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Okanagan Wine Festivals Society press release/edited
The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is gearing up for its 29th Okanagan Fall Wine Festival presented by Valley First Credit Union. The 10 day 150 event Fall Wine Festival takes place throughout Okanagan Wine Country and includes events ranging from fun informal wine tastings to wine education seminars, dinners, music and the arts.
Gary Reynolds, President of the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and owner, Lake Breeze Vineyards in Naramata states “The Okanagan Fall Wine Festival is the only major wine festival in North America that takes place during the grape harvest. It adds to the allure of the events to know that each one of our 92 wineries will be busy showcasing their harvest to residents and tourists that visit us. We are pleased to have been recognized again as one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association. It shows that our Fall Wine Festival is one of the most diversified and well run festivals and we anticipate that this year that we will once again set strong sales and attendance numbers. In 2008, we attracted 195,000 visits and over $4.7 million during the Fall Wine Festival and we are aiming to beat this in 2009.”
The main highlight to kick off the opening weekend of the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival presented by Valley First Credit Union are the hugely popular WestJet Wine Tastings. These take place Friday October 2 and Saturday October 3 at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort Hotel in Kelowna, B.C. These wine tastings are becoming well known as a great place for young wine enthusiasts to have fun, meet friends and is a fabulous event for those trying wines for the first time. There will be over 40 wineries present both nights and tickets include a souvenir wine glass, all your wine tasting, bread and cheese, a free taxi ride home and the wonderful fun culture of WestJet airlines. Tickets are $55 and available online at ticketmaster.ca or by calling 250-860-1470.
Pam Luckhurst, Board member and co-owner Road 13 Vineyards in Oliver, B.C. is looking forward to the Fall Wine Festival. “Given the economic challenges in 2009, the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival is counted on as one of the major reasons for wine tourists to visit the Okanagan and for residents to take pride in their own world famous wine country. And while the spring was colder and dryer than usual, the heat of the past month of August and this September has brought us almost on target with our harvesting. If September’s weather continues to bring us warm sunny days in the mid to high 20’s, the quality of the grapes will be excellent.”
Following the WestJet Wine Tastings, on Sunday October 4, Terasen Gas presents the Gourmet and Grapes Gala at Cabana Grille in Kelowna. Six wonderful local restaurants will be paired with six Okanagan wineries to offer an opportunity to taste fabulous food and wine in the atmosphere of one of the hottest restaurants in the interior. And the highlight of the evening will be a black box Iron Chef Competition between Ned Bell from Cabana and Wayne Martin from “Fraiche” in Vancouver. Tickets are limited to only 175 people and are priced at $79 through ticketmaster.ca or 250-860-1470.
Both events are safe ride home events, sponsored by BC Liquor Stores and the Johnston Meier Insurance Group. For more information on the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival, contact info@TheWineFestivals.com or your mobile device at www.owfs.mobi or tel (250) 861-6654. Complimentary events guides are available at wineries, chambers of commerce, Tourism BC Visitor Information Centres or BC Liquor Stores in the Okanagan. Events can also be downloaded from the website at www.TheWineFestivals.com.
