Make wine, not war
Yippee.
British Columbia wine is once again flowing in Alberta.
On Thursday afternoon, word came from Alberta Premier Rachel Notley that the two-week ban on B.C. wine in her province was coming to an end.
In return, B.C. Premier John Horgan said B.C. will not proceed with its proposed regulatory restrictions on more Albeta oil sands diluted bitumen arriving in B.C. via pipeline.
While this is all good news, it put organizers of Thursday night’s Farm Friends event in Vancouver in an awkward position.
The Okanagan wine and Alberta beef pairing at Edible Canada restaurant in Vancouver was billed as a demonstration of the two provinces collaborating in the wake of the wine-oil war between the two provinces.
With a truce called in the war, what was Farm Friends to do? Of course, the show went on. After all, Okanagan wine and Alberta beef are an ideal match regardless of political skirmishs or trade conflict.
“Farm Friends (was) an event put together to celebrate the products of both provinces in the wake of difficult times,” said Don Triggs, proprietor of Culmina Winery in Oliver.
“B.C. had no intention of boycotting Alberta products like beef, and his event highlighted that.”
Farm Friends was billed as a stand-up grazing event for 150 people who paid $55 each.
Culmina poured its blackberry, violets and cedar-driven 2013 Hypothesis ($46) red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon as a perfect match for the red meats.
It also send its citrusy Decora Riesling ($23) and Dilemma Chardonnay ($34) to pair with lighter appetizer bites.
“We (knew) this single two-hour event (was) just a gesture in terms of the overall boycott of B.C. wines by Alberta,” said organizer Christine Coletta of Haywire Winery in Summerland.
“But, it’s created a lot of media awareness and demonstrated wine shouldn’t be used for political leverage and the provinces should work together to find a solution.”
Haywire served its Gamay Noir ($31, with a nose and flavours of ripe strawberries) to compliment the red meats.
The event also signified the only beef should be on the table and that B.C. has no intention of banning Alberta products in revenge.
It also sent a message that Albertans are more than welcome in the Okanagan to holiday and drink wine.
50th Parallel Winery in Lake Country sent its flagship Pinot Noir ($50) to enjoy with the Alberta beef and bison.
It’s important that Albertans be allowed to drink B.C. wine uninterrupted.
Last year, Alberta imported 17 million bottles of B.C. wine worth $70 million.
That represents about 11 per cent of B.C. production and the second biggest market for B.C. wine outside of the B.C. itself.
The federal government has approved the Kinder MorganTrans Mountain expansion, which would triple capacity of the pipeline between Edmonton and Burnaby and increase ocean tanker ship traffic in the Pacific carrying bitumen.
While B.C. has backed away from threatened regulatory restriction on the increased flow of bituman, Horgan said B.C. has the right to protect itself from potential oil spills and is prepared to go to court to confirm those rights.
The B.C. Wine Institute is thrilled the Alberta government has lifted the boycott.
Earlier this week, the institute notified the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission it would challenge the constitutionality of the ban on B.C. wines. That action is no longer required. However, the institute will still seek legal counsel.
It remains concerned any province believes it has the constitutional authority to impose trade bans on Canadian products based on their place of origin.
The B.C. industry consists of 276 wineries and 923 grape growers, employs more than 12,000 and is an important contributor to the local economy and quality of life, according to the institute.
Vertical & Vintages
Two of the South Okanagan’s most enjoyable pastimes, wine drinking and skiing, combine March 10 for the Vertical & Vintages event at Apex Mountain Resort near Penticton.
The ski resort and the 18 members of the Naramata Bench Wineries Association have partnered to put on a 7 to 9 p.m. tasting at the Gunbarrel Saloon accompanied by tapas.
There’s also an after party with live music by Naramata band Un Corked. Tickets are $55 at EventBrite.ca. Those buying Vertical & Vintages tickets can also get a 25 per cent discount off an Apex lift ticket for March 10 andor 11.
Discounts can also extend to accommodations for the weekend.
Check out ApexResort.com.
Social food
Two of the six social enterprises vying for Change Up prizes on Wednesday are food-based.
Start Fresh Kitchen is a pop-up restaurant and caterer that also has the Start Fresh Project Society that hosts the Culinary Arts and Farm Education program.
The eight-month program offers once-a-week training free to participants in the kitchen and a donated farm space.
One Big Table is a cooperative-owned grocery store of local products, a coffee shop and caterer on St. Paul Street that works alongside the John Howard Society to provide jobs for marginalized workers.
The other social enterprises in the running are Habitat for Humanity, Elevation Outdoors, Do Some Good online network and Change Gamers app.
The six businesses pitch to the crowd at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Okanagan Centre for Innovation in Kelowna.
The crowd votes for their favourites and the two winners receive six months of business consulting, training and mentoring from Change Up co-sponsor Purppl, a social enterprise accelerator.
Tickets to the event are $25 to $45 at EventBrite.ca.