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  • Team Spotlight – Timothy Monaghan

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    Team Spotlight | Timothy

    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

    Timothy Monaghan, Associate in The Tasting Room

    The next time you visit us in The Tasting Room, make sure to say hello to Timothy, our Associate in The Tasting Room. He has been with Vanessa Vineyard since 2018 and is a wealth of knowledge.

    Where did your love of wine come from?
    It came from my days as a waiter working at Bridges Restaurant on Granville Island. I worked there during the summers while going to BCIT. It was at Bridges wine bar that I became exposed to wines from across the globe and it was here that I began formulating my appreciation of wines.

    What is your favourite Vanessa Vineyard wine?
    My all-time favourite wine produced at Vanessa is one of the Bordeaux blends. My particular favourite is the 2014 Right Bank. I use that wine as my benchmark to measure against all other red wines in the valley. I still have a number of bottles in my wine cellar and they have all been tasting fantastic.

    Any pets?
    I have one dog here on my farm with me. His name is Radar. He’s a FrenchBo which is a hybrid cross of the French Bulldog and Boston Terrier. I love those two breeds so it was the perfect
    compromise.

    What do you like to do on the weekends?
    I work at Vanessa Vineyard a couple of days a week but the rest of my time I’m working on my commercial farm. I have a seven acre organic apple operation that more than takes up the other five
    days of the week that I have available. It’s my retirement project…something to keep me busy.

    Favourite quote?
    “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” – Gandalf, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    What was the best advice you have received?
    It was given to me by my brother-in-law in 1983. His advice: “Look at building a career in communications. That’s where the opportunities will be”. This invaluable piece of wisdom led me to focus my post secondary education in the field of marketing & communications. This, plus my personal drive to excel resulted in my 30+ year career as VP Media Director at Cossette, Canada’s largest independent advertising agency at that time.

    Our team may be small but our expertise is vast. Thanks to our extraordinary people, we are able to craft profound wines that reflect this truly distinctive vineyard. Learn more about our team here.

    ~

  • Summer Recipe Series – Black Lentil Salad

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    Recipe – Black Lentil Salad with Roasted Vegetables

    BBQ season is upon us! Our Estate Manager, Blair Dufty has shared one of his favourite recipes – Black Lentil Salad with Roasted Vegetables.  Our Meritage is the perfect pairing, the palate is elegant and full bodied with notes of ripe raspberry, blueberry, savoury herbs, and a hint of smoke with a long rich finish – the perfect complement for a BBQ!

    Black Lentil Salad with Roasted Vegetables
    Serves two

    Ingredients
    2 cups butternut squash, cubed
    2 cups Brussels sprouts, quartered
    1 red onion, thickly sliced
    1 tbsp olive oil
    1 tsp fresh thyme
    1 tsp fresh parsley
    1 cup black lentils, rinsed
    3 cups water or vegetable broth
    3 tsps balsamic syrup (balsamic vinegar can be reduced as a substitute)
    pinch kosher salt
    pinch ground pepper

    Directions
    1. Preheat oven to 400°F
    2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, add butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, and red onion. Season with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix until seasoning is fully distributed.
    3. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
    4. In a medium saucepan, add black lentils and water. Bring to a boil.
    5. Reduce heat and cover, simmer for 20-25 minutes or until lentils are tender. Drain excess water.
    6. When vegetables are finished roasting, transfer to a mixing bowl and add lentils.
    7. In a bowl, combine balsamic syrup (or reduced balsamic vinegar), thyme, salt, and pepper; whisk until blended.
    8. Pour dressing over lentils and vegetables, toss until fully coated. Sprinkle fresh parsley and serve.

    ~

  • Team Spotlight – Kristi Short

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    Kristi Short | Tasting Room Manager

    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

    Kristi Short, Tasting Room Manager
    Our newest team member has been with Vanessa Vineyard for about 5 months now and we are excited to share a little more about her. You can find Kristi in person at our Tasting Room this summer.

    Where did your love of wine come from?
    I’ve always found wine very fascinating, the history, the traditions, I’ve just always loved it.

    What is your favourite Vanessa Vineyard wine?
    It is hard to pick just one, but I think I’d go with the Right Bank.

    Do you have any pets?
    I have one cat and her name is Shula.

    What do you like to do during your time off?
    I either like to head to the beach and relax or go golfing.

    What was the best advice you have received?
    Never sell yourself short!

    Secret spot in the Similkameen Valley?
    Before starting at Vanessa Vineyard, I hadn’t ventured out into the Similkameen Valley too much. I live in Osoyoos, but definitely looking forward to finding some hiking or fishing spots this summer.

    Our team may be small but our expertise is vast. Thanks to our extraordinary people, we are able to craft profound wines that reflect this truly distinctive vineyard. Learn more about our team here.

    ~

  • Team Spotlight – Suki Sekhon

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    Father's Day 2021

    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

    Suki Sekhon

    A decade ago, President and CEO of CRS Group of Companies, Suki Sekhon, discovered and identified a unique opportunity and acquired a rock-strewn 220-acre piece of land in the Similkameen Valley. Known today as Vanessa Vineyard, Suki is not only a passionate philanthropist and businessman, but a husband and father of 4-children. In honour of Father’s Day, we decided to interview Suki and get to know him and what he loves about fatherhood. Happy Father’s Day, Suki!

    Tell us about your family!
    We have four adult children.

    What is a great memory you have about a family vacation or trip?
    My favourite is celebrating my 50th birthday with the family in Disneyland.

    What adjectives would your children use to describe you?
    Generous, caring, and big hearted.

    What piece of advice did your own father give you that you still hold with you today?
    Be disciplined in your decisions.

    What do you enjoy most about being a father?
    Seeing my kids grow up and seeing their achievements.

    What’s your biggest life lesson?
    After the passing of my dad, I realized how important family is.

    How did you choose your career? What do you like most about it?
    I was always interested in real estate from a young age.  I like the challenges in the business and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds.

    What makes you successful at work?
    I am good at processing information quite quickly!

    What is your biggest accomplishment?
    My family.

    What are you most proud of in life? Any advice for dads to-be or new dads?
    Cherish each moment with each of  your kids.           

    Our team may be small but our expertise is vast. Thanks to our extraordinary people, we are able to craft profound wines that reflect this truly distinctive vineyard. Learn more about our team here.

    ~

  • Team Spotlight – Nathan Goltz

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    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

    Nathan Goltz, Site Manager
    A fourth-generation farmer from Oliver, British Columbia, Nathan brings a strong history of innovative agricultural techniques to Vanessa Vineyard.
    His dedication to producing quality fruit, and improving the vineyard’s operations can be attributed to the legacy of his late father Robert Goltz, and the Goltz family, who have been leaving a footprint in the Okanagan for many years.

    Facts:
    What is your favourite thing to do during the off season?
    Hunt, fish and be outdoors.

    Where would you like to go once the restrictions are lifted?
    Belize is at the top of my list.

    Secret spot in the Similkameen Valley?
    There is a spot up the hill in Cawston where you are surrounded by old growth fir trees. They are large and gnarly looking, you walk through them to the start of a ravine where the water first percolates out of the ground, which starts the Cawston Creek.

    Who makes you laugh the most?
    My sister Sarah Goltz.

    What do you think is your dad’s greatest legacy?
    His known generosity and kindness, while at the same time being firm and direct and he did this in bare feet.

    What is your beverage of choice?
    Beer!

    Favourite quote?
    “Starve the ego, feed the soul.”

    What was the best advice you received?
    What you can’t get done in 6 days you won’t get done in 7. So it’s ok to take a day off for yourself.

    Our team may be small but our expertise is vast. Thanks to our extraordinary people, we are able to craft profound wines that reflect this truly distinctive vineyard. Learn more about our team here.

    ~

  • World Book Day Giveaway

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    ~ GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED ~

    World Book Day is just around the corner. What better way to curl up with a great book than with a great glass (or two) of Vanessa? In celebration of World Book Day on April 23, we invited our friend, Lisa Tant, to share the top three Canadian books currently on her radar. Make these your must-reads by entering our contest for your chance to win:⁠

    To Enter:⁠

    1. Follow @vanessavnyrd @lisatant⁠
    2. Like this post and tag 2 friends in the comments section who are book lovers too!⁠ This is one entry. ⁠

    ⁠*Get the word out! MORE tags = MORE entries!⁠
    *Bonus 5 entries! Add this post to your stories and tag @vanessavnyrd so we can tally it up. ⁠
    ⁠
    Contest ends April 22, 2021 at 11:59pm PST. Winner will be announced via our Instagram stories on Friday, April 23, 2021. The winner will receive the three Canadian books recommended by @lisatant. ⁠
    ⁠
    This contest is not sponsored by Instagram. Open to Canada residents only.⁠
    ⁠
    *NOTE: unless you are the winner, we will NOT contact you for any additional information*⁠
    ⁠
    #worldbookday #worldbookday2021 #tantrumreads

  • Generosity from the Similkameen Valley

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    “Vanessa Vineyards aims to donate a total of 200 meals over the next 90 days to the Meals on Wheels Program at the Lower Similkameen Community Services Society, which delivers food to seniors every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The winery is starting with a donation of 100 meals; then, for every six bottles purchased of its minerally driven powerhouse wines, Vanessa Vineyards will donate an additional two meals in support of its neighbours.

    To purchase wine online, visit vanessavineyard.com. Shipping is free within B.C. for purchases of 12 bottles or more.”

    by Joanne Sasvari, Vitis

  • Our Wine Tasting

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  • Wine Tasting – You’re Doing It Wrong

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    You may be great at drinking wine – but do you know how to taste it? Here are the top tips we’ve found on how to properly taste wine and impress your friends in the process.

    So you’ve read our blog post on serving temperature, decanting and glass choice HERE. And you’ve read all about aerating your wine in our blog post HERE. So now you’re ready to taste it! Start by making sure you’re out of the way of other odours and that you’ve cleansed your palette – you want to be able to concentrate on the wine at hand. Continue reading Wine Tasting – You’re Doing It Wrong