Happy #WineWednesday,
In case you missed the announcement, our partners at Okanagan Crush Pad (OCP) have made some exciting updates to their successful Okanagan Wine Campus program. The program was launched in 2011 to provide an opportunity to Vancouver’s Sommelier of the Year to learn the fine art of winemaking with the goal of creating 100 cases of wine that would then be sold to support charitable giving.
Effective 2016, the winery staff will select one person annually from the wine trade who work in the capacity as a sommelier, wine buyer or retailer to join the Okanagan Wine Campus program. OCP has announced that Jill Spoor, Wine Director, Fairmont Pacific Rim will be their 2016 harvest intern. Jill is contemplating her wine choice, but is leaning towards a lively white blend.
Okanagan Wine Campus, created in 2011, is a mentorship program that provides an industry professional a chance to make a small lot wine using the grape variety and style of their choice. They are involved in the process from start to finish, to the extent of designing the label and creating a marketing plan to support sales. The proceeds from the sale of the wine are given to the BC Hospitality Foundation to fund a wine scholarship to support students pursuing their higher level wine education certification. To date, $25,000 has been awarded to more than 20 individuals with more scholarships in the works.
For more information, read the entire press release HERE.