BCWI ReleaseMember Release

Organic: A technique for growing grapes without using chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides or commercial fertilizers.*

Vinifera: A species of grape–Vitis Vinifera–that produces the classic wine grapes that have spread from the vineyards of Europe.*

Viticulture: Grapes for Icewine are harvested at -8° Celsius or lower, and often by moonlight.

Varietals: 49% of British Columbia’s wines are white. 51% are red. In the last acreage survey conducted, 97.1% of the yield was from vinifera grapes and 2.9% from hybrids.

Sales: British Columbia VQA wine sales have doubled in the last six years to more than $182 million annually.

*Schreiner, John - British Columbia Wine Country, Whitecap Books Ltd., 2003

 
 
  June 27, 2008

Mission Hill Family Estate Awards Wine Scholarship: Les Dames d’Escoffier’s Annual Dinner Honours Student Culinary Education

Vancouver, British Columbia – June 25, 2008 – Mission Hill Family Estate and Les Dames d’Escoffier BC Chapter (LDEI BC) were pleased to recognize the wealth of talent in the local culinary industry when last evening they awarded another bursary at Les Dames d’Escoffier annual Induction and Scholarship Dinner.

"At Mission Hill Family Estate, we're passionate about food and wine. This commitment is reflected in our support for the community in the wine and culinary workshops we offer at the winery and in our support for up-and-coming talent in the hospitality industry. We're delighted to present this Les Dames award to a promising candidate pursuing her education in the wine sector," said Dan Zepponi, President, Mission Hill Family Estate.

LDEI BC President Cindy Evetts is pleased to have the support of a prestigious winery like Mission Hill Family Estate for the third consecutive year. "Wine is such an integral part of the culinary arts, and the assistance from Mission Hill Family Estate, a leader in the Canadian wine industry, is recognition of this. Les Dames is thrilled to be able to offer our applicants scholarships to be used specifically for wine education."

Adrianne Poulos is an Event Planner with Major the Gourmet Catering and has received a scholarship to further her education in the International Sommelier Guild's Wine Fundamentals I & II. Adrianne has worked in Italy in vineyards and plans to become a sommelier. She would like to be able to offer catering clients a broader range of information by having the ability to suggest options in wine to match their menu.

Les Dames d'Escoffier is an association of professional women devoted to promoting the understanding, appreciation and knowledge of food, wine and the arts of the table. We also supply advice and scholarship assistance to women as they pursue careers in food, wine, hospitality, nutrition, food technology or other related areas. Awards are based on merit and ability and vary in amount according to the program they support.

About Mission Hill Family Estate
Mission Hill Family Estate, Canada’s Winery of the Year, is world renowned for its award-winning wines, stunning setting and architecture, and its Cuisine de Terroir-based Terrace restaurant. The family estate vineyards are located in five distinct growing regions of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. Reflective of the origin and unique character of the Valley and of the careful ‘pruning to bottle’ program, Oculus, our signature Bordeaux-inspired wine, represents the pinnacle in premium winemaking. Proprietor Anthony von Mandl and winemaker John Simes produce elegant internationally acclaimed wines with New World flavours and Old World refinement from this incomparable lakeside mountaintop winery. Visit www.missionhillwinery.com for more information.

Contact:
Lori Pike, Director of Public Relations
1.604.808.6655
lpike@missionhillwinery.com

 
© 2010 British Columbia Wine Institute.  All rights reserved.