Enjoy Cowichan Through Rosé Tinted Glasses 20

Rosé Tinted Glasses...

Blue Grouse Winery 2019 Quill Rosé Our winemaker’s favourite, this Rosé opens with aromas of strawberry and rhubarb. Fresh and lively on the palate with a savoury note. A complex, full flavoured wine that will pair perfectly with grilled fish, chicken or pizza. $21.99

Emandare Vineyard 2019 Rosé

Refreshing strawberry, peach and wildflowers. A big fat bowl of mac-ncheese and a bottle of Rosé, that’s my happy place. $25

Averill Creek Vineyard 2019 Joue Rosé

Tasting/Winemaker’s Note: Not for the faint of heart: a powerful, intense blend, full of bright fruit flavour, balanced with a dried-flower savouriness. This not-solittle number will entice you towards another bite of food, another sip of wine, repeat. $25

Venturi-Schulze Brut Naturel Rosé 2017

This fine 100% estate-grown delicious, traditional-method sparkling rosé is a family favourite. Giordano created it from our Zweigelt grapes (the most widely grown red variety of Austria) without the use of pesticides or herbicides. It is completely dry and natural, has a pale pink hue and delicate berry flavours, is crisp and lively and pairs wonderfully with a wide range of foods. After the bottle fermentation, it was left en tirage and is being disgorged by hand in small batches. $31.10 Zanatta Winery Rosato We don’t always make a still rosé but when we do you know it will be a dry and unique wine. This rosé is the 2018 vintage and made using Pinot Noir grapes using the saignée method. The flavour of strawberries and rhubarb lingers long on the palate. It is a limited release for 2020. As are all Zanatta wines, it is made using grapes from our vineyards in Glenora. $16.80

Valley Cider Rouge

Dry cider aged for a year and then another six months on carmenere skins, then blended with beet root, hibiscus and black pepper produced a beautifully light berry-forward rose. $4.99

Food has always been an essential part of family life for Chef and Owner of Pickles’ Pantry, Louise Pickles. After studying History at the University of Victoria, Louise decided to make her passion for food and cooking her occupation and signed up to attend the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in 2003. Since graduating, Louise’s career has taken her around the world and back again as she has worked in and led some of the best kitchens in Vancouver, Australia and Vancouver Island. After taking a quick professional break to start a family, Louise and her husband moved from Ucluelet to Cobble Hill. Along with recently becoming a Culinary Instructor at Vancouver Island University, Louise decided to follow her greatest dream and start her own business this year.

Pickles’ Pantry adds a modern twist to rustic French Charcuterie with items

On the board: Pickles’ Pantry Duck Pâté with Port and Cranberry, House Terrine with Figs and Pistachios, Pickles’ Pantry Yellow Tomato and Peach Jam.

Introducing Pickles Pantry

such as a signature Chicken Pâté with Burnt Honey and Apple, or a Country Terrine with Figs and Pistachios, as well as many others such as Traditional Pork Rillette. Louise combines these items alongside other Island made products in carefully curated Grazing Boxes and Boards - perfect for small gatherings, special occasions, and unique gifts available for delivery straight to your door! With a determination to work in small batches, and fine attention to detail, Louise looks to use as many local or Island ingredients in her products as possible, and supports the concept of “buy local” and “shop local” whenever she can.

To that end, Pickles’ Pantry products can be found locally at the Duncan Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9am-2pm, and at Emandare Vineyards, or through home delivery with Cowichan Valley Milk Company and Legends Haul in the Lower Mainland and in Victoria at The Root Cellar.

www.picklespantry.ca

From then to now at Blue Grouse Estate Winery, and the new way for the Wine Festival

Blue Grouse Estate Winery sits on top of one of the oldest vineyards on Vancouver Island. Celebrating its 30th harvest in 2020, Blue Grouse Estate Winery is the second oldest on the Island, releasing its first commercial vintage in 1990. In 2012 the Brunner family took over the property from the founding Kiltz family, and has been building on that legacy, adding a new visitors center, and transitioning the vines to organic. Winemaker Bailey Williamson produces a focused portfolio of white and red wines from vines that have been growing in the Cowichan Valley for more than 25 years – varietals that capture the essence of the vineyards’ climate and soil. The white wine portfolio includes single varietal Bacchus, Ortega, Pinot Gris and Siegerrebe, while the estate red line-up includes Pinot Noir and Black Muscat. An Estate traditional method sparkling wine, named ‘Paula’, rounds out the portfolio.

A second label – Quill allows the winemaker to blend estate and non-estate grapes. Quill wines include a dry and an off-dry white blend, a red blend, a Rosé and a single varietal Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. To the extent possible, grapes are purchased from vineyards on Vancouver Island, and when necessary blended with specially selected grapes from the Okanagan Valley.

While all the Blue Grouse wines can be bought online, the winery is thrilled to be taking part in the annual Cowichan Valley Wine Festival. While current restrictions prevent the launch party we have come to know and love, we can still celebrate

Find us at the Duncan Farmer’s Market on Saturdays!

wine in Cowichan! This year every day of August you can visit and celebrate the Cowichan, as the festival runs from August 1 – 31.

The month-long event is a great way to experience Cowichan Valley wine country, the province’s newest sub GI. The Cowichan Valley has just been recognized as a new sub-geographical indication, an official and protected term under BC law used to help consumers identify BC wines’ origins.The festival features wine touring, tasting, and a grand prize giveaway, so join us in Cowichan to enjoy this special region month! This year, the wine festival is being held at all the wineries at the same time. Throughout the entire month of August, pick up your festival glass and passport at any participating winery, and spend the month exploring Cowichan and collecting your passport stamps for your chance to win a case of premium Cowichan wines.

For this festival, your glass is your ticket! Purchase your glass for $20 online at a participating winery for access to all festival venues, and free tastings. You can also purchase

a ticket online and redeem it at the first winery you visit to receive your glass. Your ticket includes a complimentary flight of three tastes at all participating wineries Go to https://www. tourismcowichan.com/cowichanvalley-wine-festival/ for more. The Cowichan Valley wineries are prepared to receive guests in a safe and healthy environment. You will find protocols to maintain physical distancing, provide sanitized tastings, and above all, warm welcoming smiles.

Submitted by Leeann Froese

Charcuterie, Grazing Boxes and Entertaining Ideas www.picklespantry.ca I 250-266-2464