Behind the Scenes – The Release of H’s Blend

Hawksworth Restaurant released their custom blend of red and white wine earlier this week at Bel Cafe in an intimate gathering. The award-winning Hawksworth sommelier team, including Wine Director Terry Threlfall, along with John Weber, expert winemaker of Orofino Winery in the Similkameen Valley, handcrafted H’s Blend available exclusively at Hawksworth Restaurant and Bel Cafe. John Weber attended the event and both him and Chef David Hawksworth introduced the wines to the room. Guests noshed on bite-sized Bel Toasts while enjoying the wines for the first time.

H’s Blend is a light and refreshing offering of both and red and white wine – 100% Gamay from two separate vineyards, and a blend of 50% Pinot Gris and 50% Riesling, also from grapes grown on Similkameen vines – producing a lively and juicy bistro-style red and a distinctive and delicate white, with flavours of citrus and pear. The relationship between Hawksworth Restaurant team and Orofino Winery dates back to 2008 when Jay Whiteley, Assistant Wine Director, joined the Orofino team for a hands-on experience on the crush pad. Inspired by the Orofino approach to making real wine to be paired with ingredient-driven, locally-sourced, flavourful food (Orofino is also home to the annual 1.6 mile dinner), the family-run vineyard became the perfect choice for Hawksworth’s own label. The result is a light, bright wine with notes of berry and citrus, an equally perfect addition to a dinner at Hawksworth, or enjoyed on the Bel Café patio.

See Hawksworth Restaurant’s Wine Director Terry talk about the wines on My Wine Pal here.