News

Sparkling up the Cheese

Canadian cheeses, especially those made with outstanding milk from Dairy Farmers of Canada, have long been recognized for their incredible taste and the wines of British Columbia are of course renowned for their high quality and variety.   So it makes sense that one of the newest signature events on the 2015 Fall Okanagan Wine Festival, Sparkling up the Cheese in Your Life, being...

British Columbia Wine Awards and Reception

If you’re looking for excellence in our region’s phenomenal wines, then you need look no further than the British Columbia Wine Awards and Reception, being held this year Oct. 1 at the historic Laurel Packinghouse in Kelowna.   The event reveals the winning vintages as judged by 9 of the most respected wine judges from across North America and it’s also a chance to be the first...

Cropped: A novel twist on an old favourite

Great food and great wine just naturally go together — you might say they are the perfect complement to each other.   So it makes perfect sense that Cropped by Valley First - the newest event on the 2015 Fall Okanagan Wine Festival calendar – to be held Oct. 9 and 10 at the Penticton Convention Centre will bring the two together, with a novel twist on an old...

Remarkable Start to 35th Annual Fall Okanagan Wine Festival

With Record Setting 2015 British Columbia Grape Harvest KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – SEPTEMBER 28, 2015: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is delighted to announce the start of the 35th annual Fall Okanagan Wine Festival later this week.  The record early beginning to the grape harvest on August 12, 2015, with the first pick of wine grapes, bodes well for another stellar vintage. This...

35th Annual Celebration of Harvest for Another Record Breaking Year

2015 Fall Okanagan Wine Festival 35th Annual Celebration of Harvest for Another Record Breaking Year KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – AUGUST 17, 2015: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is delighted to announce the 35th annual Fall Okanagan Wine Festival this autumn.  This coming October 1-11, the festival is expected to attract over 20,000 visitors who enjoy more than 120 events...

Sip, Savour & Summit at Mile High Wine & Food Festival

Silver Star Mountain Resort Hosts Popular Okanagan Summer Festival VERNON & KELOWNA – August 4, 2015 – This coming weekend new wine and culinary heights are in store at the breathtaking Silver Star Mountain Resort’s third annual Mile High Wine & Food Festival. The festivities kick off with an exceptional long table dinner by starlight, crafted by renowned Vancouver chef David Hawksworth and...

Mile High Wine & Music presented by Valley First Anchors Silver Star Summer Food & Wine Festival

 Award Winning Year Round Alpine Resort Features Canada’s Highest Outdoor Wine & Music Event   VERNON & KELOWNA – June 29, 2015 – The best moments of Okanagan summers are spent outdoors enjoying local food and wine in the company of family and friends. This year, the third annual Silver Star Summer Wine and Food Festival brings a multitude of opportunities to experience the best of...

2015 British Columbia Wine Awards

Celebrated Province-wide Contest Opens for Entries   KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – June 15, 2015: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is delighted to announce the 2015 British Columbia Wine Awards is now accepting entries.  The British Columbia Wine Awards honours wineries across the province for their excellence. The competition is held in conjunction with the annual Fall Okanagan...

Best of Varietal Awards Results 2015

Okanagan Wine Festival announces 2015 Best of Varietal Wine Awards Results with record 30% increase in wine entries.   APRIL 30, 2015 - PENTICTON, BRITISH COLUMBIA - The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is pleased to announce the results of the 2015 British Columbia Best of Varietal Wine Awards tonight, marking the official launch of the 21st Spring Okanagan Wine Festival. The...

Spring Okanagan Wine Festival is About to Blossom!

New Culinary Events, Tastings and Wine Seminars at 21st Annual Celebration   KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – APRIL 29, 2015:  The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is thrilled to commence it’s 21st year of festivities this week from April 30-May 10, 2015, with a record 123 local wineries participating in the annual Spring Okanagan “Bud Break” Wine Festival.  The wine culture of the...

Okanagan Wine Festival Celebrates Over 20 Years of Spring Festivities

Popular Ten Day Festival Heralds Rite of Spring in the Valley’s Vineyards & Farms KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – MARCH 26, 2015:  The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is thrilled to announce it’s 21st year of Spring festivities from April 30-May 10, 2015, with the largest number of local wineries participating.  The Spring Okanagan “Bud Break” Wine Festival offers a savoury atmosphere for...

2015 Best of Varietal Wine Awards Opens for Entries

Annual Spring Contest Celebrates Over Two Decades of BC Wine Excellence KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – February 24, 2015: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is delighted to announce the 21st annual Best of Varietal Wine Awards. The contest is held in conjunction with the annual Spring Okanagan “Bud Break” Wine Festival, which is the official welcome to spring in the Valley. The 10-day...

Surging Sales for the Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival

JANUARY 15, 2015 - SUN PEAKS & KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA - The largest winter gathering of B.C. wineries in the province begins tomorrow with over half of 20 events sold out, making for the most successful pre-event ticket sales in the festival’s history. Infused with mountain personality, the 17th Annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival runs from January 16 to 25, drawing thousands...

Cassini Cellars 2008 Cabernet Franc is BC's Wine of the Week

Cassini Cellars Cabernet Franc Collector’s Series 2008, Okanagan Valley Price $24 | Score 88/100 UPC: 00626990159063 A solid effort in a cool year, which likely contributed to the aromatics that combines cool, dark fruit and leafy notes with hints of candied fruits. The attack is soft with a savoury, black fruit flavours with a subtle dusting of oak. This will improve...

17th Annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival Sees Record Early Sales

KELOWNA & SUN PEAKS, BRITISH COLUMBIA – NOVEMBER 18, 2014: Two of British Columbia's finest assets—winter recreation and wine—make for an inspired pairing at the Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival this January 16–25, 2015. Dubbed one of the Best Winter Parties in Canada by MSN Travel, the Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival offers something for every taste with exquisite...

Wine Tourism Season Ends with a Bang

Those loud cracks you hear in the vineyards may scare the birds away but they also sound the end of the 34th Fall Okanagan Wine Festival. It seems like just yesterday that wine tourists were flooding the vineyards of the Okanagan enjoying the broad spectrum of events that mark the last Okanagan Wine Festival of the year. In reality, this year’s festival wrapped up 2 weeks ago but the...

2014 British Columbia Wine Awards Kicks Off Fall Okanagan Wine Festival

2014 British Columbia Wine Awards Kicks Off Fall Okanagan Wine Festival Record Entries in Prestigious Province-wide Contest KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – October 1, 2014: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is delighted to announce the results from their annual autumn British Columbia Wine Awards competition. The awards ceremony is the official celebratory start to this year’s...

Meet Tomorrow's Top Culinary Talent Today with The Young Chefs Event

Watch the wrap up video of this year's Young Chefs' Competition presented by Alexis de Portneuf   With an abundance of delicious local wines, produce, and top-tier restaurants, it’s no surprise that the Okanagan is home to some of the best chefs in British Columbia. Of course, every great chef had to start somewhere, and we are lucky that so many young up-and-coming culinary...

The New Must-Do Event of the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival

If you’ve ever been to an Okanagan Wine Festivals event, then you already know how to have a good time. If you have yet to take part in one of our wine-centric soiree’s, then we have just thing to help you get your feet wet. The Quick Facts for the Grand Finale Tastings presented by Valley First Largest public tasting of British Columbia wines in...

2014 Okanagan Fall Wine Festival Annual Celebration of Harvest To Begin with Record Harvest Expected

KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – SEPTEMBER 10, 2014: The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is delighted to announce the 34th annual Fall Okanagan Wine Festival next month.  This coming October 3-13, the festival is again expected to attract over 10,000 visitors who enjoy more than 125 events throughout the Valley during the busiest time of year for British Columbia’s wineries, the grape harvest....