Fall has officially arrived as of last Friday and with that, the unofficial start of the wine harvest.  In talking to a few growers and winemakers, they have mentioned that this year’s harvest has progressed dramatically over the past month and should be very good in terms of the quality although the quantity will be diminished, much like last year.  The past few weeks of cooler morning temperature and warm afternoons has been quite beneficial to the grapes, allowing them to fully ripen.

This weekend is the Okanagan Valley’s premier wine event, the 32th Annual Fall Wine Festival.  This 10 day celebration of wine is the highlight of the Okanagan wine season, showcasing around 160 events throughout the valley, focusing on wine tastings, winemaker dinners, educational seminars and art exhibits.  It is consistently ranked in the top 100 events in North America by the American Bus Association.

The festival kicks off on September 29th with the BC Wine Awards Reception & Tasting.  Be there when the medals for the best BC wines are passed out.  Be one of the first to try the medal winners at the Medal Winners Tasting and compare your assessment of the wines with the judge’s ratings and find out why they awarded these medals.   

Friday September 30^th is the 27th Annual People’s Choice Awards.  Hosted by the Coast Capri Hotel, this is an opportunity for you the consumer to take part in a blind wine tasting, become a wine judge and vote for your favourite varietal.  This is a laid back, fun affair that draws over 35 different wineries from the valley and usually sells out quickly.  Tickets are $50.00.  Contact the Coast Capri at 860-6060 or email at k.dorcas@coastcaprihotel.com.

Be sure to set aside time on September 30^th and October 1^st for the WestJet Wine Tasting at The Rotary Centre for the Arts.  This is an excellent opportunity to sample some of the superb wines that are being produced right here in our own back yard and expand your wine knowledge, all under one roof.  Tickets are $65 and it is highly recommended you buy your ticket quickly before they are all sold out.

On Sunday October 2nd, make it a point to travel to Oliver for one of my favourite events, the 15th Annual Festival of the Grape.  Much more than just a wine tasting, this is a family-orientated event featuring the wine tasting, face painting, live entertainment, food booths, trade show, games and a Grape Stomp.  A celebration of the harvest with a family focus, it is held at the Oliver Community Park alongside the Okanagan River, from noon to sundown.  There will be over 34 wineries and 17 food vendors for you to check out.  Tickets can be purchased in advance for $19 or $22 at the gate and it is recommended that you purchase your tickets in advance to avoid the VERY long line ups at the gate.  Tickets can be purchased by calling the Oliver and District Chamber of Commerce office at 250-498-6321, ext 1.  Check out the website at www.festivalofthegrape.ca.

The festival wraps up on October 7th and 8th with the Valley First Grand — sponsored Grand Finale Consumer Tasting at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre on Friday and Saturday night.  This is the premier event of the Fall Wine Festival where over 60 wineries come out, pouring over 240 wines.  Many of these wineries are from the south Okanagan and sometimes will not make it to the Kelowna area to showcase their product.  A fantastic event, this is the ultimate wine tour.   Tickets are $62 and are available through Valley First Tix at 1-877-76-.2849 or online at www.valleyfirsttix.com.  This event is always a sell out so buy your tickets early!!!

There are numerous events happening during the ten day festival at individual wineries and restaurants so check them out in the Wine Festival guide, available at selected retail stores or online at www.thewinefestivals.com.

In Vino Veritas

Weekend Wine Picks:

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and that means…TURKEY!!  However, not everyone will be enjoying Turkey so here is a broad selection of wines, for Turkey lovers and others.

Always a BC favourite, the 2010 Quails Gate Gewürztraminer ($21) does not disappoint.  One of the best from Quails’ Gate that I have tasted in years, this vintage seems a bit of departure from previous years in that it is tasting more like ripe Alsatian Gewürzt than a BC style, which I think is great.  Perfumed and aromatic on the nose, the texture and flavour on the palate are absolutely hedonistic.  Almost liqueur-like because of the viscosity, the flavours are loaded with vibrant tropical and orchard fruit, hints of lychee, orange blossom, and a mouth-watering whack of spicy acidity on the finish.

Sourced from owner/winemaker Bill Eggert’s own vineyard, the 2009 Fairview Cellars Cabernet Franc ($33) wine is one of the finest reds of the 2009 vintage.  The wine is brimming with rich, ripe cassis, blackberry, plum, licorice, menthol, Asian spice, creamy vanilla, toasty oak…a mouthful of complex aromas and flavours.  The texture is velvety soft and elegant but with ripe tannins and a long, intense finish. It doesn’t get much better than this. YUMMY!!! 

The 2009 Red Bridge Red ($29.90) is a 100% Merlot sourced exclusively from Chris Scott’s Oak Knoll vineyard in Kaleden.  Displaying a rich blood red colour, this wine is explosive on the palate displaying powerful aromas of blackberry, cassis, creamy vanilla, cocoa and toast.  Intense grilled sausage, spiced cardamom, clove and blackberry with a soft, juicy palate, exceptional weight and lush, spicy finish, this wine will need another six months to show its true potential.  While the production has increased to 650 cases, allocations for the retail market are minuscule. Grab yours why you can and stow them away.