Monday, 18 April 2011 15:15 Written by Administrator

New packaging, wines, staff and a restaurant kick off the winery’s Next Chapter

April 7, 2011 (Vancouver, BC)

Hester Creek Estate Winery, located in Oliver, BC, continues to re-invent itself.

Since purchasing the winery in 2004, owner Curt Garland has invested heavily in transforming Hester Creek into the ultimate South Okanagan winery by hiring new management, improving vineyard practices, and constructing a new winery that includes a new cellar, tasting bar and guest centre, teaching kitchen, amphitheatre, and luxury guest villas.

Now, for spring 2011 a new and polished look to its packaging, new website, three new wines and a soon-to-be opened restaurant complete the Hester Creek experience.

Launched at the recent Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, the winery’s new wines and packaging were embraced by the trade and public alike. The new labels are refined from a playful, colourful swimmer to more muted colours that link to the winery’s aesthetic of old-world elegance.

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Thursday, 16 December 2010 08:37 Written by Administrator

December 7, 2010 — tinhorn.com

After several years of planning, some delays, and a year of construction Tinhorn Creek is pleased to announce that their restaurant will be opening its doors to the public on Friday April 1st, 2011. This is no April Fool’s joke, it is really happening.

The restaurant, aptly named Miradoro, roughly translates to “Golden View” in Portuguese.  This originates from Miradoro restaurant partner Manuel Ferreira’s (of famed Vancouver’s Le Gavroche) Portuguese background.  Miradoro will serve market cuisine in a relaxed fine dining atmosphere.  It seats 65 people inside with a 65-seat patio offering superb views of the scenic South Okanagan Valley. Ferreira has secured two exceptional individuals to run the restaurant whose knowledge and experience will make Miradoro a destination restaurant for tourists and locals alike.

Behind the menu will be Executive Chef, Jeff Van Geest.  His background includes some of Vancouver’s finest restaurants (Bishops, Diva at the Met, Chef Bernard’s Cafe) and his own restaurant, Aurora Bistro. Van Geest will be an excellent fit with Tinhorn Creek’s focus on sustainability, winning Vancouver Magazine’s Green Award for demonstrating leadership in sustainability.

Justin McAuliffe, Miradoro’s General Manager and Sommelier, has worked in the wine industry for 15 years at some of the top restaurants in Toronto (Centro, Canoe) and Vancouver (C Restaurant). McAuliffe is certified by the International Sommeliers Guild (ISG) and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Another great fit with Tinhorn Creek’s sustainability philosophy, Justin has endorsed the sustainable culinary philosophy at C Restaurant.

Wednesday, 08 December 2010 15:16 Written by Administrator

June 6, 2010 - New York Times

LAST October, my husband and I packed the kids in the car and drove north 300 miles from Seattle to western Canada’s key wine country, the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.

Perhaps it was capricious to combine the family road trip with that most couple-y of activities, wine travel. But why not? We like our children. We like wine. If the tasting-room pressure to buy were to become too intense, our son and daughter (at the time almost 5 and 18 months, respectively) could be our out. And to ease the journey, my husband and I brought along a secret weapon: my mother. A spry septuagenarian, she likes a buttery chardonnay, a long country ramble and the antics of her grandchildren.

She also doesn’t mind sitting in the back seat of the car (or wouldn’t say if she did), and she gave us a critical extra pair of hands that let us taste without worrying about one of the children reinterpreting the very messy spit-bucket scene from “Sideways.”

Okanagan Valley has come to be a prime winemaking region, thanks to well-drained glacial till, the temperature-modifying effects of the very deep 84-mile-long Okanagan Lake that runs through the heart of the valley, and a surfeit of sunshine (by Canadian standards, at least). But it wasn’t always so.

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Monday, 22 November 2010 11:44 Written by Administrator

Visitors come from around the globe to attend these annual events in Oliver, which is located in western Canada, in the southern part of the Okanagan Valley between Osoyoos and Penticton.

Where do they stay during their visit to Oliver? 
The area abounds with quaint Bed and Breakfast accommodations, Guest Houses with magnificent views overlooking mountains and vineyards, and Motels along highway 97 leading through Oliver, B.C.  The local owners of these vacation accommodations know the Oliver area well and can assist visitors in planning their tours to the many award winning wineries – as well as share stories about Oliver’s rich history, including the infamous Fairview Gold Mine.

Athletes come to Oliver in large numbers each year to compete in the Persona Half-Iron, which is a Half-Iron man distance competition consisting of a 2 km swim, 93 km bike and 21.1 km run (1.2 mile swim, 57 mile bike and a 13.1 mile half marathon run). This endurance race ends with a 2-loop run through a quiet residential neighborhood and along the banks of the Okanagan River. Spectators come to see the action, and assist as volunteers.

Wine lovers come for the wine and the annual Festival of the Grape. The event starts with a parade of celebrities led by Bacchus, the Greek God of Wine, and a Portuguese drumming band.  This parade precedes the opening ceremony, and the “Blessing of the Harvest”.

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Monday, 01 November 2010 09:11 Written by Administrator

TORONTO, Oct. 22 /CBonline

Jackson Triggs is thrilled to announce that Okanagan Estate winemakers Brooke Blair and Derek Kontkanen and Niagara Estate winemaker Marco Piccoli have won a total of 29 awards at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) in London, England. In addition, Brooke Blair, Jackson Triggs Okanagan Estate Red Winemaker, has captured the 'World's Best' Product Trophy for Jackson Triggs Proprietors' Grand Reserve Merlot 2007, whilst Okanagan Estate White Winemaker Derek Kontkanen has earned the 'World's Best' Product Trophy for Best Dessert Wine for the Proprietors' Grand Reserve Riesling Icewine 2007.

Founded in 1969, the International Wine and Spirits Competition is recognized as the world's premier competition of its kind. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world's best wines, spirits and liqueurs.

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