bc wine – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Wine/Dine Experience: HOME BLOCK at Cedar Creek

HOME BLOCK Restaurant at Cedar Creek Estate Winery is elevated comfort food with a wine forward finesse.

A start to a perfect evening at Cedar Creek includes a view with a firepit + some wine. Photo: d. ,king

This past weekend I indulged ~~maybe over indulged~~ in some amazing food and wine in British Columbia’s lakeside wine country. Along with my very good longtime friend Margeaux, we started off late-afternoon at Ex Nihilo Vineyards wine club members pick up party.

At Ex Nihilo Winery. My t-shirt names the various wines we’ll be tasting.

It was an outdoor event on the winery property with different wine tasting stations that were set up with delicious appetizers to go along with the tastings. We met some interesting people and sampled some nice selections before leaving with a case of wine between us.

Last time we were in the Okanagan together we stayed in Oliver, British Columbia and visited several local vineyards in that area. This time we stayed in Kelowna. Kelowna is about a 4 ½ hour drive from Vancouver (depending on traffic) and for Margeaux, about 3 ½ hours (depending on traffic) from Castlegar where she resides and owns Kootenay Valley Water Supply Company (providing premium bottled water and water dispensers for home and business for the West Kootenays as well as being an authorized dealer of Arctic Spas® hot tubs & pools).

In the evening we had a reservation at “HOME BLOCK” the award winning restaurant at CEDAR CREEK ESTATE WINERY. On account of already having had some wine and appetizers a few hours earlier, we chose the 3-course tasting menu. It was fabulous. Plus we got to sit outside which is always great especially in September when it starts to get a bit chilly.

Chef Neil Taylor offers a Terroir to Table tasting adventure. HOME BLOCK pays homage to the natural elements that surrounds the property with sustainable estate-grown fruit and ingredients sourced from their own gardens or those from local farmers. Always with a wine first philosophy where the dishes are created with the wines in mind.

First course: **ITALIAN BURRATA** (share plate) – grilled green onions, raw porcini, parmesan & wild watercress. Wine: 2020 Platinum Pinot Noir. Other Plate: Crispy Squid w chili jam, crème fraîche. 2022 Estate Reisling.

The restaurant is housed in a contemporary farmhouse building crafted from fieldstone and 100-year-old reclaimed barn wood, and the cuisine draws on those elemental roots through natural cooking methods like a wood-fired grill. The result is authentic, welcoming organic, local fare.

**CHAR GRILLED 63 ACRES FLAT IRON** w broccolini, salt baked onion, horseradish & aged balsamic. Paired with 2019 ESTATE MERITAGE.

The **STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING** with vanilla ice cream & butterscotch sauce was outstanding. We took half of it back to the hotel.

Sourced – 3 Course Wine-Paired Experience created by Executive Chef Neil Taylor for *$95 wine-paired with 2 hand-selected wines (4oz pairings).

*– a few of the dishes on our pairings had an additional $12 charge either for size or ingredients. I sometimes wish they can just set the price so there’s no surprises with extra charges. Having said this, it was well worth the splurge because of the whole experience. We don’t do this every day.

For Next time (if no tasting beforehand):

An immersive 5-course wine-paired experience built around their Platinum Collection of wines. This experience highlights some of the best wines produced at Cedar Creek, thoughtfully paired with a locally-inspired, chef-curated menu and includes rare library-wine vintages for $185 per person.

**you can advise them of any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance.

For booking:

https://www.cedarcreek.bc.ca/home-block-restaurant/

Photos: d. king

Food + Drink

Wine Wednesday: Ex Nihilo

Another Okanagan Valley Vineyard worth checking out. The LATIN meaning: out of nothing, from nothing. However, I would say that their wines taste like something else.

Ex Nihilo is the last and latest winery I visited in Kelowna, Okanagan, British Columbia for an exceptional tasting experience. It’s located in lake wine country and offers extraordinary small lot craft wines which are all family run.

“Our offering is wine, our strength is people. What comes ‘out of nothing’ endures.” – Mike and Janet Azhadi (owners). Their journey began with nothing but a dream and passion inspired by Fredrick Hart’s sculpture, Ex Nihilo; a depiction of the creation of mankind, which originally came from out of nothing.

My tasting included a perfectly balanced bubbly (2021 sX IMAGINE) with a blend of 3 varietals I really like: Riesling, Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer made in a fresh Prosecco style.

The Vampata Rosé was produced with Pinot Noir and Syrah grapes. Crisp and lush, with an explosion of rosehip on the nose and hints of rose petals.

I tried their Pinot Gris, an unusual for the Okanagan Viognier (vee-ohn-yay) which was not on the list; nice and fresh with tropical notes. I bought a bottle to take home. Two elegant Pinot Noirs and lastly; NIGHT – a Big Bordeaux style red made with Merlot, Malbec, Cab Franc, Cab Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Quite special.

After my tasting I became a Silver Key wine club member. Members are entitled to six bottles of Ex Nihilo wines delivered to your door three times a year. You fill out a form to let them know what types of wines you prefer and if you don’t customize the order before the delivery date, they make the choices on your behalf from your notes.

You also get a complimentary wine tasting experience for two each time you visit the winery. Tastings cost $20 per visit but are waived.

Other perks are exclusive availability of their XXX reserve and library wines, invitations to “members only” events, an annual VIP wine/cheese tasting experience for up to four people (which has to be booked in advance) and 17% off retail, online and club releases year round. They also have a gold membership which is the same except you get twelve bottles instead of six.

I used to share a wine club membership with a friend that was placed with Marquis Wine Cellars right here in downtown Vancouver. Our shipment would include wines from all over the world and it was always exciting to see what was included. This was over a few years and it was great until we decided to call it quits. It was getting difficult to plan our get togethers to share in the tastings, so we decided to split the cases but no one got the same so it was hit and miss. If we wanted the same bottle we’d have to toss a coin. It worked for a long time until it didn’t. I hadn’t joined another wine club membership until now. I usually order either from the website or buy directly from the wine shop in person. Looking forward to seeing how this works out.

The Ex Nihilo bistro is called Chaos – where they offer the best quality, fresh, local and natural ingredients while using a unique method to produce clean flavours that compliment the food experience.

A nice touch is their summer concert series, the latest being talented Chantal Kreviazuk, which was accompanied by a sensational multi-course dining experience prepared by Executive Chef Danny Tipper. You can never go wrong with good food, music and wine to accompany it.

This is also the area where I got to pick up my Adele; Layla’s litter mate and little companion.

At the winery with Adele (l) and Layla (r) before heading back to Vancouver.

Have you ever been a member of a wine club? If so; did you find it enjoyable and worthwhile?

https://www.exnihilovineyards.com/

Food + Drink

Vista D’Oro

A day trip to Vista D’Oro Farms & Winery in Langley, B.C., is like taking a step back in time.

I met with Patrick, a winemaker with old-world techniques, who introduced us to the farm overlooking the vineyard and an amazing view of the Golden Ears Mountains. Hence, the golden view or, for those with an Italian influence, Vista D’oro. Now there’s a name!

We toured the barnyard complete with resident owl and elegant chandeliers.

Then over to the antiquated boutiquey tasting room where we got to try a flight of five varietals from heritage orchard fruits and vinifera grapes all grown on the property. All available for purchase in the Farmgate shop in the form of either wine or preserves.

Speaking of preserves…do you know that there’s 101 uses for their preservatory preserves? I cannot describe them all in this post but I’ll give you a few samples.

I was already familiar with the ones sold at our local wine + cheese shop and used as a staple either on their own, or added to a cheese platter (2 uses right here, you’re welcome!). The fig + walnut wine was my go-to for a long time but I hadn’t had it for a while. I left with another jar and one peach with jalapeño + tequila which was excellent and for the first time I tried the small batch mango-lime salsa. I added it to a burger last night and let’s just say the burger was much better for it. They’re all excellent. Tamara left with the Driveway. No; not the actual driveway…It’s a bottle of red wine called “Driveway” (one of 3) but that’s another story.

Vista D’Oro is also famous for making delicious fortified wines such as the 2015 Walnut Wine and 2007 D’Oro Vin de Garde (with notes of current and butterscotch). We always learn something new. Patrick referred to the apple cider as apple wine. In the style of Normandy to Brittany, France – that is the correct name.

Ciders with names like “smoked tea” and plum brandy are seasonal and will be available soon.

Which means we’ll have to come back. I Look forward to that.

**Charlie + Layla** gave the place two paws up!

Food + Drink

Find time to wine

“Wine is one of the most cultivated things in the world…

A good pinot noir (*and gris*) is among some of my favourites. There’s a whole long list of others.

…and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.” – Ernest Hemingway

Visiting a vineyard has always been a pleasant past time of mine. Here in Vancouver we have a few local wineries a little bit off the beaten path. Last month I re visited Township 7 (in the 7th Township of Langley, off the highway in the Fraser Valley area) with a friend.

I tried to locate a Township 7 Merlot that was part of a Christmas gift basket but everyone that previously had it in stock was sold out. After exhausting my search I decided to go directly to the source – Township 7 in Langley. Their other location (Naramata Bench in the beautiful Okanagan Valley) was several more hours away by car.

Once there we ended up doing a tasting.

Once finished we ended up becoming wine club members. Which means that every season we’ll be getting drunk several bottles shipped to us. Which means that by Spring/Summer we’re certain to be in the red. Other than that, we’re always white and bubbly.

I look forward to further introducing your senses to BC wine along with the art, culture and culinary experiences brought together by knowledgeable people and others who like to indulge appreciate good wine and good times. Life is meant to be relished.

Have a great weekend.

Photos (this page): d. king

Food + Drink

Feel-good Friday: perfect pairings

Food, Friends, Fun…..what would life be like without all that? Not so merry.

Last night I attended the 12^th Annual Chef Meets BC Grape event with a good friend. A fun fundraiser put on by the British Columbia Wine Institute and the Arts Club Theatre Company – a toast to the extraordinary chefs and winemakers who call BC home. Along with food, British Columbia is growing into a world class destination for premium wine. The proceeds from the event go towards funding local playwrights and emerging artists.

Here is a sampling of my favourite wine/food pairings of the evening:

Chicha restaurant presented a Tuna Causa – cilantro whipped and chilled potato topped with sesame and soy, BC local Haida Gwaii Albacore Tuna, a crisp fruit and ginger ponzu, and a Peruvian rocato chilli aioli. Paired with Lake Breeze Spice Jar.

Hart House Restaurant presented a Pancetta wrapped pork terrain with sourdough crisp Hannah Brook Farm peach and apricot mostarda, Barnston Island micro arugula. Paired with Moon Curser “Afraid of the Dark” red.

Moon Curser Wines. Love the label. — Love the label on Moon Curser Wines.

Lift Bar and Grill presented smoked sturgeon, dark soy & nori emulsion, putanesca jam and squid ink rice puff. Paired with Desert Hills Gamay Noir.

Miradoro (at Tinhorn Creek) presented chanterelle lobster mushroom and pancetta risotto with Okanagan peach, grilled corn & rosemary. Paired with Tinhorn Creek Pinot Noir.

Provence Marinaside presented seared scallop, prosciutto crisp, Okanagan peach broth with lemon thyme salt. Paired with Misconduct Suspect Series Chardonnay Viognier.

A nice BC Port - Fall is fast approaching — A nice BC Port – Fall is fast approaching. Goes well with chocolate.

Honourable Mention:

The Observatory (at Grouse Mountain) presented mushroom boar belly, chanterelle mushrooms, brioche, frissee with Tantalus Vineyards Riesling.

The Westin Bayshore presented Albacore Tuna Poke, avocado, taro root with Bordertown Estate Winery white.

*Torafuku (modern Asian eatery) presented onion ash beef terrine wrapped with Portobello, local vegetables, **foie gras, potato pave, chimichurri and hunter sauce. Paired with Gold Hill Cabernet Franc.

Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel presented Duo of duck-spiced rubbed duck breast, duck confit goat cheese croquette, habanero jam. Paired with Quails’ Gate Gewurztraminer.

**On a personal note I object to the way foie gras is produced. I wish that restaurants refrained from using Foie Gras on their menus. At the same time, *Torafuku had the longest tasting lineup.

All in all this was a most enjoyable evening and a perfect start to the weekend.

Oh don’t you know….the weekend starts on Thursday!

Photos: d. king