Party on the Bench “Big Hearts, Small Bites”

The “Big Hearts, Small Bites” event featured nine wineries along with the Naramata Inn to showcase wine pairings with small bites such as meatballs, Valentine’s cookies, potato chips and chocolates.

Participating wineries included:

Chain Reaction, Howling Bluff, Lake Breeze, Lang, Moraine, Poplar Grove Cheese/Lock and Worth Wine, Ruby Blues, Three Sisters, and Township 7.

The event proved to be a great success. There was a big turnout with every tasting room choc-a-block with visitors. The event, organized by Joel and Linda Chamaschuk, of Chain Reaction Winery was designed to welcome local wine lovers who sometimes avoid visiting at the peak of tourist season.

We headed straight to Poplar Grove to snag some of their amazing cheese. Sadly, only two were available that day,

Poplar Grove Bench Blanc and some Tiger Blue.

After three or four stops, we pulled into Chain Reaction, where we spotted Joel busy making flatbread in their new wood-fired pizza oven. Inside, Linda and Mel served the guests. With my back to the wall, I watched Mel work the steady flow of tasting room guests. Glancing up and spotting new arrivals, she brought them two glasses of Pinot Gris with a small container of truffle parmesan seasoned popcorn.

Then seeing two people were ready for a second sample she grabbed the 2021 Rosé and 2022 Rosé so they could compare the two vintages – along with some Turkish hummus served on Parmesan rosemary-infused flatbread fresh from their wood-fired oven. For any who had finished the two Rosé wines, she brought them a sample of the recently bottled Pinot Noir. Mel did this over and over, never missing a beat. She was sheer poetry in motion. A true standout!

While at Chain Reaction, I also had the pleasure of having a short, but opportune catch-up with Gerry and Sue Thygesen of Skaha Vineyard at Kraze Legs Winery in Kaleden. They spoke briefly about retirement and shutting down the winery. This winery has a well-deserved reputation for very good wines, especially their Merlot. I’ll have to follow up with them at a later date and find out what their plans are for the vineyards.

The other highlight was at Township 7 where the effervescent and engaging Laura, who describes herself as a nerd (I’d add she also shows a strong poetic streak) took us through two flights of wine with amusing and unique descriptions of each one. She personified the wines in a way that was both imaginative and entertaining.