The family and staff at Thornhaven are celebrating the winery’s 15th anniversary in 2016 with a limited edition Cab/Syrah Blend named the XV 2014.
Along with daily complimentary wine tastings, the winery will also be featuring live entertainment events throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall.
New members
In May we welcomed a range of new members to the Summerland Chamber.
If you’re looking for a different way to experience the lake this summer, Red Line Paddle Board offers board rentals at Peach Orchard Park every day of the week.
Looking to buy second hand goods to save money, Been There Done That — Doing It Again is taking over the store in Trout Creek.
Dirty Dogs — Dirt Cheap will be serving the public hot dogs from their cart at various locations around town.
Need your agricultural equipment repaired? Pro-Ag Equipment Repair will provide service at your location.
Summerland Health and Wellness Centre has a new practitioner as Registered Massage Therapist Allison Ward joins the practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Mr. Cartridge in Penticton joins us as a new Corporate Member, to save you money and help the environment by refilling your ink cartridges.
South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services joins us as an Associate Member to promote their range of free services for immigrants and refugees that help assist with newcomer integration.
Celebrating
the new
The Schales family at 8th Generation Vineyard recently opened their new tasting room and wine shop. The new, welcoming and modern space is across the property from the old location, housed in the newly renovated farmhouse, which dates back to the 1940s.
Cherry Tree Quilts has moved to its new location on Main Street and celebrated with a grand opening on May 14. The reopening featured new products along with prizes, giveaways, in-store specials and refreshments.
On April 26, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery held an open house for the accommodation sector.
The event was well attended and provided an insight into their upcoming “experiences” for 2016 including the Wine and Food Pairing Tour and a preview of their guided wine and cheese tasting.
New bed and breakfast
The Harvest Moon Guest House, Summerland’s newest bed and breakfast, opened its doors to the community on May 28. From 1 to 3 p.m., visitors learned more about this restored early 20th century house now enhanced with touches of modern living. The open house included snacks, beverages, door prizes, tours, and a beautiful view!
Winery promo
Dirty Laundry Vineyard has launched an eye-catching promotional campaign to celebrate the owners’ 10th anniversary and draw people to Summerland and Dirty Laundry Vineyards.
The campaign, which includes two highway billboards featuring the instantly recognizable bordello madam, highlights their upcoming craft beer tasting on the expanded patio and encourages visitors to visit other wineries on their route.
In addition, there is an exciting cross promotion with the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. If you ride the train and take your ticket stub to Dirty Laundry you receive a special, engraved wine glass. Or, if you show that you have purchased something at Dirty Laundry Vineyards you receive a 10 per cent discount off the train.
Restaurant brings new crew
The Summerland Yacht Club’s Boathouse Bar and Grill has a new team this season. The team of Chef Mark Gjini and Hostess Annette Gjini opened the restaurant on May 6 with a menu focusing on seafood. The Bar and Grill will be open Friday to Monday from 4 to 11 p.m., and will be serving food until 9 p.m.
New websites
Saxon Estates Winery has launched their new website. The new visually appealing site puts their wine and beautiful location front and centre, while providing all the information you could need for your visit.
Alcar Storage has also developed a new site that showcases its facilities in an attractive and informative way. The site contains all the information you need when looking for a storage rental unit of any size or type.
Global appeal
What the Fungus was featured on Global News in May as an innovative business in the Okanagan. The Summerland farm produces up to 700 pounds of indigenous and exotic mushrooms each month, selling to 20 restaurants in the South Okanagan.
The business has been so successful that a second lab is being built and four new greenhouses will be added to the property by the end of 2018.
Shaw TV recently filmed a group of Summerland Girl Guides as part of the Summerland Community Arts Council’s 18th annual Street Banner Project. The theme this year is “It’s Special to Me.” Banners decorate Main Street for the Summer and are then available to purchase by bid.
Supporting ambassadors
At the beginning of May the 46th Summerland Blossom Pageant once again recognized the community spirit of nine young women who represent the community throughout the year.
This year’s Miss Summerland is Sarah Gottwald, Miss Avery Law Office, who was crowned at the ceremony.
The program is supported by many other local businesses and organizations including Action Fest, IGA Summerland, the Kiwanis Club of Summerland, SADI, Shoppers Drug Mart Summerland, Summerland Rotary, and Zias Stonehouse Restaurant. Summerland Royalty will be representing the community in our sister city Toyokoro, Japan later this year.
Wine accolades
Once again Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive wineries were well represented in the BC Best of Varietal Wine Awards, presented at the Okanagan Wine Festival. Evolve Cellars and Sumac Ridge’s Black Sage Vineyard were both awarded Best of Varietal Awards.
Awards received included:
o Evolve Cellars Best Pinot Blanc for their Pinot Blanc 2014
o Sumac Ridge Best Cabernet Sauvignon for their Black Sage Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
o Best Gewürztraminer – Gold - Thornhaven Estates Winery, Gewürztraminer 2015
o Best Pinot Gris – Gold - Dirty Laundry Vineyard, Say Yes Pinot Gris 2014
o Best Syrah based Blends - Gold- Thornhaven Estates Winery, XV 2014
o Best Riesling – Silver - Dirty Laundry Vineyard, Riesling 2014
o Best Dessert Style Wine - Silver - Sumac Ridge’s Black Sage Vineyard, Pipe 2008
o Best Sparkiling Wine - Silver - Haywire Winery at Okanagan Crush Pad, the Bub, 2014.
Yet another Bottleneck Drive member, Lunessence Winery and Vineyard, has recently been recognized overseas for their wines.
They received their first medals in May at one of the biggest wine competitions in the world, the International Wine Challenge London 2016, and at Decanter London 2016.
The winery’s 2014 Merlot Icewine Reserve was awarded silver, and their 2014 Riesling Icewine and 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Muscat were both awarded bronze at both events.
Vicky Jones is the communications and membership coordinator at the Summerland Chamber of Commerce.