Above: Sailboats dot Lake Okanagan( Photo by Todd Antonation); Below: Nk ' Mip Cellar is North America ' s first Aboriginal owned and operated winery( Photo by Todd Antonation)
Spend the afternoon in the growing region of Naramatta Bench on the east side of the Okanagan Lake. Poplar Grove put a lot of time, money, and effort into their operation, having opened a state-of-the-art winery in 2011, and a restaurant, Vanilla Pod, in 2012. Stop for lunch or dinner and you can experience Okanagan wine at its best: paired with fresh seasonal food grown in the same soil!
Next, head off to Blue Mountain, home to both iconic wines and breathtaking views( as you can see on the cover of this issue). This amazing winery uses only estate fruit and has been continually farmed by the same family for over 40 years. Make sure you try both their Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris!
As you head down to Osoyoos, be sure to check out the Golden Mile and Black Sage Road. Some of Canada’ s best reds come from these sub-regions, with wineries such as Nk’ Mip( pronounced In-ka-meep), Burrowing Owl, and Church and State.
One final word of advice when it comes to the Okanagan: take your time! There are over 120 km of ground to cover, and there is no shortage of wine, scenery, food, or great hospitality. Take your time to discover and savour all that the Okanagan has to offer. �