Katherine Bramall
Katherine Bramall, Allen Tozer and Blair Baldwin have moved on from the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society to form their own festivals-organizing firm called the BC Wine Cider and Spirits Festival .
Is there room for two groups staging wine and beverage events?
You bet there is.
The Okanagan is a thirsty place.
Courier: What is the BC Wine Cider and Spirits Festival?
Bramall: The BC Wine Cider and Spirits Festival is a member-based events company that will be hosting full sensory consumer tastings to showcase all of the amazing products currently being produced in British Columbia.
Courier: Who is behind it? Bramall: The BC Wine Cider and Spirits Festival is brought to you by Katherine Bramall, Allen Tozer and Blair Baldwin.
This team is no stranger to the event industry as they were the management company that put on the signature events for the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society for the last 25 years.
Courier: What events do you have coming up?
Bramall: We have currently announced four events coming up in 2019 and will be very shorty be announcing two more.
The first will be in partnership with SilverStar Mountain Resort called Winterland.
This will be on March 30 and will be an indoor outdoor tasting, with inflatable igloo tents.
The second will be hosted at Better Earth Garden and Tropicals on May 11 in support of Mamas for Mamas and is called Better Earth.
This event will be hosted in the Better Earth greenhouses and anyone that has been to visit them know this is a beautiful setting for an early afternoon garden party.
The next event we have announced is Mile High Wine and Music on Aug. 10 at SilverStar.
Mile High is an event that SilverStar has been hosting for years and is always a fan favourite, so we are extremely excited to partner with them for this event.
Lastly we have an event called Taco Vino on October 19.
This will be an upscale pre Día de los Muertos tasting featuring Spanish music, Mexican food and, of course. samples from our fantastic members.
Courier: How much do tickets cost and where can people buy them?
Bramall: Tickets range between $69 and $89 and include all of your tastings, food and entertainment.
We have, as a holiday gift, put all tickets on sale for the month of December at our Early Bird pricing and they can actually be bought right through our Facebook page at BCWineFest or through our website: www.bcwinefestival.com
Courier: Usually wine, cider and spirits have separate festivals. Why combine them?
Bramall: With the growing craft liquor industry, we thought it would be a really great time to combine our 60plus years of experience by hosting events that highlight all of the great things happening in the industry.
We plan to host destination guests as well as locals and would like to have something to offer to every consumer and palate.
Our focus is to assist in growing recognition for this industry and encourage all of our guests and supporters to buy B.C.
Courier: How do wineries, cideries and distillers get involved with this new venture?
Bramall: We are currently offering complimentary membership to our first 100 members, so we highly recommend heading over to our website and registering as soon as possible.
Courier: With Christmas coming up, what's your favourite holiday wine, cider and mixed drink?
Bramall: Oh my gosh, there are just so many options, but for me there is nothing better than a large glass of Cabernet Franc over the holidays.
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“In conversation with” is a Q&A with residents of the Central Okanagan. To suggest a subject matter for this column, email: james.miller@ok.bc.ca.