Big pivot for Fall Okanagan Wine Festival because there's no grape harvest

First of all, there is a Fall Okanagan Wine Festival.

It's the weekends of Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-27.

But, second, it's going to be a different fest.

The party has traditionally been designed to be a celebration of the grape harvest.

But, with January's severe cold snap killing buds, grapes didn't develop on the vines and there is essentially no grape harvest this fall.

But that doesn't mean the fest has to end.

"We're definitely looking at it differently this year," said Kimberly Hundertmark, general manager of Okanagan Wine Festivals.

"The wine storytelling is still there, but it's a different story this year. Rather than a celebration of harvest, it's a celebration of bounty. People are still invited to come to the festival and the Okanagan. Wineries have lots of wine on hand. And wineries are also prepared to tell the story of this year's different vintage."

With no local grapes, Okanagan wineries have turned to Washington state, Oregon and Ontario to source grapes and juice to make into wine under Okanagan winery labels.

The labels will have to clearly state the wine may be made by an Okanagan winery, but the grapes used to make it came from elsewhere.

"Our winemakers are still making wines," stresses Hundertmark.

"Wineries remain open and continue to sell wine. It's most certainly not all doom and gloom. Wineries will continue to sell wine this year from past vintages. And then in 2025 it will look different as 2024 vintage wines from Okanagan wineries will be released, made from grapes from Washington, Oregon or Ontario."

Now, back to how the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival will play out this year.

There will be two big, signature events organized by Okanagan Wine Festivals.

The first is Taste of Lake Country on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 11 am to 5 pm.

With a $65 ticket, wine lovers can drop in at six wineries on the Scenic Sip Wine Trail for exclusive tastings.

Get Taste tickets here:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/dfaf6396-bcb7-4b33-8b77-b8d7a8912248

The second Signature event is Cropped on Friday, Oct. 25, 7 to 10 pm at the Revelry Food and Music Hub in downtown Kelowna.

It features food and drinks and live music from jazz crooner Ben Dunnill.

Get $55 Cropped tickets here:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/a8efc3a5-a30e-4856-9187-516e8e3abd13

Individual wineries are also expected to put on events over the two weekends of the fest to round out the offerings.

Many of those experiences haven't been released yet, so keep an eye on https://www.thewinefestivals.com/ for updates.

Some of the winery events that have been announced include 'dessert paired wine experience' and 'proprietor's winery tour and tasting' at Volcanic Hills in West Kelowna and a Halloween-theme Monster Mash '80s Bash at Sandhill in Kelowna.

Ticket information at:

https://volcanichillswinery.com/collections/tasting-fee/products/a-naughty-tasting?variant=45171482689824 and

https://volcanichillswinery.com/collections/tasting-fee/products/proprietor-tour

and https://www.mywinecountry.com/bc/monster-mash-80-s-bash.html

"Another thing that's changed is consumers aren't planning very far ahead," pointed out Hundertmark.

"So, wineries aren't planning events very far out, either. But, we expect a flurry of winery events to come in as the festival nears."

_{Thumbnail photo credits: Okanagan Wine Festivals}