Lillooet British Columbia on the Map

Many of you will never have heard of the town of Lillooet located just a few kms northwest of Canada's famous ski resort Whistler. It is 217 km west of Kamloops. No matter the direction you're coming from, the drive to Lillooet is guaranteed to be beautiful and be sure to have your camera ready wildlife is abundant.

Lillooet has a long growing season and is a hot spot in the summer months. It was once know for ts orchards. The population of this small town located on the Fraser River is approx 2400.

Today those of us interested in British Columbia's wines are quite familiar with Lillooet. Its the home of the newly opened Ft Berens Estate Winery.  The winery is owned by Helen Pannekeok and Rolf de Bruin. They planted their first 20 acres in the spring of 2009. Today the quality of their wines is once again putting the town of Lillooet on the map.

On Sept 18th 2014 the winery held its official Grand opening in their astonishing new facilities. numerous media, supporters and dignitaries made the trip. Like the pioneers of the Hudson Bay Company who first visited the area and established a trading fort here the Bruins were the pioneers of the wine industry in Lillooet. 

Success is theirs, with their new 9500 sq foot facility including tasting room ( oh the view is magnificent), crush pad,wine cellar, guest patio and picnic area.Add to this the numerous awars for their wines including a Lt Gouvenor's Award you have a amazing story for Canada's wine industry.

See our website for a feature o the winery soon!

www.winesofcanada.com

DINNER AT BACKYARD VINEYARDS

On a beautiful September evening my wife and  I joined another dozen people for dinner at the Fraser valley winery. We admired the sun setting over the vineyards with a glass of Blanc de Noir Brut. The appetizers were also enjoyable including Charcuterie, Cheeses,preserves, home made pickles and more.

We chatted with winemaker James Cambridge and co-owner Trent Blackwell.

Dinner was served at a long wooden table under a  log beamed gazebo. Chef Chris Whittaker from Vancouver's Forage restaurant provided a most delicious three course meal. The first course was a light picked summer Beet Salad, Wild Greens Okanagan Goat Cheese, Agassie hazelnuts and Black Pepper Praline, It was served with my favourite the 2013 Gewurztraminer

The second course was an Applewood Grilled Organic Ocean Sockeyed Salmon with roasted Squash and Chantrelles along with Mustard Spaetzle. The wine  was the 2011 Syrah. This wine has gained three silver medals silver medals in international competition. Made with grapes from the Osoyoos vineyard. It is a bold, dark wine with aromas of black cherry and plum leading to flavours  of plum and prune.


The final course was served with Porch a port style wine that went well withe Apple Crumple and Raw Honey Ice Cream.

WE had a really good time at this event the hospitality was  outstanding witha enjooy group of dinner guests including visitors from Ontario and Kim owner of Sardis Park Wines in Chilliwack

After dinner my wife and I enjoyed coffee in the tasting room with Trent who also showed me the under construction tasting room expansion. Backyard Vineyards a winery to watch in 2015.



previous visit

Wine and Dine On Vancouver Island

May we take a moment to recommend two wineries with dinning facilities for your dinning pleasure.
My wife and I had a very enjoyable experience at Unsworth Restaurant and the Muse Winery Bristo Muse Garden Restaurant

This past Wednesday after touring the winery we had lunch at Cowichan Valley’s Unsworth Restaurant. The restaurant is located off a picturesque country road winding through the working farms and rolling hills surrounding us in the heart of Cowichan’s wine country. The restaurant itself is located in a restored farmhouse built in 1895; with  both  outdoor patio and the interior dining room  from which you can enjoy views overlooking 12 acres of sustainably managed vineyard.

We had the please of meeting the manager Christle Pope and touring the restaurant. Its a very well designed with a nice menu.  My wife had a most delicious Scallop dish while I enjoyed the Potato Leak Soup and the pork Sandwich. All wonderfully prepared by Chef Steven Elskens.

The following afternoon we were at The Muse Winery in Deep Cove on the Saanich Peninsula. Our lunch began with a glass of Orta provided by owner Jane Ellmann.  Its a patio setting with tables nicely arranged between the tasting room and the vineyard. 

The food features local farmers, producers and fisherman. Barbara and I chose to select two dishes and share them.  It was hard to make a selection  so many good selections We finally choose the Bruschetta and Quinoa Salad over greens.  A most delicious lunch, good wines and  excellent service

See addition on our Island visit at www.winesofcanada.com

Free My Wine

A new Harris Decima poll shows that Canadians want the federal government to remove the limitation on importing wine from other provinces.

I would like to be able to walk into a store be it grocery or retailer and buy wines from any and all provinces in Canada. Not been able to purchase a wine with ease from my own country is stupid.

Studies have shown Canadian are drinking more of our own wines than ever before
Canadian want the choice to freely select their wine from their local store

Late Harvest Wines

Growing grapes for the production of icewine( Ice wine) is not an easy adventure.  To meet the high standard Grapes are left on the vine well into the winter months. The resulting freezing and thawing of the grapes dehydrates the fruit and concentrates the sugars, acids, and extracts in the fruit, thereby intensifying the flavours and adding complexity to the wine. This juice is then fermented very slowly for several months, stopping naturally. Genuine Icewine must be naturally produced; no artificial freezing is permitted.

However the weather does not always co-operate, birds also enjoy the grapes as do the deer. Sometimes it is necessary for the winery to harvest what they can before the conditions arre met to make icewine. This is an opportunity to make a Late Harvest wine.

Late Harvest Wines are usually sweet and therefore are classified as a dessert wine

Some wineries actually decide at the start of the season that they will make Late Harvest wines not icewine.

Late, Select Late and Special Select Late Harvest Wine

1. Each category must be produced entirely from Fresh ripe grapes of which a significant portion has been desiccated under natural conditions. Producing a high sugar concentration.

2. For each category the residual sugar and actual alcohol shall result exclusively from the natural sugar of the grapes

Late Harvest Wine - shall be a wine produced exclusively from fresh grapes that have been natural harvest on a vine after achieving a min 23 ° Brix

Select Late Harvest - enhances to 32° brix

Special Late Harvest Wine - enhances to 32° brix

Anthony's Hearthfire Grill

Located on Squdicum harbour in Bellwether on the Bay, Bellingham Wa. offering spectacular views of the San Juan Island we found this five star restaurant. My wife has been there three times once for lunch with friends and twice for dinner. Ive been there twice for dinner.

We come for their early dinner special menu. Only $21.00 what a great price for this four course meal.

Shrimp Cocktail or Chimichurri Steak Bruschetta are the two choices for an appetizer. My wife goes for the Shrimp and I go for the Bruschetta. I rate the Bruschetta as the best ever. Steak is cooked to prefection with an amazing flavour. 

The next course is a soup or salad selection. We have so far always chosen the Ceasar salad. Always fresh with just the right amount of dressing.

The main course offers five selections. Two prawn dishes from my wife selects and finds extremely good.
There is a cod dish, a flank steak and St Louis Ribs. I have chosen the ribs on both occasions. Simply too good to pass up. 

Key Lime • Coconut Cream • Chocolate Mousse  are the dessert selections. Both the Key lime and Chocolate Mouse have proven to be mouth watering wish I had more great choices.

Barbara has tied their Margaritas which she finds to be among the best. I have stayed with the house wine Anthony's Chardonnay very good and nicely priced.

The service is excellent; friendly  staff. The plating is extremely well done.

We can strongly recommend Hearthfire Grill

 

Hot Day in July

Its warm outside. In fact its too warm. It must be in the 90's (sorry metric came in after i was out of school).
But I have the perfect solution for the heat. A nice bottle of Canadian made Chardonnay.

Not just any Chardonnay but a delightful refreshing 2012 Chardonnay from BC's Blackwood Lane.
It is not the first times I've had this scrumptious wine. My wife and I tasted the wine shortly after its release at the Fraser Valley winery. We had the wine a second time at the winery when six of us  relaxed on the wineries patio with cheese , fruit and homemade bread and  crackers.

Another good BC Chardonnay is Burrowing Owls 2012 very smooth with buttery notes; delightfully refreshing. Also Culmina Family Estate 2011 Chardonnay. Made from a small block of 20-year old Chardonnay vines on the Triggs' family estate, A luscious body, and a long, fresh finish to create a wine of outstanding finesse, beauty, elegance, and style.

For more outstanding wines please read Robert's Selections