(pictured:Winner at this year’s Similkameen BBQ King Competition Chef Lee Humphries (r) with Chef Damien Mischkinis (l) from LOCAL Lounge & Grill in Summerland – wine pairing with George Hanson (centre). Photo: ET2 Media.)
Just visiting Seven Stones winery in Cawston is an event unto itself. This past summer, the wine caves became an attraction in their own right by adding another way to experience the quality and attention to detail at Seven Stones. This fall the wine caves will host two very special events as owner George Hanson heads towards harvesting his 10th vintage.
The annual Wine Maker’s Dinner will be held on September 13th and will feature the culinary creations of a local chef paired with Seven Stones’ wines in their natural habitat of the wine caves. There is a new event planned this year that will also take place in the caves – George will be hosting a vertical tasting of his Pinot Noir. On October 12th, guests will be able to taste 7 vintages of Pinot Noir from 2005 through 2011. It will be an afternoon event from 2 – 4pm and costs $50 per person. Contact George at sevenstones@nethop.net or phone the winery at 250-499-2144 for tickets and information to attend either of these special events. www.sevenstones.ca
New releases this fall will focus on the big reds. The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon will be released in September. Even regular visitors to Seven Stones’ wine shop rarely see this wine on the shelves since it typically sells out all of its 230 cases very quickly. Alongside the Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2012 “The Legend” is also due for release in September. One of the very rare Bordeaux-style blends from BC that are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, this vintage’s “The Legend” is made up of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. Only 100 cases of this top-tier wine were made for this vintage and represent the pinnacle of quality for Seven Stones’ portfolio.
~ Luke Whittall