A WINE TASTING, WITH SCIENCE ON THE SIDE
Walkabout event offers seminars with experts, fine food and of course plenty of delectable wines
Vancouver wine and drinks mogul, Anthony von Mandl and his Iconic Wineries of British Columbia are partnering with Science World to present a unique evening branded Uncorked: A Celebration of the Science of Wine.
The one-night stand on Nov. 14 is a collaboration between von Mandl’s internationally acclaimed winemakers, viticulturists and chefs and Science World staff linking science to the art of making wine in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. The walkabout event is designed to insert attendees into the intricate and complex world of fine wine, touching on the science behind much of its creation via interactive seminars, Q&A sessions and hands-on activities.
Best of all you get to taste an exceptional lineup of quality B.C. wines with the people who make them.
Winemaker Ben Bryant is the new man on the block at Mission Hill, the current National Wine Awards 2019 Canadian Winery of the Year. Bryant will pour four terrific wines: 2017 Reserve Meritage ($27), 2018 Terroir Collection Jagged Rock Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc-semillion ($30), the 2017 Terroir Collection Cabernet Franc ($50), and 2014 Quatrain ($75) from the Legacy series.
From across the lake, Cedarcreek Estate Winery winemaker Taylor Whelan, who heads up a three-decade-old property with an all-new winery, visitor centre, and restaurant, is hard at work converting his property to an all-organic site. Whelan will pour 2018 Estate Sauvignon Blanc ($19), 2018 Platinum Riesling ($30), 2016 Estate Pinot Noir ($27) and 2017 Platinum Syrah ($50).
Checkmate Artisanal Winery is pursuing Chardonnay and Merlot in a manner no other winery has: by exploiting single-vineyard sites on both sides of the south Okanagan.
Winemaker Phil Mcgahan will be in town pouring 2015 Attack Chardonnay ($115), 2015 Fool’s Mate Chardonnay ($80), 2014 Opening Gambit Merlot ($85) and 2014 Silent Bishop Merlot ($85).
Winemaker Shane Munn has a dream job at Martin’s Lane Winery, where gravity is the mainstay of gentle wine movement. Munn makes only Riesling and Pinot Noir at his spectacular east Kelowna winery. It will be a treat to taste his 2014 Naramata Ranch Riesling ($55), 2015 Fritzi’s Vineyard Riesling ($65), 2014 Simes Vineyard Pinot Noir ($100) and 2015 Dehart Vineyard Pinot Noir ($100).
Finally, Road 13 Vineyards general manager Joe Luckhurst will be pouring his multiple award-winning Rhone-style wines from the Golden Mile Bench, including 2017 Roussanne ($26), 2017 Viognier ($21), 2017 Jackpot Syrah ($40), and 2017 Syrah Malbec ($32).
It’s not all wine; there will be food prepared by chef Patrick Gayler from Mission Hill’s Terrace Restaurant and chef Neil Taylor will present culinary offerings from Cedarcreek’s stylish new, Home Block Restaurant in East Kelowna.
As for the science connection, seminars available throughout the evening will include Synthesis: The Science of Blending Wine, Evolution: The Science of Aging Wine, Innovation: Technology and the Modern Organic Vineyard, Terroir: The Science of Soil. Add to that a sparkling wine lounge, silent auction, blind tastings and other activities developed by the Science World team.
I’ve been saying the standard walkabout wine tasting has been dead for some time, so I’m looking forward to seeing how this more interactive evening of sharing inside information appeals to wine consumers.
Tickets are a modest $89 and are available through Science World. All proceeds, thanks to Mr. von Mandl’s wineries, go to support Science World’s On the Road program. Last year these live science performances touched 41,500 students throughout B.C. who otherwise might not have had a chance to visit Telus World of Science.
See you there.