Media Releases

For Immediate Release:
August 23, 2017

Suggested Tweet: 150 BC VQA wines paired with food by 17 top chefs at @WineBCdotcom @ChefmeetsBCGrape Okanagan Festival this weekend
https://www.chefmeetsbcgrapeokanagan.com/

British Columbia – The Wines of British Columbia‘s inaugural Chef Meets BC Grape Okanagan Wine and Food Experience four-day festival weekend kicks off this Thursday in the heart of BC wine country bringing together 17 Canadian top chefs, 50 award-winning BC wineries, and special guests in a multi-event series celebrating the best of BC wine and food.

“There has never been a more exciting time to visit the wine regions of British Columbia than now. With breathtaking scenery, award-winning wineries and a delicious food scene, the four-day Chef Meets BC Grape Okanagan wine and food experience is the best way to sample the bounty of BC wine and food this summer, highlighting all things grown, crushed, raised and produced in British Columbia,” notes Miles Prodan, CEO and President of the BC Wine Institute.

In addition to the star-studded chef-collaborative winemakers’ dinners including, the First Nations Elements Dinner, Icons of Wines and Food Dinner and Sunday Bubbles and Brunch, the Taste of the Okanagan signature tasting event on Saturday, August 26 is not to be missed. This outdoor festival will invite guests to tempt their taste buds with celebrated star chefs and 34 award-winning BC wineries from the glorious vantage point of See Ya Later Ranch in Okanagan Falls.

Video: Master of Wine Rhys Pender gets excited for the Taste of the Okanagan Signature Event at See Ya Later Ranch on Saturday, August 26.

The day will include 10 chef stations; over 90 BC VQA Wines to sample; four food and wine pairing demonstrations from Chef Mark McEwan, Head Judge of Top Chef Canada, Chef Nicole Gomes, Top Chef Canada Allstars Winner and Chef David Beaudoin, Cheese Evangelist with the Dairy Farmer’s of Canada; wine seminars and vertical tastings of library wines examining why wines age and how BC wines are performing in this test of excellence.

Led by Master of Wine Rhys Pender, guests will have the opportunity to learn and taste from some of the top trending wine varieties and styles on the market in a series of educational wine tasting seminars throughout the day. From BC bubbles to elegant, sophisticated, dry Rosés, to the refreshing taste of BC’s light and juicy Gamay Noirs, these seminars will examine how BC’s unique climate makes it incredibly suitable for making these styles of wines that are gaining international recognition from top critics from around the world.

“The goal of this event is to showcase the very best of what BC’s wine and culinary regions have to offer at a premium level. Inviting Masters of Wine Marcus Ansems and Rhys Pender, and celebrated Audrey Surrao co-owner of RauDZ Regional Table, Micro Bar & Bites, and Terrafina at Hester Creek by Raudz to participate on a Chef Meets BC Grape Wine Selection Committee was one way of ensuring the best of BC’s favourite wineries are presented throughout the weekend,” notes Prodan.

“Our selection committee for Chef Meets Grape 2017 took great care to choose fantastic wines that showcase the best of our diverse terroir and a sense of place that is the signature of BC wines. As a unique venue, See Ya Later Ranch winery offers an incredible location that is breathtaking for anyone participating and learning about the Wines of British Columbia,” says Marcus Ansems MW, (B .Ag. Sci (Oen)) Co-Owner Daydreamer Wines and Grassroots Wine Consultants.

Video: Audrey Surrao co-owner of RauDZ Regional Table and Chef Meets BC Grape Wine Selection Committee 2017 comments on the Bubbles and Brunch at Terrafina Restaurant at Hester Creek Estate Winery on Sunday, August 27.

With many of British Columbia’s best BC VQA Wines and top chefs from across Canada descending on the South Okanagan to celebrate local cuisine, this promises to be one delicious weekend. Create a memorable journey this summer in BC wine country.

TICKETING INFORMATION:
For event details and tickets visit chefmeetsbcgrapeokanagan.com and WineBC.com.

PARTICIPATING WINERIES:
50th Parallel Estate Winery
Bench 1775 Winery
Black Hills Estate Winery
Black Sage Vineyard
Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery
C.C. Jentsch Cellars
Close du Soleil Winery
Crescent Hill Winery
Culmina Family Estate Winery
Dirty Laundry Vineyard
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery
Giant Head Estate Winery
Hester Creek Estate Winery
Hillside Winery
House of Rose Vineyards
Howling Bluff Estate Winery
Indigenous World Winery
Inniskillian Okanagan Vineyards
Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate
Kismet Estate Winery
Kraze Legs Vineyard and Winery
Laughing Stock Vineyards
Lavina Estate Winery
Le Vieux Pin Winery
Little Straw Vineyards Estate Winery
Meyer Family Vineyards
Monster Vineyards
Moon Curser Vineyards
Mt. Boucherie Winery
Nighthawk Vineyards
Nk’Mip Cellars
Osoyoos Larose Estate Winery
Painted Rock Estate Winery
Pentage Winery
Perseus Winery
Quail’s Gate Winery
River Stone Estate
Robin Ridge Winery
Savard Vines
See Ya Later Ranch
St Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery
Steller’s Jay
Stoneboat Vineyards
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Tantalus Vineyards
vinAmité Cellars

Wild Goose Vineyards