Tailgate Party 2016
This year's Naramata Tailgate Party was held once again at the Red Rooster Winery because it was such an excellent location.
On September 10th, 28 Naramata based wineries and their wines were paired with delicious cuisine from local chefs. This year’s theme was Bench Bohemian to honour the artistically unconventional lifestyles that are so much a part of Naramata history. Guests were invited to raid their closets and dress up. Prizes were given for the best costumes.
Now about the wines. I have visited almost every winery on the bench over the past five years. It’s a dirty job, but someone had to do it. Let me say I have never tasted a Naramata Bench wine I didn’t care for. It’s almost as if the Naramata Bench soil and the Okanagan sunshine don’t allow for bad vintages. Don’t get me wrong, I also know that it takes some mighty talented winemakers to make grapes and fruit taste this good.
As for the tailgate party, it’s hard to get tickets. Every year they sell out and every year I hear someone say they wished they’d known about it earlier. So here’s the trick: You go to naramatabench.com and check their calendar. Easier still, sign up for their newsletter or follow them online. That way you’ll have advance notice of ticket sales.
As in all past years, Tina Baird and her crew are to be applauded for the great job they did. The venue is perfect for a tailgate party. And there’s nothing better than being with friends, surrounded by great food and drink, with vineyards and Okanagan Lake as your backdrop.
Participating wineries included: Kettle Valley Winery, Bella Wines, Daydreamer Wines, Nichol Vineyard, Therapy Vineyards, Serendipity Winery, Van Westen Vineyards, Elephant Island Orchard Wines, Lake Breeze Vineyards, Lang Vineyards, Terravista Vineyards, Moraine Estate Winery, Bench 1775 Winery, Black Widow Winery, Quidni Estate Winery, Howling Bluff Estate Winery, Hillside Winery & Bistro, D’Angelo Estate Winery, Red Rooster Winery, La Frenz Winery, Poplar Grove Winery, Monster Vineyards, Perseus Winery, Tightrope Winery, Misconduct Wine Co., Deep Roots Winery, Three Sisters Winery and Upper Bench Estate Winery. Chefs and tasty treats were from: The Pecking Room Grill, The Vanilla Pod, The Bench Market, The Kitchen, Hillside Bistro, Naramata Heritage Inn and Lake Breeze Patio.