Somm scholarships
Cellar tasting
Every Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. a lucky group sits down to a special wine-and-food-paired tasting at Kelowna’s CedarCreek Winery.
The elegant, glass-filled table is set up amongst the stainless-steel tanks and barrels in the wine cellar, an inspired place to sip, nibble and hear the CedarCreek story.
Relish the setting and the ever-changing flights of six wines and bites by winemaker Taylor Whelen and chef Jeremy Tucker.
Last weekend, when Kerry and I booked into the cellar tasting ($30), wine shop manager Eliana Bray led the group through pairings of 2016 Riesling ($18) with salty sausage; 2016 Gweurztraminer ($18) and spicy pakora; 2015 Block 5 Platinum Chardonnay ($29) with goatcheese bread sticks; 2014 Block 4 Platinum Pinor Noir ($54) accompanying mushroom soup; 2013 The Last Word red blend ($85) with short ribs; and 2014 Desert Ridge Platinum Merlot ($42) with a finale of chocolate cake in cherry-and-espresso sauce.
The cellar tastings are part of CedarCreek’s winter program designed to keep people wine touring while the snow flies.
There are also a la carte winter lunches Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; sommelier-led Platinum Experience Tastings for $30 with wine, cheese and charcuterie daily at noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m.; and Flights & Bites wine and cheese pairing for $25, anytime between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.
The wine shop is also open daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for tastings at the bar and wine sales.
The winery is using winter to get a head start on construction of a new year-round restaurant and new wine shop and tasting gallery.
Both are expected to open late summer.
Beer will also taking a spotlight at the upcoming Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna Feb. 2-3.
In keeping with the qualifying events called Gold Medal Plates, the new beer competition is Gold Medal Pints.
Of the 50 Canadian beers tasted and judged at Gold Medal Plates events across the country over the past months, five finalists have been chosen.
Those attending the Mystery
The B.C. Hospitality Foundation is now accepting applications for up to four $1,000 sommelier scholarships.
The grants, sponsored by Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland and Authentic Wine & Spirits Merchants in Vancouver, will go to somms furthering their wine education as part of a mentorship program.
Applications are open until the end of the month at BCHospitalityFoundation.com/ scholarships.
The foundation also has a legacy scholarships for children of hospitality workers who are embarking on a hospitality diploma or degree; five culinary scholarships and a Greg King Scholarship for study at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts.
Steve MacNaull is The Okanagan Weekend’s business and wine reporter and columnist. Reach him at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.