Mission Hill Family Estate is pleased to announce the start of a new series of culinary, fine wine and artistic activities. The season commenced with the opening of the internationally acclaimed Terrace Restaurant this past weekend with live jazz accompanying diners under the open air piazza. The season’s cultural highlight, is the exciting introduction of the Mission Hill Family Estate Reserve Concert Series, which will feature noted jazz artists and highly acclaimed Canadian operatic and symphony performers.
The concerts afford a unique opportunity to enjoy a live performance in an unrivalled natural setting. The outdoor amphitheatre provides a stunning view of the Monashee Mountains and Lake Okanagan, sure to enchant audiences on a fine summer evening. Opening the series on July 17 is the Midsummer Magic Okanagan Symphony Gala celebrating the OSO’s 50th anniversary. Guests will enjoy dining alfresco with musical interludes throughout the evening showcasing OSO musicians and special guest artists. On August 7, musician Wil Campa will perform his unique blend of Afro-Cuban jazz music. On Labour Day Weekend, Friday September 3, Juno award winning jazz guitarist Jesse Cook will look to repeat his previous 2008 sold out show at the winery. The finale to the season is a benefit concert on September 18 by the Canadian Tenors with their eclectic mix of classical and contemporary pop, in support of Voices for Bulembu, a Vancouver-based charity doing transformational work in Africa.
Special pre-concert dinner packages to celebrate the cultural festivities will be offered at the Terrace Restaurant, which offers guests breathtaking vistas of the vineyards and lake. Gourmet fare and Mission Hill’s award winning wines will also be available for sale in the Wine Shop. Save the date and more information for the concerts are on the winery website. Members of the Mission Hill Wine Club will receive pre-release access for securing concert reservations and will enjoy a private pre-concert reception. For other exclusive membership benefits and to join, visit www.missionhillwineclub.com. General ticket sales will be available through Ticketmaster later in June. Additional performances and culinary offerings will be added throughout the summer and listed on www.missionhillwinery.com.
As part of the summer celebration, beginning in June, Mission Hill is introducing a late afternoon “Tastes of the Estate” small plate shared experience menu. Complementing this will be a new Affinities Tour, with guided tours of the winery grounds, Estate Varietal Kitchen Garden, underground barrel cellar, and sampling a Tastes of the Estate dish along with wine pairing. The Terrace Restaurant’s innovative cuisine is prepared by up-and-coming young Chef Riley Bennett under the direction of Executive Winery Chef Matthew Batey. Riley was a finalist in the recent Bocuse d’Or culinary competition in Toronto. Riley continues Mission Hill’s Cuisine du Terroir philosophy, a seasonal and regional approach to dining that is meticulously crafted around the wines and local artisanal ingredients.
Also scheduled for this season is the winery’s popular Sommelier Saturdays classes, led by our Sommelier team of Jesse Harnden, Mike Lee and Brent Belanger, these are fun and informative tastings that help hone taste buds and refine palates with a comparative tasting of Mission Hill wines alongside international counterparts of various regions and styles.
“Wine is about life and bringing people together. It is meant to be shared with friends and family with meals and inspired conversation,” said Anthony von Mandl, Founder and Proprietor of Mission Hill Family Estate. “Here we are passionate about food, wine and the arts and want guests to enjoy the incredible bounty and beauty that the Okanagan has to offer whether it’s dining alfresco on our Terrace, touring our estate vineyards with our sommeliers, or watching a world-class performance under the stars. We are privileged to share our love of this region and its wines with them.”