Red bottle
He’s a pioneer. He’s made history. And he’s made award-winning wines for almost four decades at Sandhill and Calona.
Shortly after celebrating his 65th birthday, master winemaker Howard Soon announced his retirement, effective July 24, from Andrew Peller Limited, the parent company of the Sandhill, Calona, Conviction, Wayne Gretzky and Peller Estates brands.
It was 1980 when Soon joined Calona Wines in Kelowna as winemaker.
With 37 consecutive vintages on his resume, Soon is the longestserving winemaker in Canada.
In 1980, there were only a handful of wineries in the Okanagan and the Valley wasn’t exactly known for quality vintages.
Soon helped change that by working with grape growers to produce exceptional grapes that could be used in his non-interventional approach to make outstanding wines. The industry took notice. Soon became the first B.C. winemaker to craft a vintage awarded a gold medal at the Chardonnay du Monde competition in France.
And in 2009, Sandhill had a clean sweep at the Canadian Wine Awards picking up trophies for best Canadian winery, best red wine and best white wine.
In 1998 Soon was recognized with the Okanagan Wine Festivals’ Founder’s Award.
“I can’t think of anyone who has had a more profound impact on the Canadian wine industry than Howard Soon,” said John Peller of Andrew Peller Limited.
“More importantly, Howard’s profound kindness and caring nature has won the hearts of everyone who has ever worked with him. He is a genuine pioneer, artisan and friend and we are so grateful for the leadership he has given to everyone at Andrew Peller and the Okanagan wine industry.”
Say hi to Howard before he retires at Andrew Peller’s Spring Open House today at the winery at 1125 Richter St.
He’ll be there with Wayne Gretzky winemaker Sandy Leier offering free tastings and 25 per cent off purchases of select Sandhill, Wayne Gretzky and Peller Estates wines. You can’t miss this bottle. It’s eye-catching red and oh-so Canadian with its stylized white maple leaf.
Just in time for the sesquicentennial, Kelowna’s St. Hubertus Winery has released its 2015 Pinot Noir in a sharp-red bottle.
“It’s the same colour as my son Philip’s air force uniform at the Royal Military College in Kingston,” said St. Hubertus co-owner Andy Gebert.
“He’s taking business and political science.”
The Canadian Red 150 Anniversary Edition wine, which retails for $28, can be found at the winery on Lakeshore Road, the wine shop at Kelowna airport and select liquor stores in B.C. and Alberta.
The winery made only 500 cases of Canadian Red, so when it’s gone, it’s gone.
So drink it with your dinner, or on its own, on Canada Day and save the bottle as a souvenir.
St. Hubertus decided to put Pinot Noir in the bottle because, of course, it’s red and Hebert declares it the “perfect Canadian wine.”
“It goes with all of Canada’s favourite foods from Atlantic lobster, halibut and B.C. salmon to pork from Saskatchewan and mushrooms from the Kootenays,” he said.
“Our Pinot Noir is light in colour, but deep in berry flavours.”
Best patios
For its expansive views of vineyards, valley, mountains and blue sky and mouth-watering wine country cuisine, The Bistro’s patio at Liquidity Wines in Okanagan Falls has been named one of the 100 best outdoor dining restaurants in Canada.
Also on the list from the Okanagan are Grapevine restaurant at Gray Monk Winery in Lake Country, Quails’ Gate Winery’s Old Vines restaurant in West Kelowna, The Terrace at Mission Hill Winery in West Kelowna, Lakeside Dining Room at the Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna and 19 Okanagan Grill & Bar at West Kelowna’s Two Eagles Golf Course.
The list is compiled by OpenTable the world’s leading provider of online restaurant reservations.
The best list is based on 515,000 restaurant reviews by OpenTable diners between April 2016 and March 2017.
Meantime, Liquidity’s 2015 Chardonnay Estate and 2015 Pinot Noir won bronze and silver medals, respectively, at the recent Decanter World Awards in England.
The Chard was noticed for its tropical fruit and creme brulee flavours and the Pinot was recognized for its red cherry with a hint of vanilla profile.
Nature Trust
Of course, wine will be served at next Saturday’s Earth Wine Fire fundraiser at Kelowna’s Delta Grand hotel.
In fact, 13 wineries, including Church and State, Culmina, Foxtrot, Tightrope and Howling Bluff will be pouring glasses to accompany small plates prepared by chefs like the Delta’s Iain Rennie, Raudz’s Rod Butters, Summerhill Pyramid Winery’s Jesse Croy and Predator Ridge Golf Course’s Jeremy Luypen.
The money raised at the event will help The Nature Trust of B.C. buy 86 acres of critical Bighorn sheep habitat near Skaha Lake.
The fundraiser also features a musical tribute to Canada’s 150th led by jazz singer Anna Jacyszyn and a live auction stocked with culinary adventures, winery tours, art, jewelry and spa treatments.
There are still a few $175 tickets left at NatureTrust.bc.ca.
Scholarship
Penticton architect Nick Bevanda’s spirit lives on at Black Hills Winery in Oliver.
Bevanda, who died at 54 of cancer in May, designed the geometric, concrete Black Hills building with a linear flair to mimic rows in a vineyard and was recognized with a Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Merit for it.
Tonight, at the winery’s Note Bene Release Party, which is attracting 400, all proceeds from the silent and live auctions will be donated to to the fund to created the Nick Bevanda Architectural Scholarship to support aspiring young architects in the South Okanagan.
“Nick was an outstanding architect who also became a good friend,” said Black Hills president Glenn Fawcett.
“More than an architect, Nick was a great husband and father. His creativity shone through everything he did.”
Bevanda also designed Terravista Winery in Naramata, Penticton Secondary School and the Hooded Merganser over-water restaurant at Penticton Lakeside Resort.
Steve MacNaull is The Okanagan Weekend’s business reporter and columnist. But, he loves to eat and drink, too, thus his new Fill ‘er Up column on the Wine & Dine page. Reach him at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.