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