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20 BCA A .COM FALL 2016 iStock, Colin Jewall, Chris Stenberg MEMBERS SAVE BCAA Members save up to 20% at more than 30 different hotel partners, including Fairmont, Sheraton, Westin, Best Western and more. bcaa.com/hotels SUPER CHILL A primer on BC icewine BY CATHERINE TSE The Okanagan is one of the world's top icewine regions – visit in fall or early winter and you'll see the grapes still in the fields, becoming sweeter and more concentrated in flavour until they're frozen and crushed. Here are a few tips to get you started savouring BC's liquid gold: 1. Icewine can be made only from grapes that are frozen on the vine at –8°C or colder. 2. Traditionally made from Vidal or Riesling grapes, BC icewines also use Cabernet Franc, Gewürztraminer and Chardonnay. 3. Okanagan producers include Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs, Nk'Mip Cellars and Summerhill Pyramid, among others. 4. After freezing on the vine, grapes are hand-picked in the middle of the night, when temperatures are at their lowest. They must remain frozen during transportation, until crushing. 5. Icewines are beautifully balanced right off the shelf and can be enjoyed immediately. Young icewines are dominated by notes of fresh exotic fruits, green florals and caramel, while older icewines are rounder and more honeyed. 6. Serve icewine chilled, between 10 and 12° C, in wide-mouth stemmed glasses (white wine glasses are perfect). 7. While icewine is sweet, it's also nuanced, and it stands up beautifully against other strong flavours, such as sharp blue cheese, olive tapenade, pulled pork and salted peanuts. If you're a dessert lover, dark chocolate is a classic combination. Just avoid pairing with anything too sweet – you'll overload your palate. Evolve Cellars, Summerland Picture winding down country roads to a secluded spot where Okanagan Lake views stretch as far as the eye can see. Add to that a stunning patio, an elegant dining room and an airy, Mediterranean-inspired, tasting room – and you have Evolve Cellars. The winery's 2015 Pinot Gris is a graceful example of this standout varietal in the Okanagan, with notes of peach and citrus. Its easy-drinking 2014 Pinot Noir, with hints of black cherry and vanilla, pairs perfectly with salmon and mushroom dishes. evolvecellars.com Little Engine Wines, Penticton "We all have a Little Engine story in us," says Steven French. "In our family, when people tell us we can't, we say, 'Yes we can!'" This is the thrust behind Little Engine Wines, and the Frenches' engine-like determination to produce premium wines on the Naramata Bench. Beautiful big reds and bold Chardonnays have put the winery on the map for wine lovers who appreciate Old World quality – and Okanagan flavour coming through in every glass. littleenginewines.com Indigenous World Winery, West Kelowna Westbank First Nation Chief and entrepreneur Robert Louie thinks boldly. He's currently planning an upscale distillery, microbrewery and water bottling enterprise under the Indigenous World banner. But first, he's making a statement with this incredible new winery, which boasts a 60-seat bistro and an impressive tasting room off Hwy. 97. He challenged Jason Parkes, winemaker, to create wines that impress not just on a local scale, but at national and international wine competitions. The standout is the Simo Small Lot Red Blend, with its dark cherry and vanilla notes. indigenousworldwinery.com Daydreamer Wines, Naramata Don't be fooled by Daydreamer Wines' modest digs. Inside a bright blue shed, high on the hillside of Naramata, are some amazing wines. Marcus Ansems is one of five Canadian wine experts who have achieved the title of Master of Wine, an international standard of professional knowledge. He's also a great example of the garagiste scene that is growing in the Okanagan – small-lot winemakers who are finding new and exciting expressions of grape varietals, or simply making wines that suit their own tastes. The 2014 Ansems Signature Range Shiraz is a standout. This light-style Shiraz has a late-summer feel with its white pepper and red currant notes. daydreamerwines.ca ■ Kitsch Wines, Kelowna. Evolve Cellars' 2015 Pinot Gris.