| The oldest wine-producing region in BC is the | | | | renowned painter, Marc Chagall. Then there's |
| Okanagan Valley. The first winery was | | | | the wine: Mission Hill is an established |
| established in the 1930s and today, more | | | | winery that has won many awards over the |
| wines pour forth from this part of the | | | | years, including "Best Chardonnay" at |
| province than any other. Of course, grapes | | | | London's prestigious International Wine and |
| aren't the only fruit that grow in abundance | | | | Spirit Competition. These are serious wine |
| in the Okanagan Valley: tree fruits such as | | | | makers, are obviously very good at it and |
| apples, peaches, pears and cherries, were | | | | love to talk about what they do. The Mission |
| cultivated in the region long before grapes | | | | Hill Family Estate is a 15-20-minute drive |
| and orchards still account for more hectares | | | | west from downtown Kelowna.A perfect marriage |
| (acres) of agricultural land than do grapes. | | | | of wine and culinary tourism is the Okanagan |
| But the wine industry is growing fast, with | | | | Spring Wine Festival. For the first four |
| some vineyards producing award-winning wines, | | | | days in May each year, it offers a |
| both in Europe and in the USA. Museums of | | | | tantalizing experience for anyone who loves |
| various sizes present a wealth of information | | | | fabulous wine accompanied by fine cuisine. |
| on the people, places and technologies that | | | | And what better way to announce the |
| shaped the current agricultural landscape and | | | | grape-growing season than to hold a Festival |
| there are event-filled wine festivals | | | | during bud break! Guests can choose an |
| throughout the year.The Okanagan Wine Route | | | | incredible 100 plus events throughout |
| snakes through the Okanagan Valley from | | | | Okanagan Wine Country at a time of year when |
| Osoyoos in the south beside the US border to | | | | it is absolutely delightful to savour Spring |
| Salmon Arm in the north on Shuswap Lake. | | | | in the warm sunshine. The Okanagan Spring |
| Distinctive burgundy and white wine route | | | | Wine Festival has been described as "one of |
| signs with a grape-cluster logo mark the way. | | | | Canada's best small festivals" and it is no |
| The Wine Route includes some 60 wineries, | | | | wonder that its success continues to grow. |
| each with its own unique ambience and style. | | | | The dates are: 2006 May 4-7; 2007 May 3-6; |
| Some tasting rooms are large and rather | | | | 2008 May 1-4The Okanagan Summer Wine Festival |
| grand, while others are small and intimate; | | | | is held every second weekend in August at |
| one operates out of an elegant stone mansion, | | | | Silver Star Mountain Resort in Vernon. Come |
| another out of a pioneer-era log house; some | | | | and treat yourself to an intimate weekend of |
| are large commercial enterprises, while | | | | wine education, arts, music and mile high |
| others are small, family-run affairs. Most | | | | outdoor recreation. This is a very popular |
| wineries are situated in picturesque, natural | | | | ski resort in the winter with excellent snow |
| surroundings, with a great number of them | | | | conditions.The summer wine festival offers |
| clustered around Okanagan Lake. Many welcome | | | | unique wine seminars, great evening |
| drop-in visitors for tours and tastings and | | | | entertainment, a foot stomping musical |
| of course, sales.In the Okanagan Valley, | | | | outdoor wine tasting and wonderful |
| there's a wine -and wine festival- for every | | | | presentations by local artists. Enjoy |
| season. In January, ring in the New Year at | | | | gourmet meals, wine education seminars, a |
| the Icewine Festival, where between icewine | | | | unique consumer wine tasting and a wide |
| seminars, tastings and Winemasters' dinners, | | | | variety of on-mountain activities. The |
| you can enjoy world-class skiing and | | | | beauty of mountain wildflowers in a |
| snowboarding. In May, the Spring Wine | | | | Victorian-inspired mountain resort setting |
| Festival focuses on the culinary arts, with | | | | may be your most enjoyable and relaxing |
| wine-pairing luncheons and dinners by | | | | experience this summer. Dates: 2006 Aug |
| renowned chefs in addition to tastings and | | | | 10-12; 2007 Aug 9-11; 2008 Aug 7-9If you love |
| wine education events in Vernon, Kelowna, | | | | fabulous wine accompanied by great food and |
| Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Okanagan | | | | unique events, then the Annual Okanagan Fall |
| Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos. The Summer Wine | | | | Wine Festival is for you. Autumn in Okanagan |
| Festival at Vernon's Silver Star Resort in | | | | Wine Country is the perfect time to watch the |
| August marries fine wine with art, music and | | | | grapes ripen in the sun and indulge yourself |
| outdoor recreation. When it's time to | | | | in the harvest celebrations. This is the |
| harvest and crush the grapes, it's time for | | | | only wine festival in North America that |
| the Fall Wine Festival, the Okanagan Valley's | | | | takes place during the heart of grape |
| largest wine festival of the year and one of | | | | harvest. During this festival, experience |
| the leading festivals of its kind in North | | | | vineyard tours, lunches, dinners, events and |
| America. Wines and activities to satisfy all | | | | the fall wine harvest - there is no better |
| tastes are on offer all over the region | | | | way to visit Okanagan wine country. For ten |
| during this October celebration.Two wineries | | | | days in early October enjoy over 165 events |
| you might be interested in visiting are the | | | | throughout the valley, which are focused on |
| Summerhill and Mission Hill wineries, both a | | | | wine, food, education and the arts in one of |
| short 15-20 minutes drive from downtown | | | | North America's most spectacular settings - |
| Kelowna. The city of Kelowna is a good place | | | | the Okanagan Valley. This festival continues |
| to establish as your base as it is centrally | | | | to be ranked in the top 100 events by the |
| located in the Valley and has a large | | | | American Bus Association. Dates: 2006 Sept |
| selection of hotels and restaurants.The | | | | 29-Oct 8; 2007 Sept 28-Oct 7; 2008 Oct |
| Summerhill Pyramid Winery is truly unique. | | | | 2-12The Annual Okanagan Icewine Festival in |
| Summerhill ages its wines in a four-storey, | | | | January at Sun Peaks Resort is the most |
| concrete replica of the Great Pyramid and | | | | unique of all the wine festivals. |
| maintains that this "sacred geometry" | | | | Spectacular wines and an award winning alpine |
| improves the quality of its wines. On a | | | | resort create an unbelievable weekend of |
| sunny day, the pyramid is a brilliant white | | | | education and recreation. From wine masters |
| apparition on a hillside overlooking Okanagan | | | | dinners, to educational seminars and a unique |
| Lake. A Certified Organic Vineyard, | | | | progressive tasting, this is a memorable |
| Summerhill eschews all herbicides, pesticides | | | | weekend in the making. Sun Peaks Resort is |
| and chemical fertilizers. The vineyard uses | | | | renowned for its dedication to quality and |
| glacier rock dust to add trace minerals to | | | | amazing winter recreation. These outdoor |
| its soil with good results: Summerhill | | | | adventures in the crisp mountain air, |
| regularly wins awards for its intensely | | | | combined with the acclaimed wines and world |
| flavoured and aromatic wines. The Summerhill | | | | famous Icewines of the Okanagan, make this a |
| Pyramid Winery is a 10-minute drive south | | | | Canadian winter escape to be remembered. |
| from Kelowna via Highway 97.The Mission Hill | | | | Dates: 2006 Jan 19-22; 2007 Jan 18-21; 2008 |
| Family Estate is a little world unto itself | | | | Jan 17-20The Okanagan Valley has everything |
| and one entirely dedicated to wine. Unusual | | | | for winemaking. Especially good weather for |
| architectural elements -the massive | | | | growing grapes, lots of sunshine with just |
| contemporary entry arches, outdoor grass | | | | enough rain; the topography that features |
| amphitheater and 12-storey bell tower- create | | | | sloping hillsides drenched in the summer |
| an ambience that is modern and California | | | | sunshine and the proper soil conditions |
| mission style at once. From May to October, | | | | needed for the vines. It also has attracted |
| you can dine al fresco on the terrace, | | | | some of the best winemakers from all the wine |
| enjoying panoramic views of the vineyards, | | | | making regions in the world, each bringing |
| Lake Okanagan and the mountains beyond. The | | | | his or her own personal touch and knowledge, |
| estate's Wine Education Centre holds a | | | | resulting in some truly unique award winning |
| theatre and features a rare tapestry by the | | | | wines. |