vanessavineyard

  • April is BC Wine Month

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    BC Wine Month

    We’re Celebrating BC Wine Month with Rosé and BC Wild Salmon

    Spring has arrived in the Similkameen Valley and we are thrilled to partner with Wines of British Columbia to celebrate April is BC Wine Month. Our very own Master Winemaker Howard soon sat down with Award-Winning Cook Book Author Jennifer Schell to discuss the best pairings for Wild BC Salmon and decided on – you guessed it – Rosé! Watch the entire interview here.

    Jennifer’s recipe for Salmon Wellington pairs perfectly with our Vanessa Vineyard Rosé and we are pleased to share the recipe below for you to try at home.

    WILD BC SALMON WELLINGTON

    BC Wine Pairing; pair with Vanessa Vineyard Rosé

    Serves 2
    Adapted from The B.C. Wine Lover’s Cookbook published by Appetite by Random House
    Total time: 60 min | Prep time: 20 min | Cook time: 38-40 min

    Ingredients
    2 – 6 oz skinless Wild BC Salmon Fillets
    1/2 cup mayonnaise
    1/4 cup Dijon mustard
    1/2 cup thinly sliced leek (white and light green part only)
    1/2 cup packed baby spinach leaves, chopped
    1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
    2 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped
    2 tsp lemon zest
    1/4 tsp garlic powder
    1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
    1 egg, beaten
    salt & freshly ground black pepper

    Method
    Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
    Season fish with salt and pepper.
    In a medium sized bowl mix together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, leeks, spinach, feta, dill, lemon zest and garlic powder.
    Gently unroll the puff pastry and cut sheet in half.
    Place the salmon grey side up (skin side) in the centre of the rectangle of puff pastry and top with half of the filling.
    Fold each side of the pastry over the fillets, then fold ends over and pinch to seal.
    Place seam side down on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
    Cut 3 vents on top of the pastry with sharp knife, and brush with egg.
    Pop into oven for 37-40 minutes or until golden brown.

  • 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

  • Aeration – When, Why and How?

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    Aeration is often touted as a ‘must-do’ for wine enthusiasts looking to get the most out of their wine – but what is it really all about?

    Aeration is the process of letting a wine ‘breath’. When you pour wine, the wine is suddenly exposed to oxygen. The level of oxidation that occurs can play a role in how the wine actually tastes – it allows the wine’s aromas to open up and the flavour profile to soften and improve. The difference in aroma and taste will vary with types of wine, age of the vintage, and level of tannins. Reds usually require more aeration than whites, older more than young, and wine with higher tannins more than those with fewer tannins. The more dense and concentrated a wine is, the more it will benefit from aeration. Continue reading Aeration – When, Why and How?

  • What is a Syrah?

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    Have you ever wondered what a Syrah wine is? Or whether it bears any similarity to a Shiraz or a Petite Sirah? Let us walk you through a brief history of Syrah so you can become a well-versed wine enthusiast.

    Syrah is one of the darkest red wines you can find today. It is full-bodied and has a medium to high level of tannins, depending on the terroir it is grown in. While flavours vary in Syrah wines, those that are often noted include dark berries, pepper, chocolate and espresso. In our Vanessa Vineyard 2012 Syrah, notes of black fruits, leather, white pepper, and chocolate fill the mouth over silky tannins. Continue reading What is a Syrah?

  • Wine 101: Learn the Basics, Look like a Pro

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    Whatever the occasion, impress your guests by following these basic tips for a perfectly served wine. It will make you look and feel like the ultimate host.

    Have you ever been underwhelmed by a well-rated wine? Odds are that one of the following steps was missed by the server. Many factors go in to how a wine tastes – from the serving temperature to the type of wine glass you use. Here is a brief overview of tips, from the Wine Spectator, to help you bring out your inner sommelier. Continue reading Wine 101: Learn the Basics, Look like a Pro

  • The Meaning of Meritage

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    Our 2012 Meritage is a full-bodied blend with excellent structure and concentrated flavours. But what, exactly, gives it the name ‘Meritage’?

    In the late 1980s, a group of American vintners joined forces to come up with a name for the type of blended wine that they had begun producing in the popular Bordeaux style. The wines were a blend of ‘noble’ grape varietals that can typically be found in the Bordeaux region of France, famous for its excellent vintages.

    In 1988, this New World wine had yet to receive a recognizable name and so the alliance of winemakers decided to open up the naming process to an international competition. The chosen name ‘Meritage’, is a combination of the words ‘merit’ and ‘heritage’. ‘Merit’ was chosen to reflect the quality of the grapes while ‘Heritage’ was chosen to recognize the centuries-old blending process that was involved in making the wine. Continue reading The Meaning of Meritage

  • Our Rocky Roots

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    So what does it really mean for our wines to be ‘true to the heritage of its terroir’?

    The ‘terroir’ refers to the natural environment that a wine is produced in. This includes the soil condition, topography of the land and the local climate. Each of these factors play a role in creating a unique taste and flavour for that particular wine.

    Vanessa Vineyard is fortunate to be located in the beautiful and expansive Similkameen Valley in the Thompson-Okanagan region, just north of the US border. With 691 acres planted, comprised of several award-winning vineyards, the valley has a unique terroir that is very well suited to growing grapes. The summers are hot, with low rainfall, low humidity and strong afternoon winds, which reduces the chance of crops being lost to disease or pests.

    Continue reading Our Rocky Roots

  • Introducing Vanessa Vineyard

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    Having recently released our 2012 Meritage and Syrah, we are a premium BC vineyard offering high quality red wine from the beautiful Similkameen Valley.

    Hello and welcome to our first blog post!

    We are pleased to introduce you to one of the newest members of the BC wine family, Vanessa Vineyard. Planted in 2006, the vineyard is located on a sweeping vista that overlooks the Similkameen Valley in the Thompson-Okanagan region. Taking cue from the unique rocky landscape and the expert advice of industry veterans, we have focused on growing high quality red grapes that the area is well adapted to produce.

    Continue reading Introducing Vanessa Vineyard