The Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival is launching its 2011 festival today. The festival of food and wine pairing events hosted annually by actor/director Jason Priestley, has added new events and this year features Juno award-winning, country music star and actor from CBC TV’s Heartland, George Canyon. Festival-goers will rub shoulders with celebrities from Film and Television while enjoying Okanagan’s finest wines and food pairings created by the region’s top chefs and winemakers.
The Celebrity Festival has received rave reviews for the high quality of its wines and for offering rare entertainment experiences. Where else are you going to watch Steven Page and Bruce Greenwood jamming with the band during the Beach Party?
The Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival (OCWF) is launching its 2011 festival today with the announcement of this year’s events. The festival of food and wine pairing events hosted annually by actor/director Jason Priestley and friends, has added new events and this year features Juno award-winning, country music star and actor from CBC TV’s Heartland, George Canyon. Canyon will play an acoustic set at the Celebrity Wine Auction and Beach Party at the Walnut Beach Resort on June 10.
Priestley is one of the owners of Black Hills Winery, which is a co-founder of the Festival. Each year, Jason extends an invitation to his Hollywood friends to join him in Osoyoos for the weekend, creating a unique opportunity for festival-goers to rub shoulders with celebrities from the Film and Television industry while enjoying the South Okanagan’s finest wines and food pairings created by the region’s top chefs and winemakers.
“We are very excited about this year’s line up of festival events and believe the festival will call attention to the high quality offered by B.C. Wines,” says Black Hills president and festival organizer Glenn Fawcett, “The Celebrity Festival has received rave reviews for offering rare entertainment experiences. Where else are you going to see Steven Page of the Bare Naked Ladies perform a solo set for 250 people or watch Bruce Greenwood jamming with the band during the Beach Party?”
The 2011 festival runs June 9 to 12 and starts with a new event, the Sunset Sabre Soiree at Spirit Ridge Resort. Celebrities and winemakers will sabre off wine bottles while guests taste the finest sparkling wines from the region. Saturday night features The Vinos a red carpeted awards ceremony and contest for the best wine commercial on B.C. Wines, held at the Watermark Beach Resort. Amateur and professional filmmakers submit entries and compete for cash and wine.
Tickets to events can be purchased on the Festival’s new website: http://www.osoyooscelebritywinefestival.com
The website was developed by Okanagan’s Pulse Group and features full details on events and last year’s hilarious entries for the wine commercial film festival.
Celebrities who have previously attended include: Jason Priestley, star of HBO hit show, Call Me Fitz; Bruce Greenwood, Star Trek, National Treasure; Dean Cain, Superman; Tiffani Amber Thiessen, Beverly Hills 90210; Michelle Cameron: Canadian Olympic Gold-medal winning athlete; Chef Ned Bell, Food Network; and Terry David Mulligan, The Tasting Room. Many other Hollywood celebrities have been invited and are expected to attend in 2011. Several Vancouver 2010 medal winning athletes will be attending the festival this year.
Calendar for Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival June 9 – 12, 2011
The 2011 Festival offers 6 different events:
Sunset Sabre Soiree – Celebrities and winemakers will sabre off wine bottles while guests taste the finest sparkling wines from the region. Tickets $49
Thursday, June 9, 8:00 pm at Spirit Ridge Resort
Judgement in Osoyoos:The international Wine Showdown – See what happens during a blind tasting when the top B.C. Syrah wines go head-to-head with the best wines from around the world. Hosted by local wine personalities. Tickets $49
Friday, June 10, 2:00 pm Watermark Beach Resort
Celebrity Wine Auction & Beach Party – exceptional silent auction of hard-to-find B.C. wines and special musical performances from Juno Award Winner and Country Music Star George Canyon. Guests taste an array of South Okanagan wines with appetizers from local restaurants and bid on unique experiences from great Canadian wineries in the live auctions. Ends with a lively Beach Party and BBQ. Tickets $129.
Friday, June 10, 6:00-11:00 pm at Walnut Beach Resort. All proceeds go to the benefit of Childrenô charities.
The Nota Bene Release Party – Enjoy an afternoon lunch visiting numerous food and wine pairing stations located throughout a beautiful vineyard and winery setting. Featuring the cuisine of a special guest Celebrity Chef and the impassioned music of a live band. Tickets $149.
Saturday, June 11, 12 noon to 3pm at Black Hills Estate Winery
The Vinos – Wine Commercial Film Festival & Contest – a lively, laugh-filled evening that feels like a spoof of an Oscars party. After seeing the top 24 finalists, a panel of celebrity judges will present the cash prizes for the top three submissions. After that, the open wine bars open up and a live band plays. Tickets $99
Saturday June 11, 6:00pm to 11:00 pm, Watermark Beach Resort
The Art of Wine – a relaxing experience wandering through a special gallery exhibition of regional paintings, photography and other art forms that worship regional wine. Admission is free.
Sunday June 12, 8:00pm
