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British Columbia

Beneath the Grapevine: An Underground Dinner at Seven Stones Winery

Beneath the Grapevine: An Underground Dinner at Seven Stones Winery

Continuing on from my experiences at the Wine Bloggers’ Conference I am admittedly behind on a few of my summer adventures already.  Nevertheless I’ve got some fantastic stories to tell in the coming weeks that not only involve the WBC’13 but also Whistler and Vancouver. Alas, I digress.

 As explained in the previous post regarding the Similkameen Valley, one of the best and yet underrated wine regions you’ve never heard of, I ended up at the Seven Stones Winery by hopping on a WBC’13 bus labeled “Wine & Geology.” Little did I know that during this evening we would literally by dinning beneath the vineyard and terroir that gives the Similkameen wine it’s character.

Seven Stones Underground Cave, Similkameen Valley, via TheWanderfullTraveler.com

After a tour of the grounds and an elaborate wine tasting of some of the best wines within the area we (a group of 40+ wine bloggers) descended into the cool depths of the newly added Seven Stones Winery cellar where owner George Hanson, with the help of his son-in-law, created a picturesque space where he could age and store his wine but also make it available for rent for personal or commercial events and special dinners. 

Seven Stones Winery Owner & Host of #WBC13 Wine & Geology Event, George Hanson
Seven Stones Winery Owner & Host of the WBC13 Wine & Geology Event George Hanson

Us wine bloggers were treated to a one of a kind evening catered by Chef Chris Van Hooydonk, a local chef who just recently started his own business venture called Artisan Culinary Concepts where you can participate in cooking courses, hire his team for catering services or even consulting and mentoring. 

Chef Chris Von Hooydonk catered Seven Stones Winery #WBC13 dinner

After a quick tour of the underground cellar ~ with both a public entrance and a private entrance connected to Hanson’s home basement ~ we found our seats and were salivating at Chef Van Hooydonk’s descriptions of the feast before us. From asparagus soup to charcuterie favourites and what Chef’s wife refers to as the “baby-maker” hummus and an array of desserts including cookies and an dense fruit bar topped with sweet dark homemade preserves.

Chef Chris Von Hooydonk catered Seven Stones Winery #WBC13 dinner

The event was anything but stuffy with the wine pairings left to our own taste preferences, in between loading our plates up as high as possible we stood in line patiently waiting to fill our glasses with the local favourites of the day – my choice of wine was the Vin Gris from Sage Bush. A round of applause was in order at the end of the evening with host Hanson beaming along with the other proud wine makers of the Similkameen Valley. I was and am fiercely proud to live in the Okanagan and be a neighbour to the Similkameen, a wine region that made me widen my eyes to what else might around the corner from my home. Bravo and thank you to Chef Chris Van Hooydonk, Wine Maker George Hanson and his team as well as all of the wineries who participated that evening.

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About Murissa

Murissa is founder of FoodieTown.ca, producer and host of The Okanagan Food Show Podcast, video editor and co-creator of the Foodie Card.

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5 comments

  1. Pingback: Sparkling Wine Caves at Sumac Ridge | The Wanderfull TravelerThe Wanderfull Traveler
  2. Dina Honke says:
    July 11, 2013 at 8:09 pm

    Murissa, what a lovely website. I need to check out the Similkameen Valley and some of the wineries you mention. You are a good ambassador to the area.

    Reply
    1. Wanderfull says:
      July 12, 2013 at 7:56 am

      Hi Dina,

      Thanks for visiting my website! I am glad you’re back blogging as well and look forward to reading more of your food adventures.
      Surprisingly, this was my first time to the Similkameen Valley and I was very taken with the area as you can tell.
      There’s also another great winery called Eau Vivre and the winery and tasting room look exactly like a picturesque scene in the French countryside.
      Thanks for commenting!
      Murissa

      Reply
  3. Jenna says:
    July 11, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    Sounds like SO much fun!

    Reply
    1. Wanderfull says:
      July 12, 2013 at 7:50 am

      Hi Jenna,

      It was a delicious time – certainly a one time thing as well. Now I know the value of going to these types of blogging conferences. However, I am glad to say that the WBC13 Okanagan edition was voted the best of all the Wine Blogging Conferences which is saying a lot when you consider that they also hosted the event in Napa.

      Murissa

      Reply

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Hi! Murissa & Taryn here. We are sisters, foodies and founders of Foodietown.ca. Join us as we explore the Canadian food scenes and beyond! Check out our YouTube foodie adventures and trusted restaurant recommendations.

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