News

Warm up to Winter with Poutine & Pinot

Classic Canadian Cuisine Paired with BC Wine this February

KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – FEBRUARY 2, 2016: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is delighted to partner with Squeaky Cheese, the Dairy Farmers of Canada and Hotel Eldorado on our first gourmet poutine and wine pairing dinner. 

The evening of February 20, 2016, Hotel Eldorado Chef Vince van Wieringen will create seven poutine dishes using the freshest cheese curds from Squeaky Cheese and Dairy Farmers of Canada paired with two different varietals of the British Columbia Pinot family.  A creative menu with sauces that includes duck confit and sparkling Pinot, smoked salmon and Pinot Blanc, pork belly and Pinot Noir, and lobster with Pinot Blanc dessert wine, to name a few of the delectable creations in store for the night.  Already sold out, tickets are only $60 with a waitlist available. The menu and more information is at: www.thewinefestivals.com/poutine-pinot.

“We’re thrilled to participate in such a unique wine and culinary evening that highlights a part of our Canadian heritage, but with a special West Coast twist,” said Christa-Lee McWatters Bond, Director of Sales & Marketing Encore Vineyards & Board member Okanagan Wine Festivals Society.  “It’s fantastic that as an inaugural offering the Poutine & Pinot tasting is already sold out.  It demonstrates how the local community really embraces the Wine Festival events year round, as well as shows the real versatility of British Columbia Pinots that can pair with so many diverse courses.”

“Growing up in Quebec we were regulars at the local cabanes à patates for poutine’s most satisfying combination of flavours and textures with its warm, salty, crispy, and creaminess,“ said David Beaudoin, owner of Squeaky Cheese and Western Representative for the Dairy Farmers of Canada.  “Poutine is the best comfort food in the world and I cannot think of a better pairing than with the best British Columbia wines.”

“The culinary team here at the Hotel Eldorado is excited and inspired by this opportunity to work in partnership with the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Squeaky Cheese, and a selection of our top local wineries, to produce this inaugural and unique event,” said Chef Vince van Wieringen.  “We are looking forward to presenting an assortment of poutine, paired with select Pinots, that will entice your senses.”

The British Columbia wineries participating in the inaugural Poutine & Pinot event include:  Baillie- Grohman Estate Winery, Clos du Soleil Winery, Evolve Cellars, Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery, The Hatch, Hester Creek Estate Winery, Lake Breeze Vineyards, Little Straw Vineyards, Moraine Estate Winery, 50^th Parallel Estate, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, and more!

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Suggested Tweet: Classic #Canadian Poutine & Pinot w/ @OkWineFests @ElDoradoKelowna & @100CanadianMilk Feb 20 http://ow.ly/XHLpT #comfortfood & #BCWine

About The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society

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 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 including Mile High Wine & Music at Silver Star and two annual wine judging competitions including the British Columbia Wine Awards. www.thewinefestivals.com

High resolution images available upon request.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Lori Pike-Raffan | Public Relations Director | Okanagan Wine Festivals Society

[email protected] / 604.808.6655