Haywire, Summerland

Photo: Contributed Wine: Switchback Pinot Gris, 2015 Winery: Haywire (Okanagan Crush Pad), Summerland Why drink it? The first item to note about this wine: the farmers who grew the grapes are acknowledged on the tech sheet (where all the wine geek stuff is listed), for wine begins i

Fun foods from A to Z

Photo: pinterest.com I have been reading a book by one of my favourite authors, and it inspired me to think of this week’s column. I love being a foodie these days, as it has become a cool thing to be, but not in a snobbish way. People are enamoured with Julia Child and her love

All about the wine

Photo: Wayne Moore It's time to figure out what's next for wine and tourism in B.C. The Wine and Culinary Tourism Futures conference will bring together a wide range of specialists to share ideas and practices on the possibilities of the evolving travel market.   Sp

The best of B.C.

Madison Erhardt Okanagan Feast of Fields was held at The Caldwell Heritage Farm on Sunday afternoon. Guests tasted, sipped and enjoyed the local creations from over 60 of British Columbia’s best food and beverage providers. "We couldn't have asked for a bet

Wine in the mountains

Crowds filled the village at Silver Star Resort, Saturday, for the Mile High Wine & Music Festival. The lineup was long as eager patrons converged on the hill to sip and savour the best of what the Okanagan wine industry has to offer. Wineries from throughout the valley poure

Intrigue, Lake Country

Photo: Contributed Wine: Social Rosé, 2016 Winery: Intrigue, Lake Country Why drink it? There are many ways to make pink wine, and Intrigue has chosen to blend whites and reds for this bottle in their “social” series: gewürztraminer, pinot noir, merlot, and a

Branded-food nostalgia

Photo: Contributed When I was a kid, there were lots of foods that you couldn’t get everywhere. I am not just talking about persimmons and star fruit; there were famous foods you couldn’t get, too. Does food taste better if it’s exclusive? I only tasted Dr. Pepper

8th generation, Summerland

Photo: Contributed Wine: “Confidence”, bubbly 2016 Winery: 8th Generation, Summerland Why drink it? Pink bubbly for a long weekend at a great price point. Grab a couple of bottles of this mostly Pinot Noir (with just 10 percent Pinot Gris) sparkling wine, made in the fri

Old dogs, new biscuits?

Photo: Contributed Can you teach an old dog to like a new biscuit? I saw an article this week revealing the release of a new version of an old classic, and I was conflicted. I know I’m getting older and less tolerant of change, but isn’t it OK if some things stay consist

Deep Roots, Naramata

Photo: Contributed For Canada’s 150th birthday this year, Castanet is featuring an Okanagan wine each week, celebrating the bottles of our Valley and the diversity of the Canadian wine industry, including suggested food pairings and Canadian music artist to listen to while enjo

Gad-zukes!

Photo: Contributed As I sat on the deck the other night savouring another hot summer evening, I reflected on the high points of the summer so far. This year has been bit a shorter summer frought with more challenges than our usual spectacular season in the Okanagan. For a place where t

Tinhorn Creek, Oliver

Photo: Contributed For Canada’s 150th birthday this year, Castanet is featuring an Okanagan wine each week, celebrating the bottles of our Valley and the diversity of the Canadian wine industry, including suggested food pairings and Canadian music artist to listen to while enjo

Summer's a magical season

Photo: Contributed Summer is all about simple pleasure and new adventures. Winter is more about routine and the comfort of everyday life, and spring and fall are about the transitions in life (school, weather, sports, etc.) Summer is the season that holds the most magic as it has th

Vanessa Vineyard, Cawston

Photo: Contributed For Canada’s 150th birthday this year, Castanet is featuring an Okanagan wine each week, celebrating the bottles of our Valley and the diversity of the Canadian wine industry, including suggested food pairings and Canadian music artist to listen to while enjo

Here's to good taste

Photo: Contributed I know I am going to sound like a nostalgic, old fuddy-duddy this week, but if you will indulge me a little, I think I can bring you around to a pertinent point that requires everyone’s attention, even that of the young fuddy-duddies. Last week, we sat down for

Mirabel, Kelowna

Photo: Contributed For Canada’s 150th birthday this year, Castanet is featuring an Okanagan wine each week, celebrating the bottles of our Valley and the diversity of the Canadian wine industry, including suggested food pairings and Canadian music artist to listen to while enjo

Dog days of summer

Photo: Contributed The hottest days of summer are often referred to as the dog days because the dog star, Sirius, rises and sets with the sun at this time of year.  It is the brightest star in the sky, you see, and in ancient times they thought its heat added to that of the s

Upper Bench, Naramata

Photo: Contributed For Canada’s 150th birthday this year, Castanet is featuring an Okanagan wine each week, celebrating the bottles of our Valley and the diversity of the Canadian wine industry, including suggested food pairings and Canadian music artist to listen to while enjo

I am Canadian, and happy

Photo: Contributed Canadians are sometimes perceived by outsiders as almost-like Americans, but living in a colder climate with a funny accent. What is it to be Canadian? Thanks, in part, to those beer ads that advertise all the passions Canadians have, the world is better understan

Tightrope, Naramata Bench

Photo: Contributed Wine: Rosé, 2016 Winery: Tightrope, Naramata Bench Why drink it? As summer whips in, prepare your patio with pink. A blend of Pinot Noir with just five percent Barbera, a varietal that lends a bit of structure and is rare in the Okanagan, thi