The 17th Annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival takes over the village for 10 days, beginning Friday
Brandi Schier didn’t have much interest in wine until three years ago.
It was then that the media spokesperson for Tourism Sun Peaks experienced the annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival.
“I knew nothing about wine when I started working within the festival,” she said.
“Every year, I learn a little bit more.”
The festival takes over the village for 10 days, with various food and wine events held at the many restaurants and hotels.
The flagship event is a progressive wine-tasting on Jan. 23, featuring wine from 30 B.C. wineries and spread throughout restaurants and hotels.
“It really just takes over the whole village,” Shier said.“
You bump into tons of people that you know.”
In the festival’s 17th year, that event has already sold out, as have several others.
Shier’s favourite — Taste of Sun Peaks — however, is one of the remaining events.
Held on Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., it features small plate creations and cheese, paired with eight B.C. wineries.
It is held at the Sun Peaks Grand and also features live entertainment.
Schier is encouraging anyone who would like to check out this year’s festival to purchase tickets sooner than later.
“This year has been really successful,” she said.
There are two new events this year: The Explorer Series, a five-course tasting menu and wine parings held at the Voyageur Bistro, and I Heard It Through the Grapevine, a wine-tasting, dinner and dance to kick off the festival on Friday, Jan. 16.
For those looking to strap on their skis or snowboard while they’re up on the hill, the mountain has benefited from over a foot of new snow in the past week after a historic snowstorm in Kamloops.
“That’s really set us up well for the rest of January and, actually, for the rest of the season,” Schier said of recent snowfall.
With events throughout the week, on weekends, early and late — there’s a wine event for everyone’s schedule.
Other noteworthy events include various brunches and events that feature grilled-cheese sandwiches and chocolate.
For a full description of the many events happening during the festival or to learn about various packages, including overnight stays on the hill, go online to sunpeaksresort.com or call 1-800-807-3257.
Drink it in:
• Friday, Jan. 16: I heard it through the Grapevine, wine tasting at 8 p.m. and live music at 10:30 p.m.
Includes cash bar and dancing (sold out)
• Saturday, Jan. 17: Comforts of Grilled Cheese and Wine, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (sold out)
• Sunday, Jan. 18: Starbucks Sparkling Brunch, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Vertical Goes Vino, 7 p.m. (sold out)
• Monday, Jan. 19: Blind Tasting Party: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Moonlight Snowshoe and Mulled Wine: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 20: The Big Varietal Showdown: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 21: Taste of Sun Peaks: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 22: Icewines and Nothing Less: 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Explorer Series: 6:30 p.m. (sold out) Port, Chocolate and Cheese: After the Apres Social: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (sold out)
• Friday, Jan. 23: Canadian Cheese and British Columbia Syrah, noon to 1:30 p.m. An Intimate Winemasters’ Dinner, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Sold out) The Sun Peaks Progressive Tasting, check-in 4 p.m., event 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (sold out)
• Saturday, Jan. 24: Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival Brunch, 10 a.m. to noon. Rocky Mountain Chocolate and Okanagan Wine, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Assemblage!, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. British Columbia Wine Awards Tutored Tasting: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (sold out) Mixology to Music: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. (sold out)
• Sunday Jan. 25: Bella Italia Brunch Buffet: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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