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Food Vancouver Select Guide: Winter and Wine Okanagan Style

Icewine is often described as Canada’s Liquid Gold. A unique product, grapes for icewine can only be picked once the temperature drops to minus 8 degrees Celsius and remains there for close to 36 hours. The exceptional Icewines being developed in Canada are what ultimately triggered the concept of an Icewine Festival in the province of British Columbia as a way to highlight the product.

Eleven years ago in January, the Icewine Festival at Sun Peaks was born and launched as a two day event at the resort in the BC Interior. The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society wanted to build on their successful Fall Wine Festival and was also keen to heighten the awareness of Icewine in the province. Tourism Sun Peaks President Christopher Nicolson says a marriage between wine and a mountain resort seemed like the perfect fit. “One of the redeeming features of Sun Peaks is its boutique village and we were looking for ways to promote not just the skiing, but also to communicate the sophistication of the village. A wine festival seemed to fit very well with that strategic direction.”

The partnership was strong from the get-go and only improves as the years go by. Remembering back to 1996, Nicolson recalls the Progressive Tasting was an instant hit. “We were blown away with the success of the Progressive Tasting and the opportunity for the future. The festival struck a cord with our guests and that magical atmosphere was created.”

The Progressive Tasting has continued on to become the flagship event of the festival. This Friday night event is an opportunity to wander through the charming alpine village at Sun Peaks to sample amazing wines from over 20 wineries. With a combination of exceptional wines, crisp mountain air and good company, it’s no surprise to organizers the event is one of the first to sell out each year.

Sun Peaks Resort Corporation Food and Beverage Manager, Bobbe Lyall, has also been involved with the festival since the inaugural event, which she remembers as being extremely intimate. “It was exciting for the new restaurants at Sun Peaks and also exciting because many of the wineries were up and coming at that time.” Now heading into its eleventh year at Sun Peaks, the Icewine Festival has expanded to a 5 day event with what organizers describe as a higher level of sophistication and professionalism. “Both the wine industry in BC and Sun Peaks Resort has matured over the decade, but the expectations from the consumer are also higher. So while there’s a more sophisticated experience at the resort, the increased demands from the consumer have resulted in a better experience,” says Nicolson.

One of the current event organizers with Tourism Sun Peaks, Lisa Sohni, says her favourite part of the festival is talking to the people who return year after year. “There are quite a few people who return and you can tell how much they really love it,” she says. “It’s fun to chat with them as they compare the events from previous years. It gives insight on what we can improve upon and what works for the festival.”

The festival is putting a new spin on several classic events for the 2009 festival. There are two cheese seminars at the upcoming event. All You Need is Cheese…for Dessert will have guests pairing Aged Cheddar, Aged Gouda and Blue Cheeses with some of the finest dessert wines in the Okanagan. All You Need is Cheese…With a Vintage New Year is hosted by the Dairy Farmers of Canada who will do a retrospective tasting of current and past vintage wines. The wines will, of course, be complemented by some of Canada’s finest and newest cheeses, featuring Beaufort, Champfleury and Castle Blue.

Sohni says the Medal Winners Tasting is going to be a spectacular event this year. Set at the Delta Sun Peaks Resort Hotel, there will be incredible tapas designed to match the award-winning wines from the 2008 Okanagan Fall Wine Festival. Other notable events for the 2009 festival include Sinful Chocolate & Heavenly Wine, Icewines & Nothing More, and Winemasters’ Dinners.

If that isn’t enough, top off your glass at the end of the week at Masa’s Backalley Speak Easy, presented by Misconduct Wine Company on the Saturday night. A celebration of the roaring 20s and prohibition, wine will be flowing with great snacks and music by Luther Wright and special guests Po’ Girl.

The changes and additions for 2009 prove that organizers are keen to continually grow and develop the event. Nicolson says the vision is a ten day festival that would feature all of the new uniqueness of BC wines, including fruit wines, organics and other specialties. Further to that, Sohni says she’d like to see the festival become more rounded with the addition of performances, village animation and culture.

One thing is for certain, the Icewine Festival at Sun Peaks has become a staple for the resort community. “I think it really defines Sun Peaks and encompasses everything that we are with village and on-mountain activities,” says Lyall. “The Icewine Festival is very special, like Sun Peaks. It takes a lot of work to get there, but it’s worth it.”

The 2009 Icewine Festival is set for January 12-17, 2009 at Sun Peaks Resort. Call Sun Peaks Central Reservations at 1-800-807-3257 for package and event information, or head online to www.sunpeaksresort.com/icewine.

By Melanie Simmons Tourism Sun Peaks

Images supplied by Matt Crossman