With COVID-19 having triggered the great online pivot of 2020 for basically every activity, event, and business, there’s good news for those of you who love B.C. wine and want to discover more of it from the comfort of your home.

Virtual wine tastings are all the pandemic rage.

Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country (a nonprofit association of 44 wineries in the area) has gotten into a groove with its online happenings.

Its thoughtful, well-organized virtual tastings take place in collaboration with Moss Scheurkogel of the Vinsitute, a wine school in Oliver, every other Tuesday via Facebook Live at 7 p.m.

For this week’s edition (August 18), it’s a deep dive into Rhone-style whites. Up for exploration are Church and State Wines’ 2017 Marsanne; Lariana Cellars’ 2019 Viognier; and Second Chapter Wine Company’s 2017 Roussanne.

While it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get your hands on any of those bottles in time, you can plan ahead: the wine association has the lineup of virtual tastings until October listed on its website.

Taste the Terroir of Cabernet Franc is the topic for September 9 (with wines from Burrowing Owl, Blue Sky, and River Stone), for instance, while on September 15, it’s Port-Style Wines (Adega on 45th, Quinta Ferreira, and vinAmité).

Videos of past tastings are posted online as well, so you can learn about things like the impact of oak on wine, the versatility of aromatic whites, and the personalities of Syrah.

Scheurkogel also hosts the Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country’s podcast every Friday, giving people a closer look at all things wine in the region. Mark September 11 in your calendar to catch an interview with Justin Hall, winemaker at Nk’Mip Cellars, airing on the association’s podcast channel. There's a lot of interesting info right at your fingertips, so you can settle in and sip.