And The Vino Award goes go… winners announced as funds raised for charity
Osoyoos/Oliver B.C., – $10,500 was raised for the Children’s Charities of the United Way of the South Okanagan and the BC Hospitality Foundation as wine-lovers, film makers and media gathered in Osoyoos this weekend for the 3rd Annual Vinos Wine Film Festival. The weekend also marked the Grand Opening of the new $1 million Wine Experience Centre at Black Hills Estate Winery as the winery celebrated its annual Nota Bene Release Party.
Vino Winners: 1st place for Category 1, the “BC Wine Video” award, presented by SUN FM radio, went to Larkyn Statten, for The Real Housewines of British Columbia. 2nd place went to Vinos, Boxed Wine and Nudes from Kent Molgat and Curtis Allen and 3rd Place went to artist Jason Gogo for his video, I don’t know Jason.
1st place for Category 2, the “Wine Tourism Video” award, presented by Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, went to Michael Benedek for Wine Tours with Valhalla Helicopters. 2nd place went to Cameron Dennison for Cherry Point – Double Ortega and 3rd place went to Wine Getaway by Andrew Jakubeit. Category 3: the “People’s Choice Video Award”, presented by Wineries Refined, was won by Sebastian Mercado for his Wine Wishes video.
VIEW THESE HILARIOUS VIDEOS: All the winners & all of the 2012 Vino videos can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL71646ACAF2B99EED&feature=mh_lolz
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Sunday June 10 at the Black Hills Wine Experience Centre to commemorate the Grand Opening. The Tasting Centre is now open to the public. It is a world-class, Napa-inspired facility that will give wine tourists an exceptional sit-down tasting experience immersed in the middle of Black Hills terroir.
“We encourage all of our friends and fellow wine lovers to come and see our beautiful new Wine Experience Center the next time they are in the Okanagan” said Glenn Fawcett, President of Black Hills Estate Winery. “We know you will be thrilled with the great new wine tasting experiences we have created for you”.
Commenting on the Vinos Wine Film Festival, Fawcett further said “the first Vinos drew 100 people, this year’s event drew close to 350. The event gets bigger every year, the quality of the videos gets even more hilarious, and the after-party energy is just electric! Plus, in the end, the real winner is BC wine. This is phenomenal exposure for our industry to the global social media audience”
The Vinos Film Festival included the 5th Annual Nota Bene Release Party, which featured the first-of-its-kind “Wine and Art experience” as renowned sculpture and painter Jason Gogo showcased his innovative performance art paired with the latest release of wines from Black Hills. An auction was held at the Nota Bene release party and $10,500 was raised for the Children’s Charities of the United Way of the South Okanagan and the BC Hospitality Foundation.
Erin Cebula, popular television host of Entertainment Tonight and GlobalBC hosted the Vinos. Chef Jeremy Luypen (Terrafina Restaurant), an instructor at the Okanagan College culinary arts program, brought his top graduates to cook at the Vinos party. Further, the inspiring & award winning acoustic duo One More Girl performed. One More Girl is a pop/ contemporary duo comprised of sisters Britt and Carly McKillip from Vancouver. Despite being only 22 and 21 years old they recently got signed to Lady Gaga’s label.
The 3rd Annual Vinos presented by Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. The Vinos is the world’s first wine film festival. It has been inspired by events like the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes, and the wildly successful Big Rock Eddies beer commercial film festival. It gives wine enthusiasts the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and precious wine packages by producing a 1-2 minute video about their favourite BC winery, their love of BC wine or the unique wine tourism industry in the beautiful Okanagan.
