Taste BC with Liberty Wine Merchants
byNext week Liberty Wine Merchants will host the second annual Taste BC celebration of local spirits and culinary delights which will take place at the Hyatt Regency, benefiting a great cause to boot.
Liberty launched Taste BC in 2008 after successfully running the BC Wine and Oyster Festival for 13 years. All proceeds from that event were also donated to the Oak Tree Clinic, which specializes in providing care and services to sufferers of HIV/AIDS.
I spoke with Liberty’s Director of Marketing, Regan Schwartz, about this event that features the best of our region. She noted that since expanding from the Wine and Oyster Festival, they are now able to showcase much more; from beer, cider, and sake, to salmon, mussels, duck, and chocolate. Best of all they are all regional merchants and businesses so you can have 100-mile diet-approved tastings all within one room that evening.
Taste BC will take place January 22nd at the Hyatt Regency (in their grand ballroom) from 4:30 until 7:30pm, tickets are $49.99 and net proceeds will go directly to the BC Childrens’ Hospital Oak Tree Clinic.
This quick time frame allows attendees to get to every exhibitor in the room and enjoy what each has to offer. There will also be live music from Vancouver band Les is More, a silent auction, prizes, and of course plenty of wine will be flowing.
They have also been gracious enough to give me two tickets to give away on my site. As such, I’ll ask that readers who are interested in attending this unique event leave a comment below stating your favourite type, brand, or varietal of wine and you will be entered in the ticket draw. If you are a blogger and would like to answer this question on your own site, sharing this information with your audience, you will get two entries into the draw (please leave a comment below to direct me back to your post).
Update: I forgot to say when I’ll be doing the draw; the contest will run until noon, Tuesday January 20th. Thanks and good luck!
Update: The winner has bee drawn and it’s Lindsay, who had two entries since she also blogged about the contest. Congratulations! The video of the draw (for disclosure purposes) will be up on my Viddler stream within the next few minutes.
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anything that comes in a box or tetra pack
This is always a great event (whatever iteration)–and highly recommended for a first-date!
Myself, I’m a champagne girl, and if it can’t be the real thing, then a nice bottle of Stellar’s Jay will do just fine…
Aw, it’s too bad that I’m not a wine connesieur.
🙂
It is so hard to narrow it down. For white though, I tend to pick a Sumac Ridge (BC wine) Gewürztraminer. For red, a Graham Beck (South African) Pinotage. Both very tasty and affordable.
It totally depends on the situation.
I usually default to Cline wines from California. They make a Shiraz, a (red) Zinfandel and a Viognier around the $20 price point. If I’m going to someone else’s place and need to bring a bottle – they’re really palatable and generally go with most foods so not have to worry about ‘proper’ pairing.
If I’m dining with someone a wee bit more adventurous or someone that really likes wine, I’ll usually choose something from D’Arenberg Wines (Australia). Their Laughing Magpie (Shiraz Viognier blend) is fantastic (medium body, medium acid & tannin, well balanced). Their Stump Jump red is a fantastic GSM blend that is really ‘dark and dirty’ that’s not too overpowering. The price point is an affordable one as well.
If I’m going for a BC Wine, the Mission Hill Family Estate S.L.C (any of these wines) is a fantastic example of what high quality of wine this Province is capable of producing.
I could go on, but I don’t want to take up too much of your comments section 🙂
I’ll second that Stellar’s Jay brut. Tasty. And if you are buying I’ll take some Mission Hill Oculus thank you.
Right now, my favourite is Jackson Trigg’s SunRock Vineyard Shiraz. It’s *gorgeous* but it stains the hell outta your lips! 😛
Also, you’ve been blogged 😉
Arrowleaf’s Bacchus is a great BC white. I’m a red wine drinker through and through, but this wine brought me back from the dark side.
http://www.arrowleafcellars.com/bacchus.htm
You can’t find it at the BCL, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it at some specialty shops.
My favorite wine is Shiraz
Thanks.
Give me anything from Burrowing Owl, especially their Cabernet. Not only good, but supports the local BC economy!
I like anything from Farmstead Wines. I also posted this event to Upcoming. I’m trying to post more non-tech events there, especially food related ones. Spread the word, especially if the original doesn’t have a good permalink!
I love the See Ya Later Pinot Gris. Yummy!
I just enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous Merlot from Township 7, the Black Dog 2005 Reserve. It was phenomenal.
Generally speaking, I prefer a Cabernet Sauvignon, but in the summertime nothing’s as nice on a patio as a lovely Sauv Blanc like Stoneleigh.
I’ll blog it later, come back and let you know.
Since I eat chicken a lot I like to drink white wine with it. But generally I like a glass of Shiraz when I’m not eating food.
My go-to is usually Hatfield’s Fuse by Blasted Church. A white blend that’s a bit difficult (for me at least) to pair with food, but DIVINE to sit and watch the sunset with.
Wow, I’d love to go to this… Thanks for the giveaway opportunity, Rebecca!
My favourite varietal is an old vine Foch. I’m currently loving Quail’s Gate for this grape. Great stuff! (not cheap, though, so I keep for special occasions only)
I usually prefer local wines, Sandhill and Mission Hill are my preferred wineries, but as of late I’ve been loving the French wine, Chateau Pesquie’s Terrasses Red… Mmmm!
My fave is Cedar Creek Ehrenfelser (vinyard site here). Slurp yum.
I am a beer / gin drinker. No wine for me, Sigh…
Lately it’s Riesling – not sure why but the sweet white’s are my drink of choice!
[…] Miss604 writes: […]
I’m going to be grabby and write here and on my bloggy.
To answer your question, j’adore Gehringer Brothers Riesling. For $15 bucks a bottle, you can’t go wrong.
But I’m no stranger to the $8.99 bottle of Hardy’s Riesling Gewürztraminer. Nom nom nom.
I myself am a huge Pinot Noir fan. I am still trying to discover that perfect one. I tend to be extremely picky with my Pinot’s, a great one is so hard to find!
Another wine I am enjoying right now is a deep flavoured- and not unlike a Pinot-by (name of vineyard escapes me), called “Gateskeeper”, which is a Grenache Shiraz blend…. lovely…
Wine and Oysters, two of just a very few of my very favorite things! In fact, I have a staff party this evening and ordered us a raw bar, and am trying to get our shucker bring in some (v. famous and yummy) Malpeque Bay oysters from home (PEI). The. Best.
For white I’m smitten with Cedar Creek’s 2007 Ehrenfelser for its kaleidoscopic flavour. For red, I’ve fallen in love with a boxed wine (I know!) from Spain called Bodegas Real. Both of these I’ve reviewed on my blog.
For local wines, I love Burrowing Owl (Merlot/Cab/Meritage). But current favourite is Mollydooker from Australia (especially the Boxer Shiraz). These are the ones that I considered “love at first sight (taste in this case?)”. Can’t help to snap them up on the odd chance I see them at stores!
Well, you’ve posed a question that could lead all over the map, but I’m going to try and keep it really brief. There’s so much out there to choose from and enjoy – from BC and around the world. We just love trying all and everything. That’s why tastings like Taste BC are so wonderful. That being said, we’ve kinda moved beyond some of the big name (& big price) BC producers but are still really hyped on LaFrenz. Any wines involving GSM – grenache, syrah or mouvedre – are likely going to go over well with me as well. Then again, we had a very nice Quinta Ferreira Viognier last night. And so it goes…
Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles!! The Stellar’s Jay Brut is very yummy!
I am a sucker for Osoyoos Laroose (spelling may be off) its gone up to 50 ish dollars per but so lovely for a special event… Or a very good date!
BC wine Kettle Valley 2006 Merlot $26.00, excellent! All of their wines are great!
Another one – from Australia, Heartland, Directors Cut, Shiraz. Full bodied absolutely delicious, you won’t leave a drop!
I don’t have much experience with wine, but I really like “Baby Duck.” Not terribly sophisticated and just over 5 bucks a bottle, it was Canada’s number one wine in 1978.
According to the CBC: “For a generation raised on Kool-aid and pop, Baby Duck represents a non-threatening entry into the sophisticated world of wine drinking. This sweet, pink, fizzy wine is modeled after Mateus, the world’s most popular wine. Like the spritzers and wine coolers that would follow, Baby Duck eased the transition from soft drinks to alcohol for many new drinkers.”
Grey Monk’s Gamay Noir is a peppery, local favourite.
Oyster Bay’s Sauvignon Blanc (NZ) is a crisp and zippy, well-balanced delight.
Anything in a box was always my favorite. How can you go wrong when it came with the little silver campling pillow inside?
Red, Australian (with kangaroo logo). Merlot. – it’s one I like, but the list is bigger.
I try to stay local whenever possible, because, why not? Lots of goodness to choose from. Last glass enjoyed was Blasted Church – Hatfield’s Fuse. But a Pinot Gris, Ehrenfelser, or Riesling usually sit well with me.
Monte pulcianno D’abruzzio.. because it’s rich, full bodied, easy to drink…. it’s reasonable and fun to say!!!
BC – Sonora Ranch Cabernet Shiraz
International – Peter Lehmann Cabernet Sauvignon
I’m a big fan of the painted turtle shiraz (see: http://www.paintedturtlewine.com/wine/index.html) myself – it’s cheap and eminently drinkable. More locally, I like the Naked Grape wines(http://www.nakedgrape.ca/) – again, I’m a sucker for a cheap, drinkable shiraz.
I had a nice Shiraz-Malbec the other day. It’s the ideal mix for me.
I think I’m just under the wire here. But then again, I like to work to deadline. I am going to shamelessly plug my own brand. I would truly like people to be aware of my new Black Cloud 2006 Pinot Noir. Ready for delivery in the first week of February.
I think BC has some micro-zones that are capable of making pinots that are both unique and competetive with anything in the world.
Black Cloud will be $25 a bottle (a little less if you’re into a case). Goes great with wild mushroom and chicken risotto.
Where can you get it?
Distribution at this time is through my website. Just contact me and I’ll make sure it gets to your doorstep. Only 250 cases.
Because of sulphites, my wife and I have been drinking the Villa Teresa organic wine. It’s great and has become our house wine. Only problem is it’s gone up a lot in the past few years to past $15/bottle. Still, it’s one of the few that doesn’t cause a reaction. All wine has sulfites, but some have a lot more than others!
Hopefully this makes it in time – we are huge fans of all things Burrowing Owl. Sometimes hard to find but always worth it! PS – Love the blog!
I prefer white wines or blushes, sweeter than drier.
I really like the fruit wines from The Fort Winery, Co. in Fort Langley! 🙂
The Masi Contasera is excellent. It’s an Amarone varietal and available at BC Liquor Stores.
My fave white wine is from Zanatta Winery in Duncan, BC. The Damasco is like a little bit of sunshine in a bottle. Very light and refreshing taste with subtle effervescence, perfect for a picnic.
I’m actually a big fan of fruit wines – the cherry wine from Elephant Island comes to mind.
My girlfriend and I are big fans of a few different wines, but our favorites aren’t local. Ruffino, with it’s Chianti’s, the Riserva Ducale, and the Riserva Ducale Oro are easily 2 of the best and smoothest wines we’ve ever drank. Masi is another classic brand that we enjoy. Recently we’ve been experimenting with various brands of Spanish Tempranillo, another delicious wine.
I’m not a huge wine fan, but I really like the desert wines that the Silver Sage Winery in Oliver produce. The Raspberry desert wine is amazing over cheese cake, ice cream or on it’s own.
Favourite wine! Oh there oh so many choices, where to possibly begin.
Two that definitely stand out though are Mateus from Portugal and “Cat’s Pee on a Gooseberry Bush” from Australia.
Wikipedia classifies Mateus as a “Frizzanté Rosé” but I classify it as DELICIOUS! Seriously, it’s this amazing rosé that I could drink like apple juice. It goes well with anything from steak to trifle, I highly recommend it.
The latter of my two suggestions is “Cat’s Pee on a Gooseberry Bush.” I am naturally drawn to wines with personality, and CPoaGB is no exception… tasty and a conversation piece!
Yellowglen Pink Sparkling Wine….. or Burrowing Owl Merlot is always a good choice too 🙂
This sounds like it will be fun.
Doing a blog post about it now… Sorry, didn’t realize you were looking for posts for an entry!
i never used to drink wine till i met Geoff – since then i like to try everything at least once. I went up to the Okanagan Falls last summer – and discovered Wild goose white wine Mystic River – so crisp and fresh mmmm course its right across the street from my cousin’s boyfriends winery Tangled Vines – they have a pretty good Gerwurtz. I never ever used to like red – grossed me out drinking it warm – then geoff introduced me to a chilean red – Caldora – oh my – turned me into a red wine lover after that first sip. We ALWAYS have a couple of bottles of various types – whether its for a drink or to cook with(cooking with wine is a new fave of mine).
jean bousquet malbec from Argentina
My favourite varietal of wine is Cabernet Sauvignon. Thanks for the heads up on the contest!
Love BC wines, went on an Okanagan tour in July 2007. Stayed at a great B&B in Penticton – God’s Mountain Estate. They grow grapes for one of the vineyards, forgot which. I am choosing Sumac Ridge Sauvignon Blanc – 2006 was a great year!
Wish me luck, Vita
You can SO tell I’m a designer (and not necessarily and educated wine connoisseur) by my answer to this question……
I love BLASTED CHURCH for their awesomely illustrated bottles. Wine’s not bad either and makes for great party/ice breaker conversation. 🙂
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If you think you have had the most delicious wine (red or white), think again. I travelled to Tuscany, Italy and there are no words to describe their wines (perfection). At $2 per glass (a rather large glass), you could sit there on a patio all night sipping away. I cannot find the bottle I “experienced” in Italy anywhere in BC but I will keep trying. Truly would love to live there.