A cute story hit the newswires recently about an Okanagan entrepreneur who hit the big time by cutting a deal with the Rolling Stones to produce an exclusively branded ice wine. They're labeling it Sympathy for the Devil Ice Wine. It's believed that Ronny Wood mistook it for bottled water and swilled back a case during a recent show, not that anyone would notice.
Congratulations to Ex Nihilo Vineyards & Winery (no website yet, but here's a Google Map to show you where they are based).
News like this can only be good for BC wine producers.
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Mike Klassen is a Vancouver city councillor, communications professional, and long-time advocate for British Columbia’s wine industry. He co‑founded BC Wine Lover in 2007 with his wife Stacey, sharing stories from their travels through the province’s wine regions and spotlighting the people and places that make B.C. wine distinctive.
In 2015, Mike led the BC Wine Appellation Task Group, guiding a province‑wide consultation that produced recommendations—later endorsed by industry plebiscite—that strengthened B.C.’s appellation standards and helped establish today’s sub‑GIs.
His writing has appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Huffington Post, and Daily Hive, blending history, policy insight, and personal experience. Alongside his work on Vancouver City Council, Mike continues to explore vineyards across the province, champion local producers, and celebrate the evolving culture of B.C. wine.
