If you’re heading west to get your grape groove on, make a quick right turn toward to Kelowna, a one-hour flight north of Vancouver, Canada’s Olympic city. Then get ready to tip your glass for a wine soaked weekend in the stunning Okanagan Valley.
This region in British Columbia is the largest wine-producing region in Canada alongside The Niagara Peninsula in Ontario. It specializes in icewine, Canada’s most widely recognized product on an international level, mostly sold Asian countries, particularly China and Japan.
The Canadians have been producing wines for over 200 years, but it wasn’t until the early 90’s that they saw a big boom in their production. Canadian vintners successfully demonstrated that fine grape varieties in cooler growing conditions could possess complex flavors.
Cedar Creek, Quails Gate and Mission Hill are three of the biggest contenders in the area. You and your designated driver can easily hit them all in a day. Along the way, make time for stops at the nearby Lavender Farm or Carmelis goat cheese farm, a great spot up the street to ask for directions. This Israeli native knows a thing or two about cheese so indulge in a tasting and mingle with the goats. Before getting lost in the vines, take a reflective minute to take in the famous view overlooking the lake. No matter what you do, everything will make more sense after some homemade gelato.
Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek winery, owned and operated by the Fitzpatrick family, mixes old world traditions with new world technology to create a stunning portfolio of wines, inclusive of an award winning Pinot. They’re prolific with their reds; Syrah, Meritage, Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and equally as expansive with their whites; Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Dry Riesling, Gewurtzraminer and Chardonnays. Take a seat in The Terrace restaurant with a view of the vines and put their pairings to the test. While in their wine shop, you night catch winemaker Tom Di Bello on site. If you’re lucky he just may bring you down to the barrel room for a private tasting straight from the barrel.
Quail’s Gate
Stewart family's vineyard is among the most prized grape growing sites for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in North America. Winemaker Grant is passionate making one of the best Pinot Noirs in the world. Its spicy black cherry with a long finish is a great food wine. Their chilled Riesling Icewine is aromatic mix of tropical notes, baked apple and ripe citrus notes while the Non Vintage Tawny is a traditional tawny style port. The Gamay Noir wine has notes of coffee, caramel and tobacco with hints of chocolate and blackberries. Explore the wine pairings at their Old Vines Restaurant, an evocative spot where the tastings continue.
Mission Hill
Regardless of where you start, best to finish the day at Mission Hill, the crème de la crème of Canadian wineries. Proprietor Anthony Von Mandl, a highly respected pioneer in The Okanagan is a bin vivant with a passion for food and wine.
Jesse, the sommelier at this award winning family winery, gives private or group tours richly layered in detail. Comparing and contrasting the many Canadian wine regions, he chats about the history of Canadian wines, The Okanagan Valley and the rich history of the art, artifacts and architecture of Mission Hill winery, their garden and their culinary program. Mission Hill successfully mixes old world finesse with new world style, aging in both French and American Oak.
Continue your own tasting while dining on The Terrace restaurant. Pair chef Matt Batey’s succulent meats and cheeses with Mission Hill’s Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, or an Oculus, a wine from the Legacy series, 100% French oaked with is 51 % Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cab Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. If you love the reds you will fall truly, madly, deeply.
Even beyond wine, a visit in to Missoin Hill delights the senses with breathtaking vistas. The Winery is an architectural wonder, very Romanesque, complete with an amphitheater, a Bell tower that rings and a Barrel Cellar that will make you wish you were a vintner. It will have you clicking your wine soaked heels saying, “There’s no place like Mission Hill.”
In the winter, join chef Matthew Batey for a Chef’s Table indoors in a European style formal dining room with pairing dinners featuring not only the wine but produce grown on premise. In the summer months, it’s all about indulging in the seamless weather, the seductive scenery and the open air, Terrace restaurant which pairs perfectly with live concerts and artistic events. It’s Disneyland for vino savvy adults.
When in The Okanagan…
Wine – There are over a dozen wineries in The Okanagan. Make a leisurely weekend of it, as there are half and full day tours that cater to your vino needs. Slip in to Tantalus Winery, one of the oldest continuously producing vineyards in British Columbia. Don’t miss their exceptional Pinot Noirs:
Dine – After eno exploring, dip down in to Kelowna, a small town with big city sophistication. As the sun slips away, RauDZ Regional Table is the best place to meet and mingle with locals and vintners and immerse in Kelowna’s culinary culture. Sip on a signature cocktail made by one of their bar chefs while indulging in a crab cake that will melt in your mouth and a Strasbourg-France inspired, merguez sausage Hot Dog that will blow your gourmand mind.
Stay – Stay at Predator Ridge Resort, a rustic castle tucked away in the valley. This lush locale is a mere hour away from Kelowna, complete with spa and golf and an endless swirl of trails for early risers.
Play – The Okanagan is a well-known golfer’s getaway with plenty of great places to get your game on. You can start your day testing your game at the range or hitting the links at the premier course at Predator Ridge or at any one of the fourteen celebrated courses in the Valley. For more information on great courses and The Okanagan, go to:
*Photo credit: Karen Loftus.