BC WINE EXPO
A day-long celebration of BC wine, including the latest releases and in-depth discussions with the diverse and talented producers who crafted them from grape to glass. This year, we have worked with the talented teams at WinePlus+, Barbarian Consulting and Kurtis Kolt to develop four seminars that will complement the walkaround trade tastings that feature more than 55 BC wineries participating.
Click here for a list of wineries at the walkaround trade tastings.
For me personally this is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with winery principals and winemakers while tasting some of the newest wine releases.
That being said one of the key event opportunities lie in the opportunty to attend one of the seminars offered either in the morning or afternoon prior to the walkaround tasting sessions.
This year I was fortunate to secure a place at the Business of BC Wine in the Global Context. This included the chance to taste eight wines and meet either a winery representiative, or in this case, two winemakers. This sesssion turned out to be unique in another way – the moderator, Barb Philip and all four members of the panel were women. Namely; Stephanie Stanley Winemaker O’Rourke Family Vineyards, Stephanie Mosley Marketing and Communications Manager at Tantalus Vineyards, Val Tait General Manager and Winemaker for Gold Hill Winery, Lauren Skinner Buksevics Director of Sales and Marketing at Painted Rock Winery.
The seminars are always good for lively conversation about current trends in the industry, where the panelists seeing into the future and for an accurate and honest opinions on the health and status of the BC wine industry overall.
In addition we have the opportunity to explore and taste eight wines. Here are the wines in the order we tasted.
O’Rourke Family Estate Winery, 2020 Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, BC VQA
Lake Country Sub-GI
Tasting Notes
Aromas of tropical fruit salad and fresh shaved coconut. On the palate, ripe pineapple, pear, fresh brioche bread and toasted almonds.
Winemaking
Fermentation and aging in 16% new, 19% one year old and neutral French oak barrels. 100% indigenous yeast and spontaneous partial malolactic ferment. Aged 11 months in our wine caves.
Awards
2023 Chardonnay Du Monde: Gold – Top 10 (Ranked #5)
2023 Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards: Silver
2023 Decanter World Wine Awards: Bronze
2023 International Wine & Spirit Competition: Bronze
2022 International Wine Challenge: Commended
2022 All Canadian Wine Championship: Silver
2022 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada: Silver
Peak Cellars 2022 Riesling
Lake Country Sub-GI
This is a classic expression of Riesling, beginning to show some of its characteristic ‘petrol’ notes that we learn to love about Riesling as it ages. Intense aromas of green apple and green pineapple begin to unravel into all things lime (Kaffir lime leaves, key lime and lime cordial), with just a light sprinkling of freshly chopped cilantro (but don’t let that scare you off!). Your first sip is reminiscent of biting into a Granny Smith apple, making your mouth water with its vibrant juicy citrus freshness, with undertones of wet stone and a lingering finish that ‘tastes like more’.
Pair with tacos, sushi, seared scallops with lemon butter, oysters, ceviche, creamy cheeses and cheese fondue, salads w/ vinaigrette dressings, roasted pork with apple mustard sauce… Riesling is really a great wine for darned near everything, you almost can’t go wrong.
2025 LA International Wine Competition – Best of Class/Gold/96 Points
2025 International Wine Challenge – Bronze
2025 Alberta Beverage Awards – Best in Class/90 Points
Tantalus Vineyards 2024 Riesling “Crafted in BC”
Grimsby, Ontario
Our 2024 vintage will go down as one of the most challenging—yet most innovative—in our winery’s 20-year history. Faced with the crop loss at our home estate, like so many producers in our region, we had to rethink the season. Rather than seeing it as a setback, we dove in to the opportunity to explore and collaborate with our winegrowing colleagues in two exceptional cool-climate regions.
The wines from 2024 reflect not only the quality of the vineyards we worked with but also the camaraderie between our team and the industry peers we leaned on for support in a difficult situation.
For Riesling, we were fortunate to partner with two phenomenal growers in Ontario: Paul Franciosa at Grimsby Hillside and Mark Picone at his namesake vineyard, nestled geographically just next door. Both sites were planted to the same Riesling clones we have in the ground here at Tantalus: Weis 21B, with remarkably different terroir that we were thrilled to see evolve in our cellar.
A pale straw in the glass, big aromas of lemon, white peach, wild flowers, chalk, ginger and persimmon first emerge. Underlying notes of wet stone and pear skin to the intriguing aromatic layers in this wine. The palate is lush and juicy showing a touch of clementine and ruby red grapefruit, with candied lime peel and a lovely early crunchy pear component at the mid palate. This wine has all the chalky dry minerality on the long finish that we are always seeking in our flagship Riesling release.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Comprised of the Picone (planted in 2008) and Grimsby Hillside vineyards (planted in 2005 and 2007), all grapes where whole bunch pressed to 1.2 bar and the juice was settled naturally for two days before being transported across from Ontario to our cellar in East Kelowna in a temperature-controlled (chilled) state. Inoculation with a variety of Riesling specific yeasts happened upon arrival. Ferments lasted between 30 and 50 days at temperatures that did not exceed 15C. The final blend naturally balanced itself with just the right amount of sweetness (at just under 15 g/L of residual sugar) to maintain the lovely tension we seek in our typical “house” style of our flagship Riesling release.
Tantalus Vineyards 2022 Old Vines Riesling, Okanagan Valley VQA
East Kelowna Slopes Sub-GI
Our Old Vines Riesling is made for those seeking a wine with elegance and a sense of place. Made exclusively from our 1978 Riesling plantings, its purity conveys all that is special about our historic, old vineyard – coupled with our team’s constant pursuit to craft world class wines.
Pale lemon-yellow in the glass, this Riesling opens with delicate aromas of chamomile, kefir lime, and white tea, layered with notes of white peach blossom, and lemon zest, accented by a subtle hint of fresh tennis ball. The palate is vibrant and textured, with pomelo, nectarine, balanced by creamy lemon curd and zesty lime pith, leading to a long, chalky mineral finish. Fresh yet structured, this wine shows great potential for ageing, developing deeper complexity and nuance over time.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Our 2022 vintage release showcases all four of our mature Riesling blocks, originally planted in 1978 with Clone 21B. The majority of this wine, however, comes from “Block 5,” a two-acre parcel bordered by ten acres of mature ponderosa pines on its western and northern edges. These towering pines provide shade in the late afternoon and evening, creating dappled light exposure that slows ripening in late summer and early autumn.
Riesling is typically the last variety harvested on our site, as we wait for optimal phenolic ripeness, balanced sugars, and precise acidity. The 2022 OVR was picked on October 14th and 15th. After a cool autumn night on the crush pad, the fruit was gently whole-cluster pressed. Once settled into tank, fermentation proceeded at a steady 11–12°C over approximately 45 days. The winemaking approach remains intentionally simple. As always, after bottling in late winter, the wine rests for two years before release.
ACCOLADES
95 points – Decanter Magazine, Michaela Morris, October 2024
94 points – Gismondi On Wine, Anthony Gismondi, April 2025
93 points – Michael Godel, National Wine Awards of Canada June 2025
Gold Hill Winery 2022 Cabernet Franc Rosé Okanagan ValleyVQA
Estate Vineyard, Oliver
Made from two separate Cabernet Franc juice lots. The first wine lot was made with direct pressed fruit, immediately after harvest. The second wine lot was made from juice with 18 hours skin contact, this Rosé was steel fermented and aged. The resulting wine is textured and complex, with red fruit flavours and herbal aromas. Enjoy paired with charcuteries, tomato-based pastas and vegetable tapas.
Oliver, British Columbia, Canada – 100% Cabernet Franc
Aromas of black cherries, blackberries, plums, sweet spices, cedar, and oak. On the palate, it is dry and medium-bodied with a round, soft mouthfeel, offering flavours of black plum, black cherry, blackberry, and red fruit, complemented by touches of vanilla, tarriness, leather, stewed fruit, and oak. The finish is medium-plus in length, featuring light pepperiness and oak, with juicy black fruit flavours and chalky drying tannins. Decanting enhances the wine’s body and fruit flavours. Pair this wine with grilled duck, game, beef or lamb, eggplant, roasted tomatoes or vegetables, and creamy soft cheeses that complement its soft tannins.
Winemaking
Fruit was hand-picked from our single 3.01 acre vineyard block on November 6th, 2022 and berry sorted. Fruit was broken into small batches, cold soaked on the skins for four days and fermented for an additional 21 days on the skins in tank with twice daily pump overs. The batches were then barrel aged for 18 months in 30% new French oak and blended prior to bottling. Unfiltered.
Gold Medal, WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada
Aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, and cured salami are complemented by hints of cedar, olives, and Italian spices, with subtle notes of violets and tomato leaf. The palate reveals well-integrated tannins supporting rich fruit flavors and savory depth. The finish is long and elegant.
Painted Rock Estate Winery 2021 Red Icon Okanagan Valley BC VQA
A blend of 41% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec and 8% Petit Verdot
Perfumed and dynamic, the 2021 vintage showcases dark fruit, violets, dark chocolate and pepper, complemented by cassis, blackberry, plum, and black cherries, with hints of sage, anise, and baking spices. Structured with well balanced tannins that will continue to integrate with time in the cellar.
Biographies
Moderator Barb Philip
Barbara Philip MW was the first Western Canadian to achieve the Master of Wine designation in 2007. She is currently a Category Manager for BC LIQUOR where she is responsible for the European and Canadian wines. Through Barbariain Wine Consulting, Barb works as a presenter, journalist and judge. In addition to lecturing across the United States, Europe and Canada, Barbara has judged for the Argentina Wine Awards, Gambero Rosso and the Decanter World Wine Awards in London. For ten years, she was the wine columnist on CBC Radio One’s “On The Coast”
Stephanie Stanley Winemaker O’Rourke Family Vineyards
Stephanie has been leading the winemaking at Peak Cellars since 2019. Her passion for Riesling and other aromatic whites coupled with a curiosity for stylistic exploration has taken the Peak Cellars wine program to exciting new levels. Stephanie now also leads the winemaking at O’Rourke Family Estate.
A true Okanagan native, she was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley and is well-experienced with most grape varieties in the region. She received a Bachelor of Science with Honours from Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture program in 2003 where she was also awarded the President’s Medal.
From 2003 to 2015 Stephanie was mentored by esteemed winemaker, Howard Soon, at Sandhill Wines. During that time, she also worked as the lead winemaker for Wayne Gretzky Okanagan and Peller Estates Okanagan.
In 2015 Stephanie decided to pursue new winemaking adventures and for the next four years she divided her time between New Zealand (at Wither Hills) and the Okanagan, working double vintages each year. In 2016 she installed and commissioned the Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards winery in Peachland and in 2017 she found her future place with O’Rourke Family Vineyards.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Stephanie Mosley found her way to Tantalus in 2010 following work and travels through some of the world’s great wine regions. With a background in journalism and publishing, she joined the team during a key stage in the winery’s growth, helping shape Tantalus’ marketing, design, and communications.
As the winery expanded, so did her role. Today, Stephanie also oversees sales and distribution—nurturing trade and media relationships and ensuring Tantalus wines reach key markets.
Her passion for brand-building extends beyond wine. During her time at Tantalus, she has co-founded two breweries—one in Melbourne and another locally in Kelowna—where she served as co-owner and brand manager.
This mix of experience across wine, beer, media, and sales gives Stephanie a unique perspective on connecting people with the authentic stories behind the glass.
Valeria Tait brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her role as General Manager and
Winemaker for Gold Hill Winery. Her analytical focus started with undergraduate training in Molecular
Genetics and Plant Biochemistry at SFU and then she went on to earn an Enology and Viticulture degree
from University of California, Davis, Napa. Involved with several of the iconic wine producers in the
valley, including Poplar Grove, Painted Rock and Bench 1775 Winery, Tait brings her experience to an
artisanal approach to wine-growing, focusing her skills as she comes full circle to now create small lot,
hand crafted wines from fruit grown at the exceptional Gold Hill Estate Vineyard