The Foch made it through the cold snap.

Quality Inn, Clearwater BC

Today was our 2024 wine run, VQA VQA XXX, thirty years of travelling to BC to buy our favourite wines. We were not disappointed. A stash of wine was picked up at Moon Curser Vineyards, Wild Goose Vineyards and Quail's Gate Vineyards.

We will be sharing this haul of bottles at family dinner with our kids over the winter.

Early in 2024, there was an unusual cold spell in the Okanagan which killed almost 90% of the vines. Quail's Gate was hit particularly hard. They are also the only winery in BC that makes Marechal Foch wine, a family favourite. We had bought a dozen bottles in case they were to be the last crop we would see from them for a while, if ever. As we were picking up the wine, Lee asked about their crop loss, to which they replied - we have a total crop loss, except for the Foch. These 1961-era vines are so hardy they made it through the cold snap. Needless to say that made us very happy.

WOW - I did not realize that thirty years of enjoying trips to and through the Okanagan to taste and purchase various wines has passed. We have made a good effort to top up our "cellar". We actually no longer have the big house that had a section of the basement as a naturally cool room with bare concrete walls that kept our wine at just the right temperature. Our years supported and helped (I'm sure) several wineries with sales.

We are looking forward to family dinners and fondues this winter. If the dining table could talk what stories it would share.