There’s no question that the Okanagan wine industry has faced some tough years of late.
Winemaker Evan Saunders.
Beginning with the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, the region has weathered a heat dome and forest fires in 2021, a major cold snap in late 2022, and now an even harsher cold event to start 2024. For Blasted Church winemaker Evan Saunders, it certainly feels like the Valley is being put to the test, but if anyone is up for the challenge, it’s him.
Evan became the head winemaker at Blasted Church in 2017 after working there for 4 years, following several years as a cellar hand at Osoyoos Larose in the Okanagan, along with working a harvest at Kosta Browne in Sonoma Valley, California. Throughout our conversations with people at the winery and in the industry, it is clear that Evan is highly regarded, with many expressing enthusiasm for the direction he is taking the wines at Blasted Church.
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Homan Haftbaradaran.
The journey of a winemaker is never easy or straightforward. For Homan Haftbaradaran, the path has been particularly unconventional and not without its share of challenges along the way. But through it all, his boundless passion and resilience have resulted in wines that consistently stand out for offering terrific quality and value.
Homan and his wife Mina founded City Side Winery in 2013. We first met him in 2016, shortly after he opened a commercial space in Vancouver’s Olympic Village district. This venue was more than just a tasting room; it featured his Mystic Pearl wines alongside charcuterie boards, share plates, and live music, creating a unique gathering spot in the city.
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A unique & fun wine tasting experience.
Our recent AdVINEture with Equines & Wine was featured in the Daily Hive. Click HERE for the full article on this wonderful and very unique experience wine tasting by horseback in one of the worlds most beautiful wine regions.
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BC’s independent wineries are vital to the industry.
It’s recently been well-documented how the deep freeze that hit the Okanagan Valley in January has dealt a severe blow to vineyards, leaving them devastated and unable to produce grapes for this year’s harvest. This setback is especially difficult for small, independent BC wineries, which already grapple with a myriad of challenges. Our latest article for the Daily Hive HERE takes a look at how these wineries are overcoming the obstacles despite the odds.
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Bill Lui.
After conducting hundreds of interviews with winemakers over the past decade, we remain endlessly fascinated by the diverse paths that individuals take to enter the world of winemaking. Bill Lui, proprietor of One Faith Vineyards proves that it’s never too late to follow your dreams, you just need to have courage and…faith.
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