Great article in the Calgary Herald today about the BC Pinot Noir Celebration that we are hosting on Sept 1st! Read the full article here.

August 26, 2013. 8:51 am • Section: Food and Drink, Life

When there’s a chill in the air and coloured leaves on the ground my mind turns to one wine — Pinot Noir. To me it’s the perfect autumn wine.

Heavier in body than a white wine, but not a tannic monster like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, it suits the cooler temperatures of fall. Aged Pinot Noirs even boast fall aromas — wet earth, dried leaves and the baking spices you find in Thanksgiving favourite pumpkin pie can often be sniffed out of good quality Pinots.

So with that in mind, the September long weekend seems like the perfect time to take a closer look at some of British Columbia’s best Pinot Noirs. That’s exactly what’s happening on Sept. 1 with the B.C. Pinot Noir Celebration and Salmon Bake at Meyer Family Vineyards, near Okanagan Falls.

Known for making some of Canada’s top single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, Meyer Family owner — and born and raised Calgarian — Jak Meyer has put together what I expect to be a spectacular event. No less than 13 B.C. wineries will be sharing their Pinot Noirs at the event that will feature discussions, presentations and lots of tasting followed by a salmon dinner prepared by Joy Road Catering and live music from Ryan Lawley and UnCorked.

The event, according to Meyer, is meant to take a closer look at the top-notch Pinot Noirs made in B.C.

“This is a great region for making great Pinots, and Pinots that can compete and compare on a world level,” says Meyer, adding that the other goal is to showcase producers who pay particular attention to the grape that can be difficult grow.

The idea for the event was originally tossed around by Meyer, his winemaker, Chris Carson, and Howling Bluff Estate Wines owner Luke Smith. Carson, who grew up in Edmonton but spent several years making wine in New Zealand, talked about a major Pinot Noir celebration held each year in the land of the kiwi. They decided to try and do something similar, but on a smaller scale — at least for now.

Meyer Family Vineyards, located near Okanagan Falls in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley, will host a B.C. Pinot Noir festival and salmon bake on Sept. 1.

The wineries participating in the B.C. event are Averill Creek Vineyard from Vancouver Island, the Similkameen Valley’s Eau Vivre Winery and Vineyards and Okanagan producers Black Cloud Winery, Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars, Carson Pinot Noir, CedarCreek Estate Winery, Howling Bluff Estate Wines, Lake Breeze Vineyards, Liquidity Wines, Meyer Family Vineyards, Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, Seven Directions Wine and Tantalus Vineyards.

Up to 150 guests will be able to enjoy a sit-down tasting where wines will be poured in three flights, each featuring four B.C. wines and one international Pinot from Burgundy, Oregon or New Zealand.

“It’s not a competition, but just to talk about the similarities and differences,” says Meyer.

Taking part in the discussions will be four guest speakers, Similkameen-based master of wine Rhys Pender, wine consultant and writer Kurtis Kolt, sommelier trainer and wine critic DJ Kearney and B.C. wine author John Schreiner.

The event kicks off around 3 p.m. with a welcoming reception featuring a Pinot Noir rosé produced by Seven Directions Winery, a new Okanagan virtual winery focusing only on rosé. The salmon dinner starts around 6 p.m. and things will wrap up around 9 p.m.

Tickets for the event are $125 per person. A shuttle bus service to and from Penticton will be available through Grape Escapes at a cost of $10 per person each way. A special room rate has also been arranged at the Ramada Inn and Suites in Penticton. Mention the Meyer Family Vineyard Group Rate.

For more information, go to mfvwines.com and click on the Events link.

http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2013/08/26/okanagan-wine-event-celebrates-b-c-pinot-noirs/