the first step on the road to enlightenment. Alright then, this isn’t so hard.

According to author and yoga scholar, Frank Jude Boccia, yoga is the pursuit of liberation from samsara (loosely defined here as “suffering”). Rethink suffering as stress, a sore back, inflexibility, flab, indifference, ignorance, the dreaded monkey mind and/or anything that causes discomfort. Boccia suggests that we come to yoga in search of freedom.

Much of my second round of yoga teacher training was spent with Boccia who generously shared his personal experiences and knowledge gathered during his 30 years of study, taking us swiftly though 5,000 years of yoga history and philosophy.

The study of yoga reminds me of the study of wine – the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know. And to students of both, this is generally a good thing, with the possibilities of “enlightenment” remaining a largely positive and satisfying pursuit.

More than 20 million people now practice yoga in the West – most are involved in Hatha yoga as a physical exercise and relaxation regimen and leave yoga’s spiritual aspects on the cutting room floor. However, many modern yogis start with the physical and open up to the depth of the practice.

I cannot begin to scrape the surface… but here are a few things that resonate from my recent 10 days of study and practice.

• Let it go already! Non-attachment – experiencing and then flowing through feelings and emotions (bad or good) without holding on – is integral to the practice and to a happier life.
• Yoga as the physical activity we know it as today has only been happening for about 300 years. Historical yoga practice was almost entirely a mental and spiritual practice.
• Yoga is alive – it continues to evolve – and becomes relevant and new to those who study it. It is open to interpretation and change.
• Mediation builds self-awareness and is essential to enlightenment, not to mention a calming and centering activity for our busy lives.
• Learning Sanskrit is tricky. Every traditional yoga pose has an intimidating Sanskrit name. From Tadasana ((standing tree pose) to Savasana (corpse pose) there are dozens of Asanas (postures) in between. A couple faves: Wheel Pose – Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel pose) and Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (revolved half moon pose).
• Ahimsa: Gandhi lived by the belief and it is a key tenant in yoga. Defined as non-violence, kindness, awareness, patience, understanding and self-love. Practicing Ahimsa doesn’t mean being a doormat but rather setting boundaries for peace.
• What’s your Dosha? (www.whatsyourdosha.com). This one is fun. Ayurveda (Life Science) continues to be an influential system of health and wellness throughout history. Ayurveda operates roughly on the principle of balance within an individual and varying body types. Are you Pitta (fire & water), Vata (space & air), Kapha (water & earth) or the ulimate Tri-Doshic specimen?
• n particular I am studying Anusara yoga. It is a branch of Hatha yoga established in 1997 by John Friend and it speaks to the evolution of yoga. Anusara has a focus on both physical alignment principles, “celebration of heart” and ethical guidelines.

Just a tip of the yoga iceberg…

The wheels are in motion for the inaugural Feast of Fields Okanagan. There’s unlikely a better fit for this grass-roots celebration of local farms, producers, vintners and chefs. Ned Bell, executive chef and co-owner of Kelowna’s Cabana Bar and Grille has recently returned from meetings with Farm Folk/City Folk Project Manager Bonita Jo Magee and they’re off and running.

Preliminary stages of planning the ultimate “gourmet wandering picnic harvest festival” have begun with the following tasks on the go: review of suitable farms in the area, date selection, recruiting board members and volunteers and the hiring of a dedicated event coordinator. The contract position would begin in April 2009 and run through the conclusion of the event in September. For complete details on the posting visit here.

Rumour has it that some of BC’s best and brightest Okanagan-based talents will lend their experience, vision and hands-on help to increase awareness and appreciation for local food, wine, agriculture and sustainable food systems.

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