The 2018 Fall Okanagan Wine Festival kicked off on Saturday night at the newly revamped Fall WestJet Wine Tasting event.
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Previously hosted at downtown Kelowna’s Rotary Centre for the Arts, the springboard event took it’s sponsorship quite literally this year as it took over the Carson Air hangar at YLW Airport.
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Attendees were welcomed onto the tarmac and greeted by fire dancers, sleek aircraft and chic ambiance in abundance thanks to the cool blue and turquoise lighting.
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“Nothing like this has ever been done anywhere in Canada, this is the first wine event WestJet has sponsored of this magnitude and to our knowledge, this is a completely unique event in Canada,” said Blair Baldwin, General Manager of the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society (OKWFS)
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“Wine is now part of the culture for everyone who lives in the Okanagan and breathes air in the Okanagan when you think about parties that are wine-oriented, this is the wine party of the year,” said Baldwin.
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According to Baldwin, the event had been in the concept and planning stages for nearly two years, following a challenge from the board of directors to create something that not only appeals to locals but wine tourists from across the country.
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“It is just amazing to see it come to life. It's an adrenaline rush to see it happen, to see it all come to fruition,” exclaimed Baldwin.
Photo credit: NowMediaBlair Baldwin
Sold out, the event boasted a line-up of 500 people prior to the evening’s start and peaked only an hour after with an impressive 1,500 attendees.
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With that many people on site, it is safe to say the wine was in high demand. On-site to quench their thirst was nearly 65 wineries hailing all the way from Kamloops to Osoyoos, the Kootenays and most places in between.
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Equipped with delicious food, live music, an on-site wineshop and a truly unique set up, it is safe to agree that Baldwin’s statement is true, making last night's event the wine party of the year.
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If you missed out, you can start planning for next year in addition to looking forward to the many great upcoming events for the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival.
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