The Vancouver Branch of the IW&FS enjoyed a wonderful weekend exploring the wineries of the south Okanagan Valley and the Similkameen Valley. We set out by bus on Friday May 31 from our lovely Watermark Beach Resort Hotel in Osoyoos for our morning visits to Covert Farms, Fairview Cellars and Road 13 where we sat for a tasty lunch catered by Joy Road catering. The afternoon was spent at Le Vieux Pin and Gold Hill before freshening up at the hotel to meet with Sandra Oldfield at Tinhorn Creek, followed by an excellent dinner at Manny Ferreira's restaurant, Miradoro.
Saturday held an equally busy schedule after a tour of the weekly market on Main Street. Following a well-presented tasting at the tasting room of Moon Curser Winery, we travelled to La Stella for a tasting in the barrel room followed by a lunch catered by Dolci Deli and afternoon visits to Burrowing Owl, Stoneboat Cellars and Silver Sage with their unique wines. A quick return to the Watermark was followed by a tasting at Hester Creek and dinner at Terrafina Restaurant before our return to our hotel.
We said goodbye to the Okanagan Valley on Sunday and drove to the Similkameen Valley to visit Seven Stones and Little Farm wineries in Cawston and finished with a memorable visit to Clos du Soleil and an al fresco lunch of pizza freshly baked in a transportable wood fired oven.
Our thanks go to member Dr. Larry Burr for his excellent organization of a splendid and informative visit to understand the progress of our own BC wineries and to historian Milena Robertson for her excellent photographic record of the trip. Thank you!
Click on photo to enlarge or click HERE to view slideshow
Photos by Milena & Jim Robertson and David Spurrell