Day Three and it falls on a #WineWednesday. That seems apropos for the legend that was Harry McWatters. Dubbed the “godfather” of BC Wine meant with great respect for this pioneer of the British Columbia wine industry.
About 200 CheckMate wine club members and their guests strolled about the spacious areas in the room that was set with wine and food pairing stations. In the library you could pair your choice of Chardonnay with a delectable crab cake or discover another corner of the room and enjoy a different selection of Chardonnay with the never ending array of bite size sushi.
2016 Chardonnay CedarCreek Kelowna, BC $18.99 Lemon yellow with medium-minus intensity. Apple, pear, citrus and butter on the nose. Very good balance with good mouthfeel. The flavours reflect the nose followed by a medium-plus finish. This is the perfect everyday chardonnay to keep handy in your fridge. 2015 Cabernet Franc Pacific Breeze New Westminster, … Read more#WineWednesday Wine Reviews by @Sam_WineTeacher
Enjoy Chef Ian McHale’s deliciously decadent yet simple country cooking at its finest, brilliantly paired with the rich, mouth-filling wines of The Prisoner Wine Co, a pioneer of California’s most luxurious red blends, at this multi-course feast designed to celebrate the peak of autumn goodness.
Estate fruit grown in the Similkameen Valley and co-fermented on Viognier skins as is done in the Rhine Valley of France. The wine was aged for 20 months in new and second use French and American oak barrels, each of which imparts different nuances to the wine.
On this afternoon the tasting was a prelude to our Tasting Menu dinner at the Liquidity Bistro. I highly recommend and suggest a lunch or dinner prior to or following your tasting to enhance your visit. Both the Vertical Tasting or the Reserve Tasting are a leisurely exercise that takes time to enjoy.
With an emphasis on fresh, locally sourced cuisine this is the domain of Executive Chef Shaun Snelling. In the year that Snelling has been at the helm of this iconic dining room changes have come about with a nod to tradition and an eye to the appeal of local, haute cuisine while retaining favourite dishes.
“Just join the Vanessa Vineyard‘s wine club and never worry about buying any other wines again, their wines are that good.” Sam Hauck, the Wine Teacher
The Similkameen is ideally located as a force in the burgeoning grape growing and wine making industry that is BC Wine Country.
Great things are in store this year, as we continue redeveloping our estate vineyard at CheckMate and finalize construction of our new hospitality centre.