Unlike the Canadian track and field team, B.C. wines picked up several medals at a recent international competition.
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery won a Double Gold award for the 1998 Black Sage Vineyard Meritage Red at the recent San Francisco International Wine Competition. It was the first time a Canadian winery has won a Double Gold award for a red wine at a California wine competition.
The Double Gold award is presented to wines receiving a unanimous vote of Gold from the entire judging panel.
Sumac Ridge wines also picked up three other awards at the San Francisco competition. The Sumac Ridge 1998 Merlot received a silver award and the 2000 Gewurztraminer and 1999 Meritage White received bronze awards.
Meritage red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot and wineries must meet certain production and labelling criteria to use the term Meritage. Meritage white is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Smillon and Muscadele.
Watch my import; B.C.’s going in
Sales of alcohol in B.C. rose 3.4 per cent, to $4.9 million, in the three months ending June 2001, compared to the same three-month period last year. According to the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch, the largest increase was seen in the sales of imported beer, particularly from the U.S. (+230.4 per cent), although sales of beer from Holland (+25.7 per cent), Germany (+22.7 per cent), and Mexico (+15 per cent) were also up. Receipts from wine rose (+4 per cent), while sales of spirits remained unchanged. Going the other way in sales was cider, down 7.9 per cent.
Sing for your food
Have an ode to an apple, poetry for a peach, or a song for spinach?
AgAware B.C. is inviting people to submit their artwork, drama production, dance, song, or speech on agriculture. From the playful to the serious, taped and printed entries will be accepted to Sept. 15. Fun, fame and up to $250 in prizes is being offered in each of three age groups. Entries will be judged for artistic merit plus spirit and mood of the piece.
On the Friday of Thanksgiving week winners from around the province will be invited to a formal gala event in Vancouver. AgFest draws on ancient harvest traditions of song and dance, when people gathered to celebrate that which feeds and fuels their stomachs.
Entry forms and information is available from the AgAware B.C. Web site: www.agaware.bc.ca, or call 604-924-4804.
