VANCOUVER — The Top Table Group has joined the winemaking world with the launch of two signature wines.
The Vancouver-based restaurant group pooled the resources of the Penticton, B.C.-based Laughing Stock Vineyards and its four wine directors — Araxi’s Samantha Rahn, Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar’s Andrea Vescovi, CinCin’s Sarah McCauley and West’s Owen Knowlton — to create its 2009 Director’s Blend Red and 2010 Director’s Blend White, which are available at the group’s four restaurants.
“We’re extremely proud of these first vintages. Our intention was to build approachable blends to complement the food offered in our restaurants, and we feel we’ve succeeded,” said Knowlton, Vancouver’s 2011 Sommelier of the Year, of the blends that were created using grapes from British Columbia’s Okanagan Region.
The 2010 Director’s Blend White consists of pinot gris, viognier, pinot blanc and sauvignon blanc grapes with pink grapefruit, white peach and mineral. The 2009 Director’s Blend Red is made from cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah and cabernet franc grapes with wild berries, vanilla, mocha and plum.
The Vancouver-based hospitality group operates four restaurants in Vancouver and Whistler, including Araxi, CinCin, Blue Water Café, West and the newly opened café Thierry.
