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Icewine Festival Becomes the Winter Wine Festival at Sun Peaks

The Icewine Festival has been a staple at Sun Peaks Resort in the BC Interior every January for the last 12 years. And while this year is no exception, the Icewine Festival is being re-born as the Winter Wine Festival and will run as an expanded event, January 16 to 24, 2010. Sun Peaks Resort is known for its picturesque alpine village and world renowned powder. During the Winter Wine Festival, guests can spend nine luxurious days skiing or snowboarding and indulging in culinary events and wine tastings every evening.

It was 1998 when the original Icewine Festival began as a two-day event to showcase some of the exceptional Icewines being produced within cold Canadian winters. Often described as Canada’s Liquid Gold, grapes for Icewine can only be picked once the temperature drops to minus 8 degrees Celsius and remains there for close to 36 hours. “In the first few years of inception, it was quickly touted as one of the ‘must do’ festivals in North America. It has grown in diversity and sophistication ever since,” says Christopher Nicolson, President of Tourism Sun Peaks.

But while Icewine was a huge attractant for many guests, it also kept some people away who were interested in other varietals. “Guests thought the Icewine name of the festival meant it was exclusive to Icewine, which was not the case,” says Nicolson. “The Winter Wine Festival reflects the true nature of the festival, featuring all varietals.”

Tourism Sun Peaks is once again working with the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society (OWFS) to host the Winter Wine Festival, and organizers say they are excited about the changes for the upcoming festival. “The name change allows us to broaden the scope of the events and varietals showcased to hopefully attract new participants and expand the experience of those of have participated in the past,” says Jen Barter, Resort Experience Manager at Tourism Sun Peaks.

The experience is enhanced even more with the culinary delights that are served at the festival. Sun Peaks is becoming known for its Farm to Fork culinary program, spearheaded by David Tombs, Executive Chef at the Delta Sun Peaks Resort hotel. Chef Tombs makes small lot purchases directly from farmers and ranchers in the Kamloops region and changes the menus at his hotel restaurants every six to eight weeks based on what’s in season.

With the expansion of the festival, organizers have designed five new wine and culinary events. “Whether guests consider themselves a wine connoisseur or just a wine rookie, there are an array of events available to satisfy every palette and budget,” says Barter.

Wild Meats & Wild Wines (Jan 16) will have guests tasting an assortment of tribal-inspired regional wild game and fish paired with uniquely distinct BC wine varietals before they dance the night away to live music.

The Varietal Showdown & Dinner (Jan 19) will bring together Executive Chef David Tombs and Wine Educator Gerrit Van Staalduinen as they explore the distinct flavours of BC varietals during a unique seasonal dinner. With each course, participants will learn about classical characteristics of the grape, the winemaker’s style and nature’s impact on the process.

The nose will be centre stage at another new event called What Your Nose Knows (Jan 23). Wine educators will lead guests by the nose to learn to identify defects in wine. And test your knowledge at the end of the seminar and see if your nose really knows!

Bartenders from Sun Peaks and Okanagan wineries will be challenged during the Sun Peaks Bartender Mixology Face-Off (Jan 23). Competitors must produce a cocktail that includes wine and/or Icewine as an ingredient. Patrons will be taste testing and get to choose the event winner.

Wrap up the Winter Wine Festival at Mixology to Music (Jan 23), which includes a mouth watering dinner paired with sumptuous wine. Then enjoy the musical styling’s from a local two piece band while sampling mixed wine-cocktail concoctions from the house bartender.

While there are exciting new events, the old favourites aren’t going anywhere. The flagship event of the festival for the past 12 years has been the Progressive Tasting, where guests wander around the charming Sun Peaks village, tasting wines from over 20 wineries. Local artisans will also have their work on display during the Progressive.

Event tickets range from $17 per person (Sun Peaks Wine and Dine) to $125 per person (Varietal Showdown and Dinner) and accommodation packages start from $139 per night. Visit www.sunpeaksresort.com for all ticket information or call 1-877-212-7107. The Winter Wine Festival takes place at Sun Peaks Resort, January 16 to 24, 2010.

by Melanie Simmons

Food image supplied by Matt Crossman

Other three images supplied by Adam Stein