Anna Sharp (left) and Alyssa King from Brits on Holiday finished second in the Grape Stomp Competition at Festival of the Grape in Oliver on October 4. Missing from photo is team member Dave Sharp. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
Balwinder Dhaliwal was likely the proudest winery owner at the Festival of the Grape (FOG) last Sunday in Oliver.
“It’s amazing; I couldn’t believe it,” he said of his estate winery (Kismet) winning five awards at the recent BC Wine Awards that kicked off the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival.
Dhaliwal showcased his winning wines at the FOG, but unfortunately had to offer the “platinum” winning 2013 Syrah sparingly because he was sold out.
“Thursday night (October 1) was the win, and on Friday and Saturday I sold out,” he said.
Kismet’s 2014 Riesling icewine also took top honours at the awards, so now you know why Dhaliwal was walking on air during FOG, which showcased 55 wineries, including Jackson Triggs that won the Premier’s Award for the top wine in BC for its 2010 Grand Reserve Entourage Sparkling Brut.
Brian Highley, president of the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce, said he has definitely seen a “meteoric rise” in FOG over the last few years.
Can it get bigger and better? It just did, according to Highley, who noted that the first ever “Night FOG” the evening before (October 3) was a fantastic success.
Highley said the Chamber has been talking about giving people something to do while they anticipate the extremely popular day festival.
“It felt like we needed to grow.”
The president added that the FOG was perfect timing this year because a lot of businesses had a tough time during the summer wildfires. He noted the festival gave the local economy the injection it needed.
Highley admitted that the festival takes a “ton of work,” but he quickly praised the one group that makes it a reality.
“There’s no way in the world that this would happen without the volunteers.”
Highley also acknowledged the fearless leadership of FOG director Linda Buhler, Denise Blashko (the Chamber’s new executive director), and corporate sponsor Eastlink.
“They (Eastlink) hit this out of the park,” Highley said.
Buhler said the FOG is the best single event that showcases the community and the wineries in the South Okanagan.
Looking at the crowd, Buhler said it was probably the biggest turnout they’ve ever had, with more wineries than ever before.
“I am so impressed at how it all came together,” she noted.
Buhler said they expected about 300 people to attend the Night FOG, “but I’m sure we had over 500.”
Glancing into her crystal ball, Buhler said she can see the FOG getting better by extending the Grape Stomp Competition to involve more company rivalries.
A car show is another idea.
“We’re open to suggestions on how to expand it,” Buhler said.
Gordon and Helen Gill from Yorkshire, England, attended the event on the advice of their cousins. And they weren’t disappointed.
“The atmosphere is great,” Helen said. “It shows us what this area is like.”
Helen joked by saying if she sampled too much wine, she might be up on stage providing the entertainment. However, that was left up to Brandon Isaak and His Saints of Swing from Vancouver.
Winning the Grape Stomp Competition was the Walnut Beach Resort Nut Crushers from Osoyoos (30 pounds of juice). Finishing second was Brits on Holiday from Britain (25 pounds). Third place went to the Okanagan Correctional Centre PCL team called Hip Hip Syrah (19.5 pounds).
Dhaliwal was much too busy serving wine to cheer on his favourite team, but he said the FOG was a great opportunity for wine lovers to meet the people (owners and winemakers) behind their favourite wines.
Although he and his brother Sukhi Dhaliwal only opened Kismet’s tasting room a year ago, the family has been growing grapes for 23 years.
Balwinder said the secret to making good wine, award winning or not, is growing quality fruit.
“Our whole family is very proud of what we are doing (in the wine industry),” he stated.
It is what they were meant to do. In fact, the name Kismet is derived from the Punjabi word “destiny.”
By Lyonel Doherty
