Wine

Jul12

Live Music and Food Near Tanglewood

Tara Rafferty Beer, Blog, British Columbia, Family Activities, Food and drink, Travel, Vacation Homes, Wine no responses

Enjoy the experience of local food and local talent all at once at the Black Goose Inn. Minutes from the Tanglewood beach vacation rentals you’ll find some great eats and live music!

Check out their extensive menu full of snacks, starters, salads, mains, pies and even something for the kids! It’s traditional British cooking just minutes from your vacation home! Black Goose Inn offers an authentic experience welcome to the entire family, including your 4 legged friends. An outdoor patio is available. Happy hour is offered from 3-5pm with live music between the hours of 6pm-8:30pm. Find the live music schedule here!

Some of our favourite items on the menu are:

Strawberry and Pecan Spinach Salad – Spinach, Strawberries, Feta, Home made candied pecans, Balsamic Dressing

Lamb Shank – Red wine rosemary oven braised lamb shank, Buttery mashed potatoes, Peas, Red win lamb jus

Baked Wild Sockeye Salmon – Sockeye salmon, Buttery Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables and a Creamy lobster sauce

Of course, our cottages come fully equipped with everything you need to make your own home cooked meal – but who wants to cook every night of their vacation!

Sep10

B.C. Wine and Snack Pairings for Fall [2021]

Tara Rafferty Blog, Food and drink, Wine no responses

Keep reading to get our recommendations for the best B.C. wine and snack pairings this season.

If you’re visiting B.C., you’ve probably already heard that we are the wine country of Canada. British Columbia hosts around 929 vineyards currently as well as over 350 licensed wineries. There are 4,130 hectares of wine grapes growing across B.C. in any given year.

Now that it’s fall, you’ll want to shirk the light, floral flavours of spring. Here are some great B.C. wine and snack pairings with an autumn twist!

Pumpkin + Viognier

Pumpkin is a staple of fall and often shows up luxuriously spiced in baked goods like pie, cookies, and tarts. The rich, sweetness of pumpkin will pair well with a nice viognier. Luckily, B.C. wineries like Volcanic Hills have many options for you to pick from.

Try: Pumpkin Pie Bites from Tasty + Viognier from Volcanic Hills Winery (West Kelowna).

Apples + Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer is the third most popular wine grape grown in B.C., right after the uber-popular Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. It used to be known for being super sweet but has been trending towards dryer flavours, making it a great option for fall. Gewürztraminer’s fruity profile pairs well with apples, which can be plucked right from the tree at one of the Okanagan’s U-Picks!

Try: Easy Apple Crisp from Little Sweet Baker + 50th Parallel Gewürztraminer (Lake Country, BC).

Figs + Port

Port (AKA Vinho do Porto or just Porto) has relatively low acidity and tannin, making it a great pairing for both cooked or raw figs. Port also has a slightly higher alcohol percentage, ranging closer to 20% than the usual 10-13%. Figs are a ton of fun to work with in the kitchen and a quick search for “fig appetizer ideas” will open your mind to the world of the edible fruit of Ficus carica.

Try: Fig Appetizer With Brie And Spiced Honey from Just a Little Bit of Bacon + Vintage Okanagan Tawny Port from House of Rose (Kelowna, BC).

Sweet Potatoes + Zinfandel

Sweet potatoes, venison, and game meats are just a few hearty fall flavours that pair well with the dark fruit, spice, and oak of a good Zinfandel. Enjoy black cherry, blueberry, and hints of vanilla with your favourite easy sweet potato snack.

Try: Baked Sweet Potato Chips from Minimalist Baker + Black Sage Zinfandel by Black Sage Vineyards (Okanagan Valley, BC).

Ready for a Visit to Beautiful B.C.?

What do you think about our choice of B.C. wine and snack pairings for fall? Let us know or let us know what other local topics you want us to cover.

Let Breakaway Vacations help you book your stay. We have luxury vacation cottages and overnight rentals for all group sizes and budgets. Talk to one of our friendly travel experts to get started.

You might also like: The Best B.C. Wine and Why We Love Them.

Feb12

5 Valentine’s Day Cocktails to Celebrate with Your Loved One

Tara Rafferty Food and drink, Holidays, Wine no responses

Ahh, Valentine’s day—love is in the air! And it can also be in your best martini glasses with these 5 Valentine’s Day cocktails!

What is a Valentine’s Day cocktail exactly? Well…anything that feels romantic. We know that’s broad, but Valentine’s Day drinks are a “you’ll know it when you see it” kind of deal. Typically, they will be sweet, maybe pink or red in color, and will have a feminine flourish.

Here are our picks:

The Pink Rose

50ml French dry vermouth
25ml Kirschwasser (cherry brandy)
1 tsp Natural raspberry syrup
Garnish: Brandied cherry

Roses are a common theme around Valentine’s Day. They are given as gifts and adorn hallmark cards celebrating the season. This drink plays on that theme with its pinky-red hue. Raspberry syrup and a brandied cherry will make it as sweet as your S.O.

See how to make it at Taste Cocktails.

Seductive Strawberry Cocktail

2 Strawberries
1/2 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1-1/2 ounces Kentucky straight bourbon

1/2 ounce Bénédictine liqueur
1 barspoon simple syrup to taste
Strawberry for garnish

Made with strawberries and champagne, this cocktail screams Valentine’s Day! The luscious red colour pairs well with the season. Plus, you’ll have strawberries left over for chocolate fondue. The bourbon gives it quite a kick and makes it something that everyone will enjoy.

See how to make it at All Parenting.

Sparkling Frosé

½ Bottle of Sparkling Ice Cherry Limeade
8 Rosé Ice Cubes
1oz lemon juice
Mint, for garnish

Rosé slush is just a great idea all around. This rich, sultry cocktail can be easily adjusted for potency by adding or removing the number of rosé cubes before you blend it together. The Sparkling Ice Cherry Limeade can be substituted for your favourite sparkling fruit beverage if you don’t have any on hand.

See how to make it at Moscato Mom.

Blushing Geisha

4 ounces Ty Ku Liqueur
2 ounces pomegranate juice

4 ounces rose nectar
Garnish: lime wedge

This drink is as beautiful as it is tasty. The main ingredient, Ty Ku Liqueur is made with pomegranate, honeydew, yuzu, and Asian pear and is considered an aphrodisiac. Replace the rose nectar with rose simple syrup if you can’t find any (hint: your best chance is probably a natural food store).

See how to make it on The Spruce Eats.

Chocolate Cherry Delight

6 ounces chocolate almond milk
4 ounces cherry juice
3 ounces vodka
honey for garnish
dark chocolate sprinkles for garnish

Chocolates are a traditional romantic gift so why not have a cocktail to match? This rich, scrumptious drink is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Use honey or simple syrup on the rim of your martini glasses to make the chocolate sprinkles stick.

See how to make it at One Country.

Give these Valentine’s Day cocktails a try and let us know what you think!

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be the only time you celebrate your love. If you’re thinking about a spring or summer romantic getaway, maybe an anniversary or birthday, book with Breakaway Vacations. We have luxury vacation rentals that will make any trip special.

Jan22

B.C. Winter Wine 101: Everything You Need to Know (with Recommendations)

Tara Rafferty Blog, Food and drink, Wine no responses

One thing you should know about travelling to B.C. is that we are called “wine country” for a reason! We grow and produce many wine varieties right here in the Okanagan, some of which have won international awards for their quality. It’s always wine season in B.C! Now that it’s cold out, there are just certain wines that hit better. Here’s everything you need to know about winter wine in British Columbia.

What is a “Winter Wine”

Simple! Any wine that you enjoy drinking in winter. Sure, this can be applied to almost anything. But certain varieties pair well with in-season foods like hearty stews, bold spices, and red meat meals.

Does B.C. Make Wine in the Winter?

Yes! Ice wine (sometimes spelled icewine) is made with grapes that are frozen on the vine. Ice wine can be made with Riesling and Vidal grapes (most popular), Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. The Okanagan is one of the best places in Canada to grow such grapes, as the climate is perfect for these unique fruits. Ice wine is traditionally quite sweet and pairs well with desserts.

Which B.C. Wineries Make Ice Wine?

B.C. wineries that have produced ice wine in the past include: Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery, Inniskillin Winery, Jackson-Triggs Winery, K Mountain Vineyards, Mission Hill Estate Winery, Mount Boucherie Estate Winery, Nk’Mip Cellars, Peller Estates, Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, See Ya Later Ranch, Soaring Eagle Estate Winery, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, and Willow Hill Winery.

Ice Wine VS Winter Wine: What’s the Difference?

Simply put, ice wine is made in winter; winter wines pair well with popular winter-season food choices. Ice wines can be winter wines and winter wines can be ice wines but there doesn’t have to be a correlation! Ice wine can keep for 10 years (corked), so you can drink it year-round. Meanwhile, many wintertime wine favorites are bottled in Spring or Summer.

What Makes a Good Winter Wine?

Winter used to be considered a “red wine” season (except, of course, Champaign for New Year’s). However, the truth is that white wine can be a winter wine, as well. A good winter wine pairs well with the hearty, spiced, red meat-centric meals of the cooler season. Acidic wines, for example, tend to work best with the typical dish served around the holidays. Any wine with a big, bold flavor will do (thick: full, oaky chardonnay).

What are the Best Winter Wines in B.C.?

Here are a few of our favourite B.C. winter wines. If you are travelling to the Okanagan to stay at La Casa Mirador (our season-round rental), then you should endeavor to check these out!

Shiraz/Syrah

This dark and full-bodied red makes for a perfect cold season wine. It pairs well with beef, venison, and lamb dishes. You can expect flavors of blueberry and blackberry along with ripe tannins.

Hester Creek Syrah-Viognier
Quails’ Gate The Boswell Syrah
Vanessa Vineyard Right Bank
Stag’s Hollow Syrah
Black Hills Syrah

Chardonnay

Surprise! White wine can be a winter wine, too. Look for chardonnays with buttered, oak influences. Chardonnay, with its trademark fruity sweetness, will pair well with almost any dessert.

Mission Hill Family Estate’s Grand Reserve Chardonnay
50th Parallel Estate Chardonnay
SpearHead Chardonnay Clone 95
Mission Hill Reserve Chardonnay
Quails’ Gate Chardonnay – Stewart Family Reserve
Tinhorn Creek – Chardonnay

Cabernet Sauvignon

With Cabernet Sauvignon, you may detect hints of green pepper, tobacco, cassis, dark fruits, and vanilla. Some varieties will be opulent and fruity and others will be savory and smoky.

Cassini The Aristocrat Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon
Burrowing Owl Cabernet Sauvignon
Nk’Mip Cellars (Inkameep) Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon
Painted Rock Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
Burnt Timber Estate Winery Monarch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Quails’ Gate Cabernet Sauvignon

Want to experience B.C. wines first-hand? Our luxury Okanagan cottages are booking for summer 2021—and they fill up fast! Contact us for a reservation today.

Oct16

Autumn Food and Wine Pairings for October Nights

Tara Rafferty British Columbia, Okanagan, Vancouver Island, Wine no responses

Everyone knows that British Columbia is Canada’s wine region. BC wine is a must-try when you are visiting the area. Vineyards may not be open this late into the year but you can expect any local venues to be stocked up with wine from around the area. Here are just a few ideas of what types of wine and food pairings to try.

Savory Squash + Pinot Gris

Squash is in season so you will probably be able to find it on many-a-menu these days. Any savory squash meal should pair well with Pinot Gris. Pinot Gris is rich and spicy and quite popular in B.C. so you’ll find it everywhere. It pairs well with the rich creaminess of squash-based meals (think: pasta, warm salad, or soups).

Meat and Potatoes + Rioja

Steak and potatoes. Sausage and potatoes. Red meat stew. These are perfect cold-weather meals because they fill you up and make you feel warm and cozy as the nights get chilly. Try pairing these meals with a Rioja, which is a deep, leathery red with hints of cherry. Want it sweeter? Open a newer bottle. For more savory, pick a Rioja that has been aged.

Apple Cinnamon + Riesling

Cinnamon will be making a grand appearance in a big way in many desserts and even breakfast/bunches. You might find it with apple or pumpkin, which are in season. But what wine goes best with apple cinnamon tarts after a long day? Try Riesling, which is equal parts sweet and acidic—a perfect counterpart.

Turkey Leftovers + Grenache Rosé

If you’ve already celebrated (Canadian) Thanksgiving, you most likely have a fridge packed full of delicious turkey leftovers. You might be finding yourself adding it to everything: soups, salads, sandwiches. How about accenting the inevitable turkey overdose with some nice Grenache Rosé? The ruby rose colour and heightened acidity make it a great fall pairing.

Vegetable Stew + Pinot Noir

Vegetable stew is great to make in bulk and freeze or refrigerate for easy fall meals. Pack it full of lentils, mushrooms, carrots, potato, corn, and anything else you desire. Vegetarian stew lasts longer in the fridge than meat-based counterparts so you don’t have to worry about rushing through it. Pinot Noir is so food-friendly it goes with nearly anything but it will keep this particular meal company with it’s rich fruity character.

Lamb + Zinfandel

Thinking about ordering rack of lamb for a luscious, fall meal? Try pairing lamb-based recipes with Zinfandel, which is a perfect fall wine that also goes great with sweet potatoes. Zinfandel has hints of dark fruit and a smoky zest but you can also find earthier varieties.

No matter what you are eating, you will be able to find a BC wine to match. That’s because there are so many varieties to play with. Wine lovers rejoice.

Looking for a fantastic Fall getaway? Contact us and ask about our vacation properties here in beautiful British Columbia.