It's spring and time for our biennial weekend visit to the wineries of the Okanagan Valley – this time returning to the Naramata Bench. Dr. Larry Burr again organized a super weekend with some very special winery experiences.
Our bus with 25 members of the IWFS Vancouver Branch set off to start the day properly with sparkling wines at Bella Wines under a shady tree with co-owner Jay Drysdale, followed by visits to Daydreamer Wines with Marcus Ansems MW and Lake Breeze Vineyards with winemaker Garron Elmes, where we enjoyed a tasty lunch. The afternoon included visits to JoieFarm Winery with Heidi Noble and Van Westen Vineyards with owner/winemaker Rob Van Westen followed by a brief stop at our Penticton Lakeside Resort before heading to Poplar Grove winery for a tasting and delicious dinner with owners Tony and Barbara Holler and Estate Director Ingo Grady at the Vanilla Pod.
Friday was a full day but Saturday was just as busy with a visit to Foxtrot Vineyards with winemaker Gustav Allender, after a quick visit to the Penticton Farmers' Market, and then on to La Frenz Estate Winery and Red Rooster Winery for a tasting and lunch at The Pecking Room. The afternoon saw us at Terravista Vineyards with owners/winemakers Bob and Senka Tennant, Howling Bluff Winery with owner/winemaker Luke Smith and then to Perseus Winery followed by dinner at the historic Naramata Inn.
On Saturday, we took our cars to Henricsson Vineyard to taste their delicious pinot noirs with Peter and Kajsa, then to Roche Wines and Upper Bench Winery and Creamery for a tour tasting and lunch before our journey back to Vancouver.
Our thanks go to our super organizer Dr. Larry Burr and his assistant Maggie, to Milena Robertson for her tireless preparation of a photographic record of our tour and to the owners and winemakers who all showed their passion at the wineries we visited. Thank you all!
Click on photo to enlarge or click HERE to view slideshow
Photos by Milena Robertson
