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Successful Return of Summer Wine at Silver Star Resort

Original artworks raise funds for Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation

 

August 12, 2013 OKANAGAN VALLEY, BC – Silver Star Mountain Resort saw a successful return of its popular Summer Food & Wine Festival last weekend. Returning after two years, the resort welcomed a sold out crowd of 400 to the signature event – Mile High Wine present by Valley First.

 

“It was great to see a sell-out for the first time the festival is back after two years; we’re already looking forward to next year,” says Ian Galbraith, summer business manager for Silver Star Mountain. “The event is fun and outdoors – exactly what Silver Star is, a tight-knit community and great times. Many of our winter clientele were back to enjoy our summer product.”

 

 

“We had member wineries from as far north as Shuswap Lake and as far south as the Similkameen Valley,” says Blair Baldwin, general manager, Okanagan Wine Festivals Society. “Everyone was treated to some amazing mountain views and a diverse array of fresh summer wines including many new whites varietal releases from the superb 2012 vintage. The food provided by Dairy Farmers of Canada, GumTree Catering paired well and the band – Sista B and the Boyz – had pretty much everyone dancing at the end. It truly was a unique Canadian event.”

 

During the festival, six artists from Gallery Odin captured the beauty and serenity of Silver Star Mountain. A silent auction of the Okanagan artworks raised $1,325 for Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation. Contributing artists were Glenn Clark, Elizabeth Moore, Destanne Norris, Wendy Penner, Barry Rafuse and Julia Trops.

 

The festival also include the “True Taste of Silver Star” guided hiking and berry picking tour and Wine Master dinners at the resort’s restaurants.Mile High Wine featured more than 100 wines. Wineries pouring at the event included Larch Hills, Recline Ridge Vineyards & Winery and Sunnybrae Vineyards from the North Okanagan, Intrigue Wines from Lake Country, House of Rose, Summerhill and Tantalus form Kelowna, 8th Generation Vineyard, Dirty Laundry Vineyard and Thorhaven Haven Estates Winery from Summerland, Misconduct Co. and Perseus Winery from Penticton & Naramata Bench, Meyers Family Vineyards, Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery, See Ya later Ranch and Wild Goose Vineyards from Okanagan Falls, Hester Creek Estate Winery and Intersection Estate Winery from Oliver and Forbidden Fruit Wuinery and Rustic Roots Winery from Cawston & Keremeos.

 

Silver Star Mountain Bike Park opens for the summer season seven days a week until Sept. 2, with bonus weekends on Sept. 6 and 7 and 13 and 14. For hikers, the Summit Sky Chair offers a scenic lift from the village to mountaintop on Fridays to Sundays.

 

About Silver Star Mountain Resort skisilverstar.com

Silver Star Mountain Resort is nestled in the heart of British Columbia’s Thompson Okanagan region, less than a one-hour drive from Kelowna International Airport (YLW). A year round mountain destination, the resort offers 3,065 acres of varied skiable terrain, with an annual snowfall of more than 700cm of dry B.C. interior powder. In summer, the Silver Star Bike Park is widely regarded as one of the premier downhill mountain bike facilities in North America. Award-winning Silver Star is recognized as being one of Canada’s best family resorts. A quaint, colourful village provides true slope side lodging.

 

About Okanagan Wine Festivals Society www.thewinefestivals.com

The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is responsible for the development of the wine tourism sector in the interior of British Columbia. It is well known for producing two annual valley Okanagan Wine Festivals in spring to celebrate the bud break and in fall to celebrate the grape harvest. Its Winter Okanagan Wine Festival is run in partnership with Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops. It is also responsible for Signature Wine Events and two annual wine judging competitions.