Okanagan sparkling wines went head to head Sunday at the first tasting of the season.
It鈥檚 the third year of the competitive wine tasting created by Vernon resident Brandon Little. Until October, wine pros and 鈥榓verage Joes鈥� will partake in a socially distanced tasting, once a month, at different Okanagan wineries.
This year, more than 30 wineries signed up to duke it out with one another. Little organizes each event to have the wine paired with food to add to the full experience.
Wines are judged in three categories: aroma, taste and finish. The judges are comprised of people with wine certifications (pros) and the average person who might not know anything about wine (average Joes).
On Sunday, the first battle of the season took place at and sitting at the judging table was Black Press鈥� very own bureau chief (B.C. Interior South), Jen Zielinski.
Seven champagne-style sparkling wines duked it out today, paired with fresh oysters from . 鈥淭he tasting was extremely well organized, with all the COVID-19 protocols put in place,鈥� said Zielinski, an 鈥榓verage Joe鈥� judge.
Wines remain a mystery to judges throughout the tasting. A written review of each contestant and winner will be posted on the Battle of the Wines . Anyone interested can follow the competition on and .
鈥淚t will be interesting to see what I gravitated towards. Whatever it is will probably be a go-to bottle that I buy going forward,鈥� Zielinski said.
Little says the event allows him to support local businesses, especially during a time when they need it most.
鈥淚t鈥檚 bringing them all together and having one really good experience. The oysters and the wine at The View 鈥� it couldn鈥檛 be any more perfect.鈥�
The next Battle of the Wines pairings are:
May
Wine: Chardonnay
Food: Cheese
Location: Grizzli winery art gallery
June
Wine: Assorted
Food: Bacon cheeseburger
Location: Priest Creek Winery
July
Wine: Riesling
Food: Poutine
Location: SummerGate
August
Wine: Assorted
Food: Spicy Peach Salsa
Location: Farming Karma Fruit Co
September
Wine: Red blends
Food: Pizza
Location: Off the Grid Winery
October
Wine: Syrah
Food: Charcuterie Boards
Location: Meadow Vista Honey Wines
For dates, follow Battle of the Wines on social media (linked above).
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amandalina.letterio@kelownacapnews.com
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