Introducing the Okanagan’s Newest Summer Tourism Magnet: Taste Summer…The Way It Was Meant To Be
The brand new Summer Okanagan Wine Festival takes the main stage in the Okanagan from July 9 through July 17 this year. Designed in partnership between the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society, Tourism Kelowna, Tourism Penticton, Tourism Vernon and Destination Osoyoos, it will feature over 20 events throughout the Okanagan at the height of summer’s allure.
The new Summer Okanagan Wine Festival offers a gorgeous summer experience: outdoor wine tastings; summer wine and cheese beach parties; Granfondo bike race wine parties; Bartenders competing for the right to claim the Mixology title; and even the visceral sound of Spoken word poets matched with feisty Okanagan wines.
“The creation of a new Okanagan Wine Festival targeting our summer tourists is a welcome addition to the world class wine festivals already operating in winter, spring and fall. It complements our positioning of Kelowna as a wine destination and it is great way to start the summer,” says Nancy Cameron, President & CEO of Tourism Kelowna.
“BC wines are an integral aspect of the summer throughout the Okanagan, and the 103 wineries that are members of the Wine Festivals Society now have a new platform to really celebrate this. This new valley wide festival offers innovative events designed to capture the essence of our summer. I encourage everyone to try several of these events – after all, what is summer without wine?” points out Eric Von Krosigk, Chair of the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society.
There are five special events worth noting as you plan your summer party schedule.
Pop Goes the Cork in Kelowna on Saturday July 9 at the Rotary Centre for the Arts from 6:30pm-9pm will be a combined indoor and outdoor event featuring Kelowna’s 5 new wine trails as well as wines from other parts of the Okanagan, all grouped together under a beautiful tent while you taste amazing Canadian cheeses, listen to live music and of course receive a free taxi ride home. Tickets are only $59 at www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at 250-717-5304. The
Granfondo Wine Tasting on Sunday July 10 at the Penticton Convention Centre from 5pm-8pm is the perfect way to celebrate the end of the Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan cycling event that will be attracting close to 2500 riders. Over 300 wines, great dance music and an international crowd of enthusiastic wine lovers and cyclists will be enjoying themselves and part proceeds go towards youth cycling. Tickets are only $59 through www.valleyfirsttix.com or by phone 877-763-2849.
Mixology – The Bartenders Competition on Wednesday July 13 at the Kelowna Art Gallery – Be a part of history in the making! Join 6 regional bartenders as they create a signature bar drink with a British Columbia wine as an ingredient. Taste the drink and the wine from which it is made and vote to decide who will be crowned Mixology Champion. Held at the Kelowna Art Gallery on Wednesday July 13 from 7pm-9pm. Tickets are only $50 at www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at 250-717-5304
All You Need is Cheese & Wine – The Beach Party in Osoyoos at the Watermark Beach Resort on Friday July 15 from 7pm-9pm is the first event of its kind where the Dairy Farmers of Canada showcase their cheeses along with pizza paired with over 25 wineries. Tickets are only $55 and available at www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at 250-717-5304
The Valley First Vernon Polson Pouring in Vernon on Sunday July 17 from 3pm-6pm is an innovative approach to wine tasting – sample your favourite wines while listening to original Spoken Word Artists. Tickets are only $59 and available through www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at 250-717-5304
The table is set for the Summer Okanagan Wine Festival. Come and join the wineries of the Okanagan is what is surely to become an annual summer rite of passage.
