It keeps on getting better – another tour of Okanagan wineries organised by member Dr. Larry Burr. This time, a return visit to the wineries of Naramata, with wines presented by the owner or the winemaker from each property. We arrived at the Penticton Lakeside resort on Tuesday, ready for an early start on Wednesday to Serendipity Winery to meet Katie O’Kell for our first tasting including her sparkling pinot noir and then to meet Rob Vean Westen at his eponymous winery for a tasting of his “V” wines. We were then ready for lunch at The Patio of Lake Breeze Vineyards. Rejuvenated, we headed off to Marichel Vineyard property of retired airline pilot Richard Roskell to experience his Viogniers and Syrah wines. Then to Terravista Vineyards where we enjoyed, al fresco, a flight of Albarino wines, sitting in the late afternoon sun.. After returning to the Penticton Resort for an hour of down time, we travelled to Hillside Winery for a tasting of a flight of 2018 vintage wines followed by a welcome and tasty dinner.
Thursday morning saw us on the bus at 9:15, heading towards Laughing Stock Vineyards and a tasting including comparisons of Viognier and Syrah from the conventional process and wines made in Amphorae. Then off to Moraine Estate Winery for an excellent presentation by the current winemaker, the ebullient Amber Pratt. Lunch at the beautiful Poplar Grove Winery, with its beautiful view and a selection of fine wines to get ready for our afternoon, first at Four Shadows Vineyard, a name inspired by the four Borren sons of owners Wilbert and Joka Borren, then after a short rest to Chronos Winery, the vision created by Okanagan icon Harry McWatters in an old movie theatre in Penticton followed by dinner at the Orolo Restaurant next door.
Our last day, Friday, started at Township 7 Vineyards and Winery for a tasting, followed by Little Engine where we enjoyed wines from each of their three quality tiers, including their Platinum Chardonnay. The wines are more expensive but recognise their high quality. Named after the children’s stories about the little engine that could, Steve and Nicole French, the owners of the winery have certainly succeeded after much hard work. Finally, our last visit of the tour was to Chain Reaction, owned by keen cyclists Joel and Lind Chamaschuk. We enjoyed their wines together with a lunch of pizzas from their wood-fired oven, a perfect ending to a perfect winery tour.
Our thanks go to Dr. Larry Burr for again organizing a most enjoyable and informative tour, to Treasurer Diane Blaney for looking after all of the financial arrangements, to photographers Milena Robertson and Susan Man, to the wineries for sharing their passion and vision with us and to driver Miles and Top Cat Tours for safely navigating us between each winery.
|
