A Life, Lived

Travel Tuesday - the Okanagan Wine Country

Now that I have jab # 1 and life seems to be slowly returning to normal I've been thinking about 'quick' trips to make. This has me dreaming for a return to the BC wine country.

Travel Tuesdays - Kelowna

6 years ago I was in Kelowna for a conference. We tacked on some extra days to enjoy the area.

Travel Tuesdays - COVID19 Edition

One of the popular social media activities right now is for people to post pics of places that have made them happy. You know the pics, the ones you look at and you get that feeling of calm and happiness inside. I've decided to do that for this week's edition of Travel Tuesdays.

This is the fifth edition from my self isolation.

A Last Hurrah

You know that we have made it home in one piece (flight cancellations aside) but there is still one last day of our vacation to cover.

Hard to believe it was 8 days ago!

Vacation memories fade quickly when you hit the wall of work.

Our last full day in the Okanagan was a travel day. Basically we were packing up the car in Naramata, heading north along the west side of Lake Okanagan (and through the fire zone) to Kelowna where we would stay the rest of the day, spend the night, and fly home the next morning.

Because we are who we are we were packed and ready to go before we needed to be. We couldn't leave a second before our 10:30 departure time though. We relaxed and enjoyed our last glimpses of this view . . .

SIGH

Unable to stop time, we hopped in the car and headed towards Kelowna.

Traffic was quite light - I suspect because of the fires. When we got to the fire zone the highway was open and there were no delays although it was eerie looking at the blackened earth and the still-smouldering stumps. There were a number of police cars with flashing lights blocking off exits and areas that were still evacuated.

We had lunch reservations for 1:00 - I had built in time since I assumed we would be delayed. Since there was no delay we had plenty of time to spare. We went back to Canoe coffee for one last really, really good coffee from a local, independent coffee spot.

We also decided to pop into the chocolate shop next door. We saw it before we headed south into wine country but never stopped in. A number of wineries featured their chocolates so we decided to stop. Karat chocolate uses single origin chocolate and all natural flavoring and additives - many of them local. For example, the cherry and apricots truffles featured centers made from fruit bought from an area farmer that week. The chocolates are beautiful - almost too good to eat - but the flavour! You'll want to eat them. :-)

We drove through Kelowna on the back roads to Gray Monk Estates. I wanted one last lunch with a view. Other winery restaurants were booked up and a friend had recommended Gray Monk. They were able to accommodate us with a reservation so we were set.

We were still early for our reservations so we did a tasting first. The wines were delicious and reasonable priced so we joined the wine club. Just what we need . . . another wine club membership. :-)

We headed downstairs to the restaurant and were given a table at the edge of the patio with a fabulous view of the lake.

Lunch was excellent.

Bread basked with flavoured butters and cherry spread.

Arancini with crab and Gruyere dip.

Warm poached apple salad.

Bison burger.

Steelhead filet.

One last amazing lunch with a view.

Our next stop was our hotel - a brand new Holiday Inn express. It was nice and well located. Being brand new was also a plus.

We rested up after our HUGE lunch and just hung out. There was a lot more we would have done in Kelowna but frankly after a couple of weeks of being on the go we just wanted to hang out a bit and take it easy.

Later we had dinner in a local brew pub which had excellent beer but only OK food.

We woke up to a happy sight . . .

 . . . and we were off on our marathon travel day!

Lazy Day . . .

Yesterday was the laziest of lazy summer vacation days. It was also our last full day in the area. There may be a connection.

It started off like all other days:

Sipping coffee, taking in the view.

Breakfast was a bit of a 'clean out the refrigerator' affair.

Then we napped a bit.

Then we read and relaxed.

Followed by lunch.

We headed out shortly before 2:00.

I had mode an appointment at La Frenz winery for a 2:00 PM tasting. La Frenz sits on the Naramata Bench just north of Penticton.

The eastern side of Okanagan Lake basks in warm, sunny days, resulting in a super-long growing season. The moderating effects of the lake and gentle slopes minimize the incidence of frosts, enabling growers to harvest fruit at optimum maturity.

La Frenz focuses on producing premium table wines. They use state-of-the-art deficit irrigation and canopy management techniques to provide consistently high-quality fruit. This enables La Frenz to produce powerful, fruit-forward styles that reflect the vineyard terroir. The winery employs the most gentle processing equipment available, traditional small barrel usage, and winemaking techniques that results in wine styles with layering and complexity. 

While a small winery they have won some prestigious awards.

They offer seated tastings, we opted to sit out on the patio to enjoy the view.

A view that was featured on the Canadian 100 dollar bill for much of the 1950s and 60s (although with all of those grape vines).

We opted for the reserve tasting. the server brought out each bottle, poured a generous tasting, and explained about the production of each, potential pairings, etc. It was a great way to do a wine tasting.

We bought three bottles of wine to add to our collection.

Now about that collection. Over our 8 days in the Okanagan we have amassed many bottles of wine. So many that our original shipping plans would no longer work.

We investigated a bit and discovered a company that would ship wine back to Ontario.

In the end the cost for shipping was less expensive than our original plan of checking the cases on the plane would have been. It also meant far less schlepping of wine through the airport!

After we dropped the wine off we decided to visit the waterfront.

It was far less busy today than it had been last Saturday. We wandered about and made a point of getting ice cream from the Giant Peach (which was closed for the season when we were last in town).

I had offered to pay for Paul to go parasailing but he would have none of it.

Darn.

We relaxed some more when we got back to the house.

Later we finished off the cheese, meats and crackers.

I ordered pizza and wings from the local pizza spot to go with the last if Paul's amazing salad.

One last sunset (made even more colourful thanks to all of that smoke) and then it was time to start packing.

Some Return Visits

Paul and I are really getting into this vacation thing. We have few set plans. Yesterday after we were done breakfast we relaxed a bit and thought about what we wanted to do. Not having an agenda is nice.

We decided to head south a bit and pay a return visit to Liquidity winery for lunch. Not far from Liquidity is Blue Mountain winery - one I had heard good things about. North of the two, on the way back to Penticton, is Painted Rock winery - one I wanted to visit when were last in the region but it was still on winter hours and closed for visitors.

Suddenly we had a plan!

First up was Blue Mountain.

For more almost 40 years the Mavety family has been farming grapes in the southern Okanagan Valley. A series of glacial lakes and rivers comprises the valley, each surrounded by cliffs of granite, making for magical scenery and virtually perfect conditions for grape growing. The soils vary widely from the northern to the southern ends of the valley, but are generally comprised of well-drained glacial moraines and sedimentary erosion deposits.

The extremely dry climate eliminates the concerns that most wine grapes face: rot, mildew and rains at bud break or at harvest. This allows Blue Mountain to minimize most crop applications and employ organic and sustainable practices to produce beautiful fruit. Since the first vintage in 1991, they have always focused on Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir and Pinot Noir. Blue Mountain is known for their traditional method sparkling wines.

The wines were every bit as delicious as we had heard. It was also nice to enjoy a quiet tasting - it seems as if not many people make it this high on the mountain.

We were early for our lunch reservations so we hung out on their patio and enjoyed the view for a bit.

Liquidity winery is on the way back down the mountain. We weren't here to taste the wine s- we had done that on Monday - instead we were there to try the bistro which looked fabulous but our timing was off on Monday. We were early for our reservation so we wandered around the looked at the grounds as they have a number of interesting garden and art installations.

(next pic was taken at our house in case you are wondering what the inspiration was for that last sculpture).

We were seated on the terrace for lunch with a beautiful view overlooking an infinity fountain and down to the valley below.

The restaurant does some interesting things with fresh herbs and vegetables, they also practice some molecular gastronomy so there were interesting foams and crisps. We ordered rose wine and the chips and dips to start with.

Those chips were outstanding. The first tow on the left were made from carrots and beets. I can guarantee that you have never had carrots and beets like this! All four chip styles were wonderful and so was the fennel dip they were served with.

For our mains we ordered the specials of the day - the pizza special had a garlic scape base, cheddar cheese, bacon, potato, a poached egg, and smoked hollandaise. The sandwich was house cured coppa, roasted vegetables, and smoked gouda cheese on their red fife bread.

People online have complained about the portion size. Not sure what they were expecting buy we both felt quite happy with what we received.

We still had room for a light dessert. I ordered the honeycomb which was served with milk crisps, some fresh herbs and fruit. It also had a sauce made from sorrel I believe.

This was one of our favourite lunches of the trip - amazing and inventive food, the amazing view, that delicious wine, and well, the company was grand as well. :-)

Our last stop before we headed home was Painted Rock winery. I think i was first drawn to this spot because of the pictures online of the beautiful facilities The  I read the reviews of the wines and was sold.

A few years ago when we were first in the area I tried to visit but like many wineries in the region they shut down for most of October to May. I could have called ahead to make an appointment but had assumed they were like wineries in Ontario and pretty well always open.

On this visit I checked the hours.

Am I ever glad that I did.

The tasting room is stunning, and yes, so were the wines.

We met the owner (the guy in the black t-shirt above) who chatted with us about their philosophy and the wines. The Bordeaux blend we tried last is going to fly off of the shelves in a few months - it will be featured on the cover of decanter magazine as one of the best in the world - the first Canadian red wine to win that distinction.

The tasting room has a patio from which you can see most of the property and look down to the valley below.

(sorry for the jagged edges to that pic - you can see I am still learning how to use the panoramic setting on my camera)

I sure will miss vies like this when I am back in ONtario next week.

Boo hoo.

We relaxed the rest of the day back at the house. The smoky air makes breathing difficult at times and Paul has hurt his back (likely from carrying all of those cases of wine) so we were happy to lounge about and read.

Before dinner we enjoyed the cheeses we bought at the Poplar Grove cheese maker and a bottle of Pinot Gris.

The sunset, coloured by all the smoke, was beautiful.

Just another day in BC wine country . . . .

A Mixed Day in the Okanagan

Yesterday was a strange day for us. It started peacefully. The smoke from the fires seemed to be dissipating which was a good thing.

As I was sipping my morning coffee and thinking about how much I could get used to this view, I noticed a plume of smoke to the north of that fire but thought nothing of it.

After breakfast we had our usual conversation about what we felt like doing during the day. Paul wanted to visit a winery in Summerland that we had been to on our last visit. It was not far from one that I wanted to visit so we set out.

The Okanagan Crush Pad was our first stop. It is designed as a hub for local winemakers. Heritage techniques, modern knowledge and the spirit of collaboration fuse to form a vanguard for the Okanagan’s next generation of wine making. Okanagan Crush Pad’s labels include the single vineyard Haywire collection, Narrative series and Campus wines.

When we arrived there was a semi parked in front of the facility - it was a portable bottling machine filling bottles with the latest vintage.

The tasting room is small and it was crowded with a large group. Once they left we were able to enjoy a tasting of 8 wines.

The winemaker uses a very minimalist approach: wild fermentations and innovative techniques like using concrete tanks and relying on the flavour you get in the grapes with good organic farming. You won’t find new oak or any flavourings or additives that change the taste of the wines—these are about texture as well as complex and evolving flavours.

Our second winery was Dirty Laundry. Dirty Laundry is fun - with a story that starts in the late 1800s when a railway worker decided to open a laundry/bordello and the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Dirty Laundry Vineyard, and its jaw-dropping gorgeous scenery that produces outstanding wines, has become a destination. It was the most commercial of the wineries we have visited but NOTHING like one would see in California. It was also the place where we least enjoyed the wines - they were good, but the wines at our other destinations have been GREAT!

Lunch was a picnic on the patio at Bench 1775, the winery below our house. Bench 1775 has two patios - the lower one is for picnics, the upper one is reserved for those who are served food prepared on site. I went in and bought a bottle of wine. they have some weird rules with certain wines being only available on the picnic patio and others only available on the full service patio.  Once I navigated that I had a bottle of white merlot on ice and two wine glasses.

Paul had set up on a sunny table outside with a gorgeous view.

Apparently our sandwiches looked really good - someone came up and asked where we had bought them since they looked amazing. I think if we move to wine country I have a business proposition - making picnics. LOL

It was an amazing way to enjoy lunch - and would have been more amazing had it not been for the loud folks at a large table beside us. :-)

Other than the loud dudes discussing 'hat' size ad nauseam it was peaceful and relaxing sitting at the edge of the cliff overlooking the lake. To our left workers were tending the vines, in front of us people were out on the water enjoying themselves, I won't go on about loud people on the right. LOL The sky was a gorgeous blue with those fluffy, wispy, white clouds bouncing about.

Back at the house we relaxed in the full heat of the sun.

Naramata has a market on Wednesday afternoons so we thought we'd go and check it out to see if we could find anything for dinner. Most of the vendors were selling crafts or were information booths. They also had food trucks. Lots of people from the area were wandering about enjoying themselves.

We didn't buy much - some iced coffee from a local coffee roaster, scones for breakfast, soap, and two hand pies made with fresh, local fruit for dessert. Dinner remained a mystery until we stopped at the Naramata General Store and picked up some sausages and buns. Now dinner was planned. We would finally use the grill.

The wind had certainly picked up at this point and with it the fire over in Peachland. That small plume of smoke from the morning was a raging torrent now.

You can barely make out a water bomber in that picture - we counted 12 - they would swoop down to the surface of the water, skim along it to fill their tanks, take off again to douse the flames. It was fascinating to watch. The air was full of the hum of the planes and helicopters which carried huge containers of water up from the lake.

We are completely safe on our side of the lake. The only challenge is that the highway to Kelowna, the one we need to use on Saturday, is right in the middle of that smoke. in fact, for much of yesterday afternoon the highway was either closed or held to one lane both ways with cars requiring an RCMP escort.

Hopefully things will be under control in a few days.

Over here on this side of the lake, the locals are just going about their business as normal, you hear the odd conversation about the infamous 2003 fire which destroyed 238 homes, 25,900 hectares, and forced the evacuation of more than 33,000 people. It was also started by a lightning strike.

The winds really picked up at dusk and it was not long before you could see the flames up and down the side of the mountain.

A scary reminder of the power of Mother Nature.

A Day of Fire and Fury

Yesterday started peacefully and ended with 13 fires raging in the area and the humming of water bombers overhead as they fought the fires.

Back to the beginning.

The owner of our house provided an interesting self-guided tour of Naramata. We decided to visit some of the spots that she had identified.

The first was Creek Park. This park is basically a hiking trail that follows Camp Creek through a gully that leads to a more canyon-like area covered in beautiful waterfalls. It was a great trail to follow in the summer - you would never know it was 34 + degrees out under the shade of the trees.

I didn't have proper hiking shoes so we didn't go all the way along the trail . . . something for the next visit I guess. I my defense, one of the last conversations that Paul and I had before we left home was 'should I bring hiking shoes' and he replied 'no, we won't be going on any hikes, save room in your suitcase'. My fault for listening to him!

The next stop on the tour was Elephant Island Winery. Elephant Island is one of the original five wineries on the Naramata Bench and this was something a little different on our wine trail: a family run winery specializing in fruit wines. Situated in the heart of region's idyllic wine country, their orchards bear all kinds of fruit, from apricots to cherries, pears, and blackcurrants.

Normally I am not a fan of fruit wines, however I had read such rave reviews about this place that I had to try some. The reviews were right!

The tour continued along the old main street into Naramata. It was a picturesque road with orchards heading down to the shore on one side and towering wind-carved clay cliffs on the other side. In Naramata we parked and wandered the town - it is small so our wandering didn't take too long. Long enough, however that we were hungry.

The woman in the lavender shop told us that we needed to stop at Legends Distillery for lunch . . . so we did.

Urtica Eatery is 100% Naramata owned and operated. They either grow everything themselves or source from neighbouring farms as many of the vegetables, fruits and herbs as possible. As well, they serve only sustainably farmed meats, seafood, dairy and eggs. We ate out on the patio with spectacular views of Okanagan Lake.

Of course we had to start off with a cocktail featuring their own liquor.

For our lunch we started off with the sticky pork belly bites made sticky with local dandelion honey and served with apple salata. I had a buttermilk brined chicken breast sandwich and Paul the cheeseburger. Everything was delicious. Between the stunning view, amazing food, and great drinks you definitely want to stop in here if you are ever in the area.

We decided to take a break from the heat for a bit and relax back in the house. Hot summer vacation days are wonderful for lounging in the shade with a good book!

Before we knew it it was dinner time . . .

We started cocktail hour with a bottle of the prosecco style bubbly wine from Liquidity. This was AMAZING and the bottle went down so quickly.

It was a simple dinner - salad made by Paul and a sandwich made by Jerry.

As we were getting ready for dinner the clouds that were blanketing the sky decided that they were more than clouds - we were treated to a bit of a thunder and lightening show!

This pic shows how localized the rain was though . . .

We only received drops here and there but other areas had a downpour.

Soon the clouds and storm show and moved on and  we sat outside and relaxed.

I LOVE vacation. :-)

As we sat there we both thought that we smelt smoke. I got up and looked around and sure enough we saw a huge plume of smoke rising across the lake.

It wasn't long before the smoke was billowing, you could hear the sirens from emergency vehicles, and there was a hum of water bombers in the air. At one point we saw 15 aircraft in the air dousing the fire with water and fire retardant.

I realize that for those folks who live in the area fires and summer go hand and hand. For us though we were mesmerized by the action.

We later read that there were 13 fires started by lightning strikes including two on our side of the lake (which was likely the cause of the smoke that we smelt).

I didn't take this picture (it was on twitter), but this is the lightning strike that caused the large fire.

The combination of residual clouds and the smoke meant we were in for an amazing sunset . . .

Just another amazing day in the south Okanagan . . .

South Okanagan

When we were last in the Okanagan the furthest south we got was Penticton; we completely missed the wine regions of Oliver, Okanagan Falls, and Osoyoos. In fairness, back then we only had a day or two to explore and the prospect of a two hour drive from Kelowna was a bit overwhelming. From Narmata, however, it was a nice day trip.

It was scheduled to be a hot day and the area we were heading to is the hottest in Canada so we set out early to try and explore before the heat proved to be too much. Osoyoos is about 5 km from the US border but we weren't planning on crossing over. It is also the northernmost tip of the North American desert region that starts with the Sonoran in the south and heads north.

I saw online that there was a desert information centre so we decided that this would be our first stop. The Osoyoos Desert Centre is a 67 acre nature interpretive facility where you learn about desert ecology, habitat restoration and conservation of endangered ecosystems in the South Okanagan.

Visitors explore the site by taking a guided or self-guided tour along a 1.5 km elevated wooden boardwalk. In addition, the Centre features an interpretive facility with hands-on exhibits and a native plant demonstration garden.

It was an excellent way to learn more about this unique ecological area . . . if you happen to be in the area I'd highly recommend it.

This area is also the main region in Canada for growing red wine grapes. The growing season is longer here than elsewhere in Canada, the hours of sunlight are longer, and then there is the heat that hits you immediately upon exiting your car. We knew that we would be tasting some big reds similar to what we experience in California.

Our first stop was Moon Curser winery. The name is a throwback to the 1800s gold smuggling days - there was a large gold deposit on the mountain across the valley and miners would try to smuggle their finds across the border to the US during the night. The authorities relied on the light of the moon to try and stop the smuggling . . . so the miners were known as moon cursers.

The staff member that helped us was very knowledgeable and friendly and the tasting room had a picturesque view. This is a great place to taste some high quality red wines at a reasonable price. They have unique blends and grapes that no other winery grows in Canada. We walked out with four bottles but could easily have purchased many more.

We backtracked and started to head north on our return journey. We weren't done yet and had more stops to make along the way. the first was Burrowing Owl winery. Established in 1997 and built the following year, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery straddles the north tip of the Sonora Desert and shares its vineyards with a variety of this unique ecosystem's inhabitants. Home to bluebirds, bats, meadowlarks, bears, bighorn sheep and of course, burrowing owls, the winery uses alternative pest control systems to safely deter indigenous species from grazing in the vineyards. Nestled on a sandy plateau near the north end of Lake Osoyoos, Burrowing Owl is situated in one of the most highly rated locations for growing grapes in Canada.

Jim Wyse began replanting the vineyards in 1993 with no plans for a winery. However, the recognition given to wines made with his grapes spurred Wyse to build his own winery. Today, the grounds include not only a gravity flow system and a temperature-controlled cave/cellar, but also a beautiful wine shop, a tasting bar, a luxurious 10-room guesthouse and a renowned fine-dining restaurant. The amazing views and comfortable ambiance make Burrowing Owl one of Oliver's most popular wineries. In addition to multiple "Best of B.C." and "Best of Canada" honors, Burrowing Owl's wines have received international best-of-class awards. 

We were feeling peckish so we popped into the restaurant for lunch. I ordered the salad special - grilled peaches with a vin cotta dressing.  Paul ordered chicken  . . . but before you think 'chicken . . .'this chicken breast was cooked sous vide style and served with a cucumber and local berry with salad spicy stone fruit dressing and a yogurt cracker. Both of the mains were outstanding!

Long time readers know the drill - if the food is good we have a rule that we must order dessert!

Paul had a basil cheesecake and I enjoyed s simple rose peach sorbet and vanilla gelato.

What an amazing lunch!

After lunch we tasted some wines, bought more than we should have, and headed on our way.

After we left the winery we were traveling along Black Sage Road when we came upon this fire. They think it was started by someone tossing a cigarette out of a car. It doesn’t take a genius to see that everything is dry and brittle in the south Okanagan.  The second pic shows the fire scene from the other side of the valley (Tinhorn Creek Winery). They were able to get it under control but 2 hectares of desert environment which had been left in its natural state to provide a corridor for endangered desert wildlife was destroyed.

Nestled in the hillside of a former gold mining creek, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards sits on top of the "Golden Mile" in Oliver, and offers a unique wine experience. We were greeted at the door with a glass of Pinot Gris to taste. The 'greeter' also showed us where the self-guided tour was located. We passed on that and headed to the tasting bar. Everyone was focused on that plume of smoke across the valley - fire in this area is a huge concern. At one point the power went off  later we found out it was cut off as a result of the fire. We tasted some fabulous wines and bought more for our ever expanding collection.

Our last stop of the day was at Liquidity Winery. We hadn't planned a stop there before we arrived but Val gave us a bottle of their pinot noir that was liquid silk. Based upon that delicious bottle we added Liquidity to our list!

Nestled in the Okanagan Falls, between Lake Vaseux and Skaha, the land where Liquidity Wines now sits has been supplying quality fruit for eighty years. In the 1930’s, Charlie Oliver developed Oliver Ranch where he planted over 110 acres of cherry, peach, apricot and pear trees. His development of irrigation systems still feed surrounding vineyards to this day. A pioneer in the Okanagan, it is said that in it’s day, Oliver Ranch was the largest orchard in the British Empire.

Oliver Ranch was divided and sold in 1971. Blue Mountain’s Ian Mavety farmed the property and a 30-acre portion, planted to German varietals, became today’s Liquidity Wines.

A subsequent owner built the Santa-Fe style home located on the property. Because it sat on a hilltop and was opened to panoramic views, it was frequently mistaken for a winery. In 2008, a group of business men and wine enthusiasts led by Ian MacDonald, renovated the Santa Fe house to a tasting room and Bistro, which was completed in 2013.

In addition, MacDonald and his team built a modern fully-equipped winery in time for the 2012 vintage, though in previous years, Liquidity made small volumes of their wines at another winery and sold their remaining fruit.

Throughout the 90’s, all non-vinifera vines were replaced with current varietals, Viognier. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon on the 30-acre plot.

As the Okanagan Falls is the most narrow part of the valley, wind funnels through and cools the grapes. Because of this the Okanagan Falls [are] usually 2 to 5 degrees cooler than Oliver and Osoyoos, making the area particularly known for its excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay production. This unique climate and the skill of the winemaking team is turning out some brilliant wines.

We liked everything about this winery so much that we plan on returning for a meal in the restaurant before we leave.

The rest of our trip home was along the eastern shores of Skaha Lake and the back route to Naramata. When we got back to the house we realized that we were on our third case of wine!

This could be a problem since we still have four days left in the area!

A Lazy Naramata Sunday . . .

It was wonderful to wake up in our house overlooking the vineyards and lake. The heat from yesterday was gone and it was decidedly chilly - so much so that I finally made use of that fleece jacket I dragged all the way from home. I know that as soon as the sun moves over the mountain we'll roast again and that fleece will go away!

This is my view as I sip my morning coffee.

Once sleeping beauty (AKA Paul) woke up we had a breakfast.

Fruit, coffee, juice, and pastries we had bought from the Okanagan Grocery in Kelowna (thanks Val!) before we left the city on Saturday.

We had no specific plans for the day - heck, we have no specific plans for the next week! Paul wanted to do some laundry . . . thanks heavens I was around or he might never have figured out that the reason there was no water coming in the machine was that someone had turned the taps off. LOL He hung the clean clothes out on the line to take advantage of the sun and breeze which is so essential in the development of the grapes all around us.

After the first load was hung out to dry we decided to head out to climb Munson Mountain. Munson Mountain is an extinct volcano located on the north-east end of Penticton, BC. It is well know for its giant PENTICTON sign, clearly visible from across Okanagan lake, and for the great panoramic views it offers of the South Okanagan valley. The access road to Munson Mountain is located off Middle Bench Road North, just north of Poplar Grove Winery. Look for a sign indicating the turn-off. At the end of the road there is a parking area. The main trail leading from the parking area is paved and leads up to a sheltered viewing area. It offers a great view of Okanagan Lake, Penticton and Skaha Lake beyond.

To the right of the gazebo there is a gravel trail that continues up Munson Mountain. At one point the trail forks with one trail climbing to the top of the mountain and the other following a lower path below the large PENTICTON sign.

On the way back from Munson Mountain we popped into Poplar Grove Cheese. I had had some of their Tiger Blue cheese with dinner the other night and thought I might want to buy some for the house. They were very busy so we skipped a tastinga nf just bought three types of cheese:

Tiger Blue, Okanagan Double Cream Camembert, and Harvest Moon Washed Rind.

I learned that the cheese making was an off shoot of the Poplar Grove Winery. Poplar Grove Winery began in 1993 and was one of the first five wineries on the Naramata Bench. In 2002, owners Gitta Pedersen and Ian Sutherland decided to try making cheese, and Poplar Grove Cheese was created. A cult following soon developed for both their artisan wines and hand-made cheeses. In 2007, a business decision was made to split the winery and cheesery. Ian Sutherland, Tony Holler and Barrie Sali became the new ownership team of Poplar Grove Winery, allowing them to expand and build a new state-of-the-art winery which opened in 2011. Gitta Pederson took over sole ownership of Poplar Grove Cheese, which includes the smaller wine-making facilities on-site as well as a six acre vineyard of proven vines.

They produce four surface- ripened cheeses using locally sourced ingredients. All of the cheese is made with pasteurized cow’s milk from Dutchmen Dairy in Sicamous (www.dutchmendairy.ca). With artisanal attention to detail, each cheese is handled several times through the process producing consistently high quality, French-style cheeses.

MMMM

Our next stop was Bench 1777, the winery located just below the hill from the house. I wondered about the name and found out it is just their address. 1775 Naramata Road - that is one way to ensure people do not get lost.

Bench 1775 is a winery with quite the view of the Okanagan Valley! Bench 1775 Winery sits on 30 lakefront acres boasting panoramic views and 1000 feet of beach frontage. The winery's mission is to grow exceptional grapes and produce great wines that inspire the senses -- at an accessible price point. The process begins in the vineyards. Bench 1775 wines are made with fruit from its premier Naramata Bench vineyards as well as from other meticulously selected growers in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. Each vineyard sites is chosen because of its unique microclimate, soil type and sun exposure. Carefully tended fruit is allowed to ripen fully with the goal of harvesting when the flavours have reached their peak and the tannins are at their softest. The fruit is hand picked and hand sorted before crushing to eliminate any fruit that fails to meet Bench 1775's high standards.

We tasted 7 wines and all were delicious. We behaved ourselves and only bought three bottles!

Paul wanted to check on the laundry so we headed up the mountain to the house. After he had completed his laundry duties we started to think about lunch.

In the end we headed into a craft brewery in Penticton that is also known for its pizza oven. Penticton British Columbia is home to at least 4 breweries, one of which is the revered Bad Tattoo Brewing Company.  Bad Tattoo’s striking, custom-built facility is located within walking distance of the Peach at Okanagan Lake, a refreshment stand that looks like a giant peach. The beer lineup has a wide range of options, including several different IPAs and some Mexican-inspired styles. 

In addition to our frosty beer  . . . perfect for a hot day . . . we ordered Cesar salad with roasted garlic dressing and two small pizzas - a Chicago pizza with house made sausage and a Comfort Zone - ham, apples, and cheddar cheese. Everything was delicious.

Paul had some more laundry duties to do at the house and I felt like a nap so off we went.

After I woke up we lazed about for a bit. We thought we might go to the winery just up from the house but then Paul nodded off and the winery closed at 5.

Oh well, we are on vacation!

We walked up the road a bit (until I felt like I was going to have a heart attack from the gradient). While out view is stunning, the views further up the mountain are even more incredible.

After our walk we decided it was dinner time. We kept it simple - some cured meats, cheese, crackers, and fruit.

And wine. :-)

A perfect wine country dinner.

Later we sat outside and watched the sun dip below the mountains across the lake.

A wonderful day in wine country - unplanned, relaxed, and a great mix of food, drink, and a wee bit of exercise.