Wine Geek Challenge - Answer Key

This is the answer key for the Are You a Wine Geek Quiz. If you’ve found it by mistake - have a little fun and go back and take the challenge.

Now it’s time to see how much of a wine geek you really are. Here are the correct answers:

1. Where do tannins in wine come from?

Answer: D

As it relates to winemaking, tannins are a polyphenol found predominantly in grape skins. However, tannins also naturally occur in grape seeds and stems. Oak also contains some tannins so winemakers may increase the tannins in a wine when they use oak barrels to age the wine. Alternatively, it is also possible to increase the amount of tannins in wine by adding a powered form of concentrated tannins - however, this is not a very common practice.

2. Why would a winemaker interrupt fermentation?

Answer: C

Arresting the fermentation process before it is fully complete stops the yeast from consuming all of the natural sugar from the grapes. This allows winemakers to create a naturally sweeter wine.

3. What is Noble Rot

Answer: B

Botrytis cinerea, ‘grey fungus’, or noble rot affects ripe grapes usually in wet conditions. If these conditions are followed by dry conditions the fungus causes the grapes to shrivel. Wine made from these grapes are particularly sweet and are referred to as botrytized wines.

4. Why can’t you call Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut a Champagne?

Answer: D

Only wine made in the Champagne region of France (in the northeast part of the country) can carry the name ‘Champagne’. So, despite the fact that all of the Steller’s Jay sparkling wines are made using the traditional Champagne-method of winemaking - it cannot be called Champagne.

5. What are you describing when you talk about ‘the finish’ when wine tasting?

Answer: A

Wine can taste different after it leaves the mouth. This lingering effect is part of the wine-tasting experience and is considered ‘the finish’. When discussing the finish, wine experts will note things like the flavour, how long it lingers, and if it is pleasant.

6. If you were in Austria, how would you order ice wine?

Answer: C

Eiswein is a German word that translated to ice (eis) wine (wein). Since eiswein originated in Germany, Austrian wineries use the German name.

7. What should you avoid when tasting wine?

Answer: D

To create the perfect wine tasting environment, you want to limit anything that will distract your five senses.  Here’s an article where we share tips on hosting an elevated wine tasting experience.

8. Which Great Estates Okanagan winemaker won winemaker of the year at the 2018 International Wine and Spirits Competition?

Answer: A

Inniskillin Okanagan winemaker, Derek Kontkanen accepted the prestigious award in London, England at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in November 2018. But, our other wineries are not without accolades! For example, Nk’Mip Cellars has been named winery of the year in multiple award competitions including the InterVin International Wine Awards in 2016/17.

9. Which of these wines cannot go in a traditional red Meritage?

Answer: Gamay Noir.

Meritage is traditionally made with ‘noble’ varieties originating from the Bordeaux region of France. Gamay Noir originated from the Burgundy region and was much maligned by aristocrats. It is now popular in the Beaujolais and Loire Valley regions of France as well as in the Okanagan. It’s often blended with traditional Meritage varietals but including it in a blend means you can no longer call it a Meritage. Did you know you can try your hand at creating the perfect blend in our Mastering Meritage workshop using Black Sage Wines? It’s held at Sumac Ridge periodically throughout the year.

10. How many small glasses (125 ml) of wine can you get from a standard bottle of wine?

Answer: A

A regular 750 ml bottle of wine contains 6 small glasses of wine of about 4 oz each. The common ‘industry pour’ is 5 oz meaning you’ll get about 5 glasses out of each bottle.  

11. Why do we decant wine?

Answer: D

Decanting wine will aerate the wine which will open it up on the nose and palate (especially in a young wine). Slowly decanting an older bottle of wine will also ensure that any sediment remains at the bottom of the bottle (typically in older bottles of wine).

12. Why should you use a varietal specific glass when enjoying wine?

Answer: A

Varietal-specific glasses are created by looking at where each wine would ideally land in the mouth and designing a glass that will deliver it there. Really - it’s science (which we explore in detail in this article). It is true, that some glasses (like the Icewine glass) were also designed to improve aeration during the swirl but this is not necessarily true across the board.

13. What wine would pair well with blue cheese?

Answer: D

Blue cheese is a very interesting and versatile cheese to pair with wine! Not only does it change the taste of the wine, but the wine can dramatically alter the flavour of the cheese. Want to up your wine-and-cheese-pairing know-how? The Great Estates Wine Experience Centre offers an amazing, elevated wine tasting with cheese pairings.

14. What temperature should wine be cellared at?

Answer: B

All wine varieties should be stored in a dark cool room that is consistently between 10 - 15° C. One of the biggest mistakes people make is storing wine on or above their refrigerator.

15. Where is the Great Estates Wine Experience Centre located?

Answer: D

The Great Estates Wine Experience Centre opened in September 2018 in downtown Penticton next to the Penticton Lakeside Resort. It’s open year round for wine tastings (featuring all of the Great Estate Wineries - including winery-exclusives) and elevated wine tasting experiences.  

16. What’s the difference between aging wine in a French oak barrel versus an American oak barrel?

Answer: B

According to the Wine Spectator, “Speaking in broad generalities, French oak barrels are typically more subtle and spicy, offering textures of satin or silk. American barrels tend to be stronger in flavor, often described as cream soda, vanilla, or coconut, resulting in wines with a more creamy texture.”

17. What colour are the grapes used to make Zinfandel?

Answer: C

Zinfandel comes from a grape with black skin. The variety is believed to originate from Croatia but has become popular in both the old and new world because of its high sugar content.  

18. Gewurztraminer is a popular wine in Germany. What is the German origin of the word?

Answer: D

Gewurtz in German translates to ‘spice’. The second part gets its name from an area known as Tramin which is in the south Tyrol region of northern Italy. Grapes originating from this area are known as Traminer (as in ‘from Tramin’).  

19. Where is the first officially recognized sub appellation in BC?

Answer: A

The Golden Mile Bench became the first sub appellation of the Okanagan Valley Designated Viticultural Area in 2014. It is identified as an east-facing bench on the side of a mountain just south of Oliver, BC. Despite the elevation, it is actually much warmer than the Valley floor which means that it is ideal for growing grapes that need a bit more heat and would be susceptible to frost. Inniskillin’s Dark Horse Estate Vineyard is located in the Golden Mile Bench.

Okanagan Falls was named BC’s second sub appellation in 2018.

20. What does terroir refer to in wine tasting?

Answer: B

Terroir is how all environmental factors (land, soil composition, climate, and farming practices) are represented and realized in the final wine product.

How many did you get right? Share your score on social media and be sure to tag us #greatestatesokanagan so we don’t miss it!

And, make sure you don’t share this secret answer key before everyone has a chance to test their own knowledge with the quiz. Shhhhh.

Are You a Wine Geek? Take the Challenge

Test your Wine Knowledge with this Quiz

Quizzes are a fun way to engage your guests at a gettogether. And, if they love wine, then this will give them a chance to show off their knowledge.

If you’re doing this at a party, you can either give people noisemakers (so they can ‘ring in’ when they know the answer) or give everyone a notepad so they can jot down their answers which you can tally at the end. As the host, you’ll want to have the answer key handy.

If you’re doing this on your own and want to see how you rate on the wine-geek scale, then jot down your answers before referring to the answer key which you’ll find a link to at the bottom of the quiz.

Of course, this best to do with a glass (or two) of wine. We recommend pairing party quizzes with something bubbly like See Ya Later Brut, Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut, or Inniskillin Sparkling Tempranillo.

Good luck!

1. Where do tannins in wine come from?

1. The seeds, stems, skins, and oak
2. The seeds, stems, and skins
3. A powder added to the wine
4. All of the above

2. Why would a winemaker interrupt fermentation?

1. To create bubbles
2. To make the wine dry
3. To make the wine sweet
4. To make it in the Verde style

3. What is Noble Rot

1. Mold that makes the grape poisonous
2. Mold that causes the grape to shrivel
3. Mold that causes the grape to ferment on the vine
4. A punk band

4. Why can’t you call Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut a Champagne?

1. It’s not made in the Champagne style
2. The grapes aren’t grown in the Champagne style
3. The grapes are not heated before fermentation
4. The grapes are not grown in the right region

5. What are you describing when you talk about ‘the finish’ when wine tasting?

1. The aftertaste of the wine
2. The last glass poured from the bottle
3. How the wine coats the mouth
4. When a wine triggers the taste buds

6. Canada has amazing ice wines - the best in the world according to the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2018. Another region well known for ice wine is Austria. What do they call it there?

1. Zweiwein
2. Auswein
3. Eiswein
4. Süsswein

7. What should you avoid when tasting wine?

1. Loud music & poor lighting
2. Perfume & air fresheners
3. Brushing your teeth
4. All of the above

8. Which Great Estates Okanagan winery won Canadian Wine Producer of the Year at the 2018 International Wine and Spirits Competition?

1. Inniskillin Okanagan Winery
2. Nk’Mip Cellars
3. Black Sage Vineyard
4. See Ya Later Ranch

9. Which of these wines cannot go in a traditional red Meritage?

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Gamay Noir, Petit Verdot, Gros Verdot, St. Macaire, or Carmenère.

10. How many small glasses (125 ml) of wine can you get from a standard bottle of wine?

1. 6
2. 5
3. 7
4. 4

11. Why do we decant wine?

1. To get rid of sediment in aged wines
2. To air the wine out
3. To help a young wine open up
4. All of the above

12. Why should you use a varietal specific glass when enjoying wine?

1. To ensure the wine hits the right part of your palate
2. So you know what type of wine is being served
3. The design is specific to how the variety needs to be swirled
4. All of the above

13. What wine would pair well with blue cheese?

1. Zinfandel
2. Port
3. Cabernet Franc
4. All of the above

14. What temperature should wine be cellared at?

1. 5 - 10° C
2. 10 - 15° C
3. 15 - 20°
4. None of the above

15. Where is the Great Estates Wine Experience Centre located?

1. At Sumac Winery
2. Vancouver
3. Osoyoos
4. Penticton

16. What’s the difference between aging wine in a French oak barrel versus an American oak barrel?

1. French imparts more vanilla or coconut notes
2. American imparts more vanilla or coconut notes
3. American imparts a more subtle flavour  influence
4. There’s no difference

17. What colour are the grapes used to make Zinfandel?

1. Pink
2. Red
3. Black
4. Green and red

18. Gewurztraminer is a popular wine in Germany. What is the German origin of the word?

1. Mountain wine made in the Tramin German Alps
2. Floral wine of mine
3. My favourite wine
4. Spice wine using grapes out of the Tramin region of Italy

19. Where is the first officially recognized sub appellation in BC?

1. Golden Mile Bench
2. Naramata Bench
3. Fraser Valley
4. Okanagan Falls

20. What does terroir refer to in wine tasting?

1. The healthy minerals in wine
2. How the land and climate affect the taste of the wine
3. The feeling you get when you realize you are out of wine
4. When wine tastes like dirt

That’s the end of the quiz. How well did you do? Find out using the ANSWER KEY.

Award one point for each correct answer.

In the case of a tie, use these bonus points to determine the true Wine Geek Champion.

• 1 bonus point if you belong to a wine club
• 2 bonus points if you’ve ever broken up with someone because they didn’t think wine was worth all of the fuss.
• 3 bonus points if you’ve got wine in your ‘cellar’ that’s been there for over a year.
• 5 bonus points if you’ve ever tasted the earth at a winery to get a sense of the terroir.
• 10 bonus points if you have a wine-related tattoo.

 

How to Master the Classic Pairing of Wine and Cheese

Creating Wine with Cheese Pairings Like a Pro

It’s a classic pairing - wine and cheese. But, do all wines go with all cheeses? The simple answer is no. Sure, you can enjoy any wine with any cheese but to get the most out of your cheese and your wine, you need to consider several things.

Just like wines, cheeses have complex flavour profiles and compositional nuances. They also come in a variety of textures which will change the mouthfeel and how long the flavour lingers. These all need to be considered when pairing them with a wine.

In a perfect pairing, the combination of the wine and cheese shifts the gastronomic experience from what you would taste and feel with each element individually. There is a craft to discovering these magical combinations.

Luckily, there are a few tricks to the trade and we’re sharing them in our Wine and Cheese ‘The Perfect Pairing’ Experience at the Great Estates Okanagan Wine Experience Centre in Penticton.

In this 60-minute session, you learn the essential skills to put together a truly harmonious wine and cheese pairing. We’ll sample a variety of wines (red, white and dessert-style) along with a selection of fine cheeses. Discover the secret to pulling out the nuttiness of a Gran Padano, complementing the creaminess of a Brie, or softening the power of a Blue cheese.

Join us for the extraordinary experience and prepare to wow your friends and family when you host a next-level wine and cheese party.

Book now as space is limited to 10 guests per session.

Wine and Cheese ‘The Perfect Pairing’

Venue: Great Estates Okanagan Wine Experience Centre
Time: Noonv
Price: $25 per person plus taxes
Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday
Reservations Required

 

How to Pick the Perfect Gift for the Oenophile on Your List

Gift Ideas for Wine-Lovers

Count yourself lucky if you've got a wine-lover on your list this holiday season. Just buy them some wine! We know it can be intimidating purchasing wine for someone who really knows their vino. Here are a few tips for buying wine for the oenophile on your holiday shopping list. 

Select a Crowd-Pleaser. 

What's their favourite wine? This is almost an impossible question because 1) it is likely to change often and 2) it might depend on their mood, their meal, or their company. Instead, stick with a crowd pleaser. This way, you can give it knowing it's a well-loved wine and they can serve it knowing it's a well-loved wine. Win-win. Not sure which are crowd pleasers? Visit the Great Estates Wine Experience Centre before the holidays, ask the winery associate to give you the low-down. The Centre stocks favoured wines from all of our Okanagan wineries so you're sure to find exactly what you're looking for. Did you know we have over 7 rosés to choose from and a wide selection of winery-exclusive wines?  And, as a bonus - you get to go to the tasting bar and discover for yourself why these are so popular! 

No time for that? Take advantage of Great Estates Okanagan's Gift Guide and online shopping. And, if you're buying for more than one wine-lover (and you want to get your shopping done all at once) email us to place a special order and we'll take care of all of the shipping for you.  

Give them an Award-winner. 

While everyone has their personal taste preference, the judges at wine competitions have honed theirs for years. When they get together and collectively agree that a wine is the best - it’s a pretty sure bet your loved one will agree. Or, at the very least be interested in trying it. 

Plus, buying an award-winning wine as a gift sends a clear message that you think they deserve the best. Select the Platinum, Double-Gold, or Gold winners from any wine competition to send this message. 

Find Something Unique. 

Every oenophile (or budding oenophile) loves to try wine. Experiencing a variety of different wines is the only way for them to develop their palate and increase their understanding of wine. So, give them a bottle that will expand their wine knowledge. 

For example, Tempranillo is not a very common variety in the Okanagan so giving them a bottle of the Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Tempranillo or Sparkling Tempranillo would be an exciting option. The Steller’s Jay Sparkling Shiraz is another unique wine that might fit the bill. There aren’t a lot of sparkling red wines that are produced in Canada. This is a style of wine more common in Australia, so giving them a bottle of this wine is like giving them an international experience. 

Make it Special. 

Some of the best gifts are the ones that we know the recipient wouldn’t buy for themselves. This is why icewine is such a common wine gift. Icewines tend to be a little more expensive and they are often enjoyed as a special treat. 

Icewines aren’t the only wines that fit this bill. A fortified wine, like Black Sage Vineyard Pipe, is another great option. This dessert-style, red wine is generally served after dinner and savoured over conversation. 

Of course, there’s a bottle of bubbles. While we think any occasion is an occasion for sparkling wine, a gifted bottle certainly still holds that cachet of celebrations to come. 

Give them a Wine-tasting Experience Instead. 

If the thought of buying a wine still feels overwhelming, then give your loved one the opportunity to try a variety. All of our wineries offer elevated wine tasting experiences. These often include food pairings and an opportunity to taste winery exclusive wines. And, there’s always an education component which your oenophile is sure to love. For example, learning how to pair chocolate with wine, how sparkling wine is made, or how winemakers blend wine. 

There are also amazing wine and food events throughout the year at our wineries. One of our most popular is Chef Meets BC Grape. This event features wineries from all over the Okanagan as well as chefs from across BC. The food, wine, and atmosphere are spectacular. The event is held in the vineyard at See Ya Later Ranch in June and tickets are already available (at an early bird price until January 15, 2019). 

Gifts of experiences are often cherished because they generate such great memories. Why not make the experience extra special and include yourself in the gift? We bet time with you is gift enough. You can book an experience at any of our wineries or on our website. Gift certificates for experiences can also be picked up at the winery or online.

The Gift of Knowledge.

When people first get into wine, they learn about how to sniff and sip to determine if they like a wine or not. They might learn a little bit of wine vocabulary so they can describe how a wine smells or tastes. For a lot of people, this is enough. 

If someone is really keen to understand wine and the winemaking process, they take it a step further by registering for the WSET. The WSET is actually the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. They’ve created three levels of awards or levels that people can take to improve their understanding of wine. 

Many people who work in the wine industry have this designation. In the Okanagan, anyone keen to get their training can check out Wine Plus+ Wine School’s upcoming dates. Wine Master, Rhys Pender will certainly help your wine-enthusiast become a full-fledged oenophile. 

Hopefully, these tips help take the intimidation out of buying wine for an oenophile. But, if you’re still uncertain, you can always buy them wine accessories or novelties. Our winery stores all carry a variety of fun decorative items (for example, See Ya Later Ranch has a large selection of tongue-in-cheek, wine-themed signs and pillows), cookbooks, wine glasses, bottle openers, and a myriad of other vino-centric items. Why not make your shopping a little more fun? Stop by our wineries, enjoy a wine tasting, and browse the shop. 

5 Sparkling Cocktails That Will Make You the Host with the Most

To-Die-For Bubbly Cocktail Recipes

There’s nothing like a signature cocktail to start a party off right. Why not add some sparkle to the night by mixing up a few bubbly cocktails?

Here are a few tried and tested, show-stopping cocktails that will have your guests raving for weeks about your party.

Let’s kick things off with a cocktail that Shea shared with us LIVE in the Great Estates Okanagan Virtual Tasting Room (via our Facebook page). It’s called the Cranberry Fizz and it’s a perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and sparkly.

Cranberry Fizz

Ingredients (serves 6):

1 cup frozen cranberries
3.5 tablespoons of honey
1 cup coconut water
1 bottle of Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut (or, take it up a notch with Steller’s Jay Pinnacle available at the winery)

Method:

Blend cranberries, honey and coconut water on high until smooth.

Pour into a sugar-rimmed glass

Top with Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut or Steller’s Jay Pinnacle

Take your presentation over the top by garnishing with candied cranberries

The Grinch

Is it just us or does the Grinch get a bad wrap at this time of year? After all, he was transformed at the end of the book! This cocktail is just like the Grinch - despite its green colour, it’s nothing but goodness inside. Your guests’ hearts will grow three sizes with love for you after you serve them one of these.

Ingredients (serves 1):

2 ounces of Bols Melon or Midori Liqueur
A splash of Blue Curaçao or Bols Blue
3 ounces of pineapple juice
3 ounces of Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut

Method:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the melon liqueur, Blue Curaçao, and pineapple juice.

Shake. Shake. Shake.

Strain into a flute glass and top with Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut

Garnish with a small melon ball (optional)

Sparkling Moscow Mule

You think it’s cold here? Try being in Russia right now. Instead, why not just serve up a Russian inspired cocktail. Mules are super popular right now so why not add a little sparkle to this classic?

Ingredients (serves 1):

juice of 1 lime
1 ounce of vodka
1 ounce of simple syrup
3 ounces of ginger beer
3 1/2 ounces Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut

Method:

Chill your copper Moscow Mule cup with a few ice cubes.

Pour lime juice, vodka, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker.

Shake. Shake. Shake.

Pour over ice in your chilled cup.

Add ginger beer and Steller’s Jay Mountain Jay Brut.

Garnish with a lime wedge.

Sparkling Sangria

Your guests have never had sangria like this so prepare for some accolades and demands for the recipe. Feel free to get creative with the berry and fruit mix - add whatever you love.

Ingredients (makes a pitcher):

1 cup blended frozen berries
2 cups of cut oranges, strawberries, and blueberries
1/4 cup orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau)
2 cups fruit juice or sparkling water
1 bottle of Steller’s Jay Sparkling Shiraz ← This is the secret
 

Method:

One hour before guests arrive, combine blended berries, fruit, fruit juice, and orange liqueur in a large pitcher.

Refrigerate.

Just before guests arrive, add the bottle of Steller’s Jay Sparkling Shiraz.

Serve in tumblers over ice.

Christmas Morning Mimosa

Christmas morning is so much more civilized when you can welcome it with a mimosa. All of the adults will thank you for this one!

Ingredients (serves 1):

2 ounces of pomegranate juice
1 ounce of freshly-squeezed  lemon juice
3 1/2 ounces of Steller’s Jay Sparkling Rosé
Fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, lemon, pomegranate seeds, or raspberries) for garnish (optional)

Method:

Shake juices in a cocktail shaker with ice.

Strain into a glass.

Top with Steller’s Jay Sparkling Rosé.

Garnish with fruit.  

These bubbly cocktails are sure to add to the sparkle of the season. We hope they make your parties shine. Please enjoy responsibly.

Photo Credit (all images): Colony Digital

How the Right Wine Can Make Your Holiday Dinner

 

Do’s and Don’ts of Festive Meal Wine Pairings

What wine should you serve with a turkey dinner? What about before dinner or with dessert?

There are a lot of questions about wine when it comes to preparing your holiday feast. And, we know you want to get it right.

That’s why we’ve done all the planning for you. But instead of just tell you which wines will work best, we’d rather show you. And by show you, we mean let you taste it for yourself.

The Perfect Union: Holiday Feast is an afternoon of learning and enjoyment. Join us at Nk’Mip Cellars in Osoyoos. Experience the art of food and wine pairing with specially prepared holiday-season inspired food bites and award-winning Nk’Mip Cellars wine.

Whether you’re a wine aficionado or someone completely new to wine pairing, this event will show you how to elevate your holiday meal with the perfect wine selection. Space is limited so book now.

The Perfect Union: Holiday Feast

Venue: Nk'Mip Cellars

Time: 2 pm

Dates:

This event is in the past.

 SEE CURRENT EVENTS

 

Home for the Holidays at Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Winery

Kickstart the holiday season with this food and wine pairing event.

Come to the winery and enjoy an afternoon of fantastic wines and delicious food bites. It’s like a family gathering (without any of the work).

Our Home for the Holidays events include a finely curated selection of Inniskillin Okanagan, SunRock Vineyards, and Jackson-Triggs Okanagan wines. We pair these with delectable dishes that will have your taste buds dancing.

These amazing pairings will also help you host exceptional dinners and parties during the holiday season ahead.

For example, we might explore Christmas dinner pairings like turkey with jalapeno-and-tequila-infused bread stuffing in icewine-sage pan-sauce paired with 2017 Jackson-Triggs ‘Grand Reserve’ Riesling.

Or, how about something a little lighter like a 2017 Inniskillin ‘Discovery Series’ Sparkling Tempranillo paired with mixed greens with goat chevre, strawberries, white balsamic & pink peppercorn?

Perhaps, you’ll experience a twist on a classic pairing like the 2015 Sunrock Cabernet Sauvignon with braised beef wellington with a green peppercorn red wine pan sauce.

Is your mouth watering yet?

This is just a sample of the curated and carefully crafted food and wine pairings we've got planned for the Home for the Holidays events this year.

You’ll have to join us to discover what else is on the menu.

And, don’t worry - we won’t forget about Inniskillin Okanagan’s world-famous icewine! Did you know that Inniskillin Okanagan Winery won the Canadian Wine Producer of the Year Trophy at the 2018 International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, England?

So, of course, we’ll be including a pairing featuring Inniskillin icewine!

Let’s make your holidays even better by starting with a celebratory afternoon of food, wine, friends, and family.

Home For The Holidays Food and Wine Pairing

Time: 2:00 PM    
Venue: Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Estate Winery (Oliver, BC)
Dates:

This event is in the past.

 SEE CURRENT EVENTS

 

Light up the Vines at Sumac Ridge Winery

 

Winery Bottleneck Drive’s Annual Holiday Event.

Nothing gets you into the spirit of the season quite like enjoying a glass of wine surrounded by the twinkle of holiday lights.
Join us for the annual Light up the Vines event at Sumac Ridge Winery in Summerland, BC.

The always popular event starts at 3 pm and runs until 8 pm on November 24th, and December 1st and 2nd. Experience 5 different food stations throughout the winery with 6 delicious wines and food pairings from our three iconic brands, Steller’s Jay, Black Sage Vineyard, and Sumac Ridge Private Reserve. 

While you enjoy your pairings, you can do a little holiday shopping. The wine shop is full of great gift ideas. We’ve got wine accessories, cookbooks, and of course, bottles of BCVQA wine. If you have a wine-lover on your list, this is the place to find them a perfect gift.  

While you’re here, why not grab a few things for yourself? Stock your cellar with wine for the season and don’t forget a few extra bottles so you always have a hostess gift on hand for those last minute get-togethers. Choose something bold from the Black Sage Vineyard portfolio. Grab a few bottles from Sumac Ridge Private Reserve for spontaneous visits. And, don't forget something bubbly from Steller's Jay so that the celebration of the season is just a cork pop away.
We hope you'll join us in this magical setting as we light up the vines to welcome the holiday season.

This event is in the past.

 SEE CURRENT EVENTS

Aromatic Wines Spice Inspired Cuisine Event at Great Estates Wine Experience Centre

Unexpected Wine Pairings for Spicy Food

There are a lot of different takes on ‘spicy food’ in global cuisine. For example, we have peppery foods favoured in the Americas, curries in East Asia, and the unmistakable wasabi in Japanese cuisine.

So often, when we’re looking to pair spicy foods with wine, we reach for those aromatic whites. And, it makes sense. You’re looking to balance out the flavours - a bit of acidity to cut through the spice and bit of sweetness to counter the heat.

But, these aren’t your only choices when it comes to wine pairings with spicy foods.

We’ve set out to broaden your horizons. In one of our newest wine pairing experiences, we explore the world of South East Asian cuisine to find unexpected South Okanagan wine pairings. We had to let go of our preconceived ideas and let our palates guide us. We discovered a few surprising wines that work perfectly with complex, spicy foods.

For example, have you ever considered pairing wasabi tuna with a Shiraz? How about butter chicken with some Zinfandel? If you don’t think they work, then you have to try them. We’ll make a believer out of you!

Aromatic Wines with Spice Inspired Cuisine is our latest offering at the Great Estates Okanagan Wine Experience Centre.

Join us for a palate-expanding afternoon where we’ll sample a variety of South Asian delights paired with the perfect wine. You’ll experience the perfection of classic wine pairings like the fragrant Nk’Mip Qwm Qwmt Riesling with 5 spice chicken and the intensely aromatic Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Gewurztraminer with equally intense wasabi-siracha salmon. But, we’ll also explore unexpected pairings like the mind-boggling combination of tandoori with an Inniskillin Discovery Series Tempranillo.

If you love spicy food and you want to expand your wine pairing options, this is an afternoon not to be missed. Soon you’ll be blowing your friends minds when you surprise them with an adventurous yet perfect wine pairing at your next curry or sushi dinner party.

Aromatic Wines Spice Inspired Cuisine Event at Great Estates Wine Experience Centre

This event is in the past.

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The Perfect Union: Four Food Chiefs at Nk'Mip Cellars

Explore Indigenous Cuisine, Culture, and Wine Pairings

We invite you to spend an afternoon with us at Nk'Mip Cellars as we tour the winery, sample Indigenous cuisine (based on the four food chiefs), and enjoy extraordinary wines.

The Four Food Chiefs; Bear, Salmon, Bitterroot, and Saskatoon Berry, represent the key elements of Indigenous Cuisine. Experience the art of food and wine pairing with Nk’Mip Cellars award-winning wine and specially prepared Four Food Chief inspired food bites. 

Our experience starts with a welcome glass of wine. We'll tour the winery; learning about the legend of the land and the wine as we go. Finally, we'll retire to the Grotto for several delicious bites inspired by the Indigenous approach to food. Each bite will be paired with one of our sumptuous wines. 

This afternoon of food, wine, and storytelling is not to be missed. 

The Perfect Union: The Four Food Chiefs at Nk'Mip Cellars

Time: 2 pm

Price: $35 + tax

Discounts for Wine Club: 15%

Dates: 

This event is in the past.

 SEE CURRENT EVENTS