Media Releases

September 26, 2011 (Kelowna, BC) – ChefmeetsGrape, the largest annual celebration of the Wines of British Columbia and local food in Vancouver, toasted British Columbia’s vintners and chefs to a crowd of nearly 400 last Thursday at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The seventh annual event showcased 74 BC wineries and dishes from ten top chefs who were competing for the coveted Judges’ Choice Award for Best Dish & Pairing.

As in past years, the competition for top awards was fierce with top chefs from Whistler, Vancouver and the Okanagan participating in the evening’s wine and culinary challenge. The esteemed panel of judges, DJ Kearney, Judith Lane, Rhys Pender, Sid Cross and Tim Pawsey, were very impressed with the caliber of the dishes and the thoughtful pairings brought forward by the chefs. The top Judges’ Choice Award went to Executive Chef Chris Whittaker and his team from O’Doul’s Restaurant & Bar for their “Pinot Noir cured Pacific Provider wild pink salmon, warm Island chanterelle and bacon salad” that was perfectly paired with the 2009 Garry Oaks Pinot Noir from Salt Spring Island.

Taking a close second was Chef Jennifer Dodd from the newly opened Edible Canada at the Market with “Kasu marinated Qualicum Bay scallops, crispy Sloping Hills pork belly, spiced Okanagan peach and apricot compote” paired with the 2010 JoieFarm A Noble Blend from Naramata, and third place went to Chef James Ng from the Vancouver Convention Centre with “a duo of lamb – braised lamb neck mole with popcorn lamb sweetbread” paired with the 2009 Black Hills Syrah from Oliver.

Not only did the crowd get to sample over 250 BC VQA wines and 10 dishes, the event also featured tasty treats from the BC Shellfish Grower’s Association, Ethical Bean Coffee, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Gone Crackers, and Daniel le Chocolat Belge.

“ChefmeetsGrape gives us all a chance to celebrate our local producers and toast their successes,” says BC Wine Institute Executive Director Miles Prodan. “The Wines of British Columbia offer a true expression of their unique environment and provide the perfect pairings for our local cuisine, as demonstrated by the outstanding offerings last week.”

2011 Participating Wineries:

• Arrowleaf Cellars
• Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery
• Black Hills Estate Winery
• Blackwood Lane Winery
• Burrowing Owl Vineyards
• Calona Vineyards
• Cassini Cellars
• CedarCreek Estate Winery
• Church & State Wines
• Clos du Soleil Winery
• D’Angelo Estate Winery
• Desert Hills Estate Winery
• Dirty Laundry Vineyard
• Dunham & Froese Estate Winery
• Ex Nihilo Vineyards
• Fairview Cellars
• Fort Berens Estate Winery
• Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery
• Garry Oaks Winery
• Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery
• Gold Hill Winery
• Gray Monk Estate Winery
• Hainle Vineyards Estate Winery
• Hester Creek Estate Winery
• Howling Bluff Estate Winery
• Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards
• Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate
• JoieFarm
• Kalala Organic Estate Winery
• Kraze Legz Vineyard & Winery
• Lake Breeze Vineyards
• LaStella Winery
• Laughing Stock Vineyards
• Le Vieux Pin Winery
• Little Straw Vineyards
• Mission Hill Family Estate Winery
• Moon Curser Vineyards
• Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery
• Neck of the Woods Winery
• Nk’Mip Cellars
• Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery
• Okanagan Crush Pad Winery
• Osoyoos Larose
• Painted Rock Estate Winery
• Paradise Ranch Wines
• Peller Estates
• Poplar Grove Winery
• Quails’ Gate Estate Winery
• Red Rooster Winery
• Road 13 Vineyards
• Robin Ridge Winery
• Sandhill
• Saturna Island Family Estate Winery
• See Ya Later Ranch
• Seven Stones Winery
• Soaring Eagle Estate Winery
• Sonoran Estate Winery
• SpierHead Winery
• Sperling Vineyards
• St. Hubertus Estate Winery & Oak Bay Vineyard
• Stag’s Hollow Winery & Vineyard
• Stoneboat Vineyards
• Sumac Ridge Estate Winery
• Summerhill Pyramid Organic Winery
• Tangled Vines Estate Winery
• Tantalus Vineyards
• The View Winery
• Therapy Vineyards
• Thornhaven Estates Winery
• Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
• Township 7 Vineyards & Winery
• Vista D’oro Winery
• Wild Goose Vineyards & Winery
• Young & Wyse Collection

2011 Participating Restaurants:

• Alta Bistro
  • Lamb & ginger confit ravioli with thyme and lemon chutney served with lettuce, spinach and sweet dressing
  • Paired with 2008 Tantalus Old Vines Riesling
• Cibo Trattoria & UVA Wine Bar
  • Potato and goat cheese ravioli in red wine & golden chanterelle butter with crispy sage
  • Paired with 2009 Cassini Cellars Maximus
• Edible Canada at the Market (Second Place)
  • Kasu marinated Qualicum Bay scallop, crispy Sloping Hills pork belly, spiced Okanagan peach & apricot compote
  • Paired with 2010 JoieFarm A Noble Blend
• Fraîche Restaurant
  • Confit Thiessen Farms pheasant & wild mushroom on elderberry cracker with balsamic caviar
  • aired with 2008 Laughing Stock Portfolio
• Le Gavroche
  • Madeira braised lamb cheeks on cornbread with nectarine & mint compote
  • Paired with 2009 Clos du Soleil Signature
  • Homemade apple pie ice cream
• Miradoro
  • Okanagan’s finest angus beef albondigas with heirloom tomato sauce, parmesan tuile and micro arugula
  • Paired with 2008 Tinhorn Creek Oldfield Series Merlot
• O’Doul’s Restaurant & Bar (First Place)
  • Pinot Noir cured Pacific Provider wild pink salmon, warm Island chanterelle and bacon salad
  • Paired with 2009 Garry Oaks Pinot Noir
• Terminal City Club Cuvée Wine Bar
  • Horseradish and beet cured spring salmon, peppered pork terrine with grapefruit marmalade
  • Paired with 2010 Wild Goose Pinot Gris
• Yew Restaurant + Bar
  • Wild ‘hook & line’ caught organic ocean pink salmon 3 ways – smoked, cured and tartare with spicy BC honey vinaigrette
  • Paired with 2009 Painted Rock Chardonnay
• Vancouver Convention Centre Catering (Third Place)
  • A duo of lamb – braised lamb neck mole with popcorn lamb sweetbread
  • Paired with 2009 Black Hills Syrah

Organized by the British Columbia Wine Institute (BCWI), ChefmeetsGrape is proud to support the Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise program.

@winebcdotcom
Event hashtag: #ChefmeetsGrape

For further information:
Lindsay Kelm
Communications Manager
lkelm@winebc.com
tel. 250-762-9744 ext. 103
cell. 250-317-8688

British Columbia Wine Institute
Suite 107 – 1726 Dolphin Avenue
Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 9R9
www.winebc.org
twitter.com/winebcdotcom
phone. 250-762-9744
toll free. 1-800-661-2294
fax. 250-762-9788

About the BC Wine Institute (BCWI)
Since 1990, the BCWI has played a pivotal role in taking BC’s wine industry from a vision to an internationally recognized niche region producing premium wines and providing quality wine tourism experiences.

Representing 119 member wineries throughout the province, the BCWI supports and markets the Wines of British Columbia (BC VQA), which gives consumers assurance they are buying a wine that is 100% from BC. The BCWI also markets the Wine Regions of BC; delivers quality trade, media and consumer tastings; and acts as the voice of BC’s wine industry by advocating to government on behalf of its members.

About BC VQA
BC VQA = 100% BC Wine. BC VQA is an appellation of origin system that guarantees authenticity of origin and stipulates minimum quality standards for BC wines. Please visit winebc.com to learn more.

About Ocean Wise™
The Ocean Wise symbol next to a menu or seafood item is the Vancouver Aquarium’s assurance of an ocean-friendly seafood choice. With over 3,100 Ocean Wise partner locations across Canada, Ocean Wise makes it easy for consumers to make sustainable seafood choices that ensure the health of our oceans for generations to come. Learn more at www.oceanwise.ca.