Entertainment, Food & Winery line-up announced for 3rd Annual Vinos Wine Film Festival

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Television personality Erin Cebula to host, the Top Chef graduates from Okanagan College Culinary Arts program to serve cuisine,10 different wineries to pour wine, DJ Shakes to spin discs, and “One More Girl” to perform acoustic set

Attention wine, food & music lovers: the producers of “The Vinos Wine Film Festival” today announced several new developments with the June 8 event at Spirit Ridge in Osoyoos. Erin Cebula, popular television host of Entertainment Tonight and GlobalBC has come on board as the Host for the Vinos. As well, Chef Jeremy Luypen (Terrafina Restaurant), who is the instructor at the Okanagan College culinary arts program, will be bringing his top graduates to cook and serve their creations to patrons at the Vinos party. “This is an incredible opportunity to showcase the emerging culinary talent in the Okanagan” says Chef Luypen. “This is a very talented group of new Chefs coming onto the food scene, and it is thrilling for their debut to take place during such an exciting event like the Vinos”.

Further, the inspiring & award winning acoustic duo One More Girl has signed on to headline the after-party. 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. In addition to opening for artists such as Keith Urban, Terri Clark, Johnny Reid and Toby Keith, in 2010 they took home the prestigious Canadian Radio Music Award for ‘Best New Country Artist’. They also cleaned up at the BCCMA awards for ‘Single of the Year’, ‘Group or Duo’, ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Entertainer of the Year’ as well as being chosen ‘Rising Star’ on the CBC-televised Canadian Country Music Awards.

The participating wineries were also announced for the Festival, and the ten wineries who will be pouring wine for the patrons include: Osoyoos Larose, Tinhorn Creek, Jackson Triggs, Bounty Cellars, Ex Nihilio, Cellarhand, Nk’mip, Hillside Estate Cellars, Moon Curser and Black Hills Estate Winery.

“We are thrilled to have some a great turn-out of fine B.C. wineries for the Vinos, and to be having them serving their outstanding wines to participants during the Festival party” said Festival Founder Glenn Fawcett.

It was also announced that renowned music maestro DJ Shakes (Nathan Heiberg) will now be spinning the discs for the lively Vinos after party.

“Having Erin Cebula join us as Host this year will bring a great energy and fun-loving element to the Film Festival” says Fawcett. “Plus the great music of One More Girl combined with the dance beats of DJ Shakes will keep the party going to the wee hours!”

As well, the final schedule of events for the Festival Weekend was revealed:

Friday June 8, 2012

  • The 3rd Annual Vino’s. 7:00 pm at Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos. Tickets are only $99.00.

Saturday June 9, 2012

  • Grand Opening Media Preview – Black Hills Estate Wineries 1:30 pm.
  • Nota Bene Release Party. 3 pm to 6 pm at Black Hills Estate Winery. Tickets are only $159.00.
  • The after-party Beach BBQ at Walnut Beach Resort. 7 to 11 pm. BBQ tickets are only $40.00.

Sunday June 10, 2012

  • Grand opening of the new Wine Experience Center at Black Hills Estate Winery. 1 pm to 5 pm. No costs on this day for the tasting experience, but advance reservations are recommended.
  • Ribbon cutting at 12 noon.

Lastly, a final shout-out is being made for video submissions- there is now one week left to make submissions, with over $16,000 in prizes up for grabs in prizes. The organizers are encouraging filmmakers everywhere to tell their own story of BC Wine or their passion for Okanagan Wine Tourism. They are calling out to amateur & professional filmmakers to submit a wine commercial about B.C. wine. The prizes for the winning video submissions include prizes in three different video categories:

The Vinos “Wine Video” Awards, presented by SUN FM radio
First Place: $5000 in cash and wine
Second Place: $2000 in cash and wine
Third Place: $1000 in cash and wine

The Vinos “Wine Tourism Video” Awards, presented by Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
First Place: $5000 in cash and wine
Second Place: $2000 in cash and wine
Third Place: $1000 in cash and wine

The “People’s Choice Video Award”, presented by Wineries Refined:
$1000 in cash and wine

Everyone is welcome to participate. Amateur and professionals alike are encouraged to create something unique and submit it to the festival. Each participant has a chance to win in this high-energy event. Please note that the deadline for submissions is June 1, 2012. All submissions will be reviewed by a Judging panel in advance, and the top submissions will be shown at the Vinos event in Osoyoos on June 8.

The Producers of all selected submissions will be awarded two complimentary VIP tickets to the event where they can come and proudly watch their commercial being played to an audience of over 400 wine lovers. As well, the producers of the selected submissions get a weekend package for two to stay at Walnut Beach Resort and enjoy the entire festival. Even better, the producers and party-goers get to enjoy a fuzzy-warm feeling since all of the proceeds from the Vinos go to the benefit of Children’s charities of the United Way of the South Okanagan as well as the BC Hospitality Foundation.

For a sampling of some of the hilarious winners of the Vinos Wine Film Festival in the past, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/BlackHillsWinery. Visit blackhillwinery.com for more information about the event, to download a submission form and to learn more about the prizes up for grabs.

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About the Vinos
The 3rd Annual Vinos presented by Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. The Vino’s 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 one to two minute video about their favourite BC winery or anything to do with BC wine. Then the submissions of the top finalists will be shown during a fabulous party on June 8, 2012 at 7:00 pm at Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos.

To purchase tickets or for further information: Visit the Black Hills Estate Winery wine shop, call the winery at (250) 498-0666, or visit the website: www.blackhillswinery.com.