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Canada’s WestJet to feature BC wines

By Eric Degerman on July 18, 2013

Canadian regional carrier WestJet Encore, which includes the Bombardier Q400 NextGen in its fleet, will feature Okanagan Valley wines on flights during July and August.

Canadian regional carrier WestJet Encore, a new service that includes the Bombardier Q400 NextGen in its fleet, will feature Okanagan Valley wines on flights during July and August. (WestJet photo courtesy of Okanagan Wine Festivals Society)

KELOWNA, British Columbia – Canadian carrier WestJet and The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society launched a partnership this week to showcase Okanagan Valley wines on summer flights operated by WestJet Encore.

Lori Pike-Raffan, OWFS director of public relations, told Great Northwest Wine the program follows the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air model for Washington, Oregon and California wineries.

“This is a first-of-its-kind partnership in Canada and a real win for the B.C. wine industry as never before has a large Canadian airline chosen to promote British Columbia wines,” she said.

The promotion focuses on B.C. wines produced by OWFS members. In July, the lineup includes Blasted Church, Gray Monk, Wayne Gretzky Okanagan, Lang Vineyards, Oliver Twist, Perseus, SunnyBrae, Therapy Vineyards, St. Hubertus and The View.

Next month, the listed wineries are Ganton & Larsen Prospect, Jackson Triggs Okanagan, Inniskillin Okanagan, Road 13, See Ya Later Ranch, Sumac Ridge and Vibrant Vine.

“The Okanagan is blessed with some of the best wineries in the world. With wine tourism continuing to grow, it only makes sense for visitors to sample some of Okanagan’s finest on the way here,” BC Premier Christy Clark said in a news release. “The pouring will be a good preview of what awaits them, and another reason to plan their next trip here.”

The WestJet Wine Tastings are among the most popular events during the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society’s spring and fall celebrations. (Photo courtesy of Okanagan Wine Festival Society).

The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society is responsible for the development of the wine tourism sector in the interior of British Columbia. The society produces several events each year, including its signature Okanagan Fall Wine Festival – a 10-day celebration that’s the largest of its kind in North America. It also stages two annual competitions, including the British Columbia Wine Awards.

Eric von Krosigk, OWFS chair and winemaker at Summerhill Pyramid Winery in Kelowna, said, “We are sponsoring a promotional bottle pour on board the new WestJet Encore Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft whereby every guest will have a choice of two wines to sample for the summer months. This pouring allows thousands of customers to be introduced to our wines, our wine region and our Okanagan Wine Festivals which draw tens of thousands of wine tourists to our region annually.”

Last month, WestJet debuted Encore as a regional carrier and a competitor to Jazz Airlines of Chorus Aviation, a contract carrier for AirCanada.

“As we launch WestJet Encore, we looked for a special way to promote our new destinations and routes,” said Marshall Wilmot, WestJet Vice President of Product and Distribution. “Having worked with the wineries of British Columbia through the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society for more than 10 years, we know that the wines of British Columbia are extremely well respected and the region is recognized as one of the premium wine regions in the world.”

WestJet’s fleet is made up of more than 100 Boeing Next-Generation 737 and Quebec-constructed Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft.

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About Eric Degerman

Eric Degerman is the President and CEO of Great Northwest Wine. He is a journalist with more than 30 years of daily newspaper experience and has been writing about wine since 1998. He co-founded Wine Press Northwest magazine with Andy Perdue and served as its managing editor for a decade. He is a frequent wine judge at international wine competitions throughout North America and orchestrates 10 Northwest competitions each year.