The oldest wine region in BC is the Okanagan Valley. The first winery was founded in the 1930s and today, more wines emanating from this part of the province than any other. Of course, grapes are not the only fruit that grow in abundance in the Okanagan Valley Tree Fruit such as apples, peaches, pears and cherries were grown in the region long before the grapes and fruit still account for more hectares (ha) of agricultural land than the grapes. But the wine industrygrowing rapidly, with some vineyards produce excellent wines, both in Europe and the USA. Museums of various sizes present a wealth of information about people, places and technologies that are now agricultural landscape, and there are full of events wine festivals throughout the year.
The Okanagan Wine Route winds its way through the Okanagan Valley from Osoyoos in the south near the U.S. border to Salmon Arm in the North Shuswap Lake. Distinctive burgundy and white wineRoute signs with a grape cluster logo mark the path. The Wine Route includes some 60 wineries, each with its own unique ambience and style. Some tasting rooms are large and very large, while others are small and intimate, you're working from an elegant stone mansion, another from a pioneer-era log cabin, some large retailers, while other small, family-run affairs. Most wineries are clustered in a picturesque, natural surroundings, with a large number of themTo Okanagan Lake. Many welcome drop-in visitors for tours and tastings and of course sales.
In the Okanagan Valley, there is a wine and wine festival for every season. In January, ring in the new year at the Icewine Festival, which can switch between ice wine seminars, tastings and dinners Winemaster "They enjoy world class skiing and snowboarding. In May, the Spring Wine Festival focuses on culinary arts, with wine-pairing dinner In addition, dinner from renowned chefs toWine tastings and wine seminars events in Vernon, Kelowna, Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos. The Summer Wine Festival at Silver Star Resort Vernon married in August of wine with art, music and outdoor recreation. When it is time to destroy crops and the grapes, it is time for the event Wine Festival, the Okanagan Valley's largest wine festival of the year and one of the leading festivals of its kind in North America. Wine Activitiesto be all sorts of demands on offer throughout the region in October of this celebration.
Two wineries, you might be interested to visit the Summer Hill and Mission Hill wineries, both a short 15-20 minute drive from downtown Kelowna. The city of Kelowna is a good place to establish as a base, since it centrally located in the valley and has a large selection of hotels and restaurants.
The Summerhill Pyramid Winery is truly unique. Summerhill times their wines in a four-storey,concrete replica of the Great Pyramid, claiming that this "sacred geometry improves" the quality of its wines. On a sunny day, the pyramid is a bright white appearance on a hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake. A Certified Organic Vineyard, Summerhill avoids any herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers. The vineyard used to add trace elements to its glacier rock dust soil with good results: Summerhill wins awards for its intensely flavored and aromatic wines. TheSummerhill Pyramid Winery is a 10-minute drive south of Kelowna on Highway 97
Mission Hill Family Estate is dedicated to a little world unto itself and a brand of wine. Unusual architectural elements of the contemporary massive entry arches, grass, outdoor amphitheater and 12-storey tower, creating an ambience of the stylish and California Mission style all at once. From May to October, you can dine al fresco on the terrace, enjoy a panoramic view of the vineyards, lakeOkanagan and the mountains. The Vineyard's Wine Education Center has a theater and has a rare wallpaper of the famous painter Marc Chagall. Then there is the Wine: Mission Hill is an established winery won, numerous awards over the years, including "Best Chardonnay" at prestigious London International Wine and Spirit Competition. These are serious winemakers, are obviously very good and they love what they are talking about. Mission Hill Family Estate is a15 to 20-minute drive west of downtown Kelowna.
The perfect combination of wine and culinary tourism is the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival. For the first four days in May of each year, it offers a tantalizing experience for all the excellent wine accompanied by fine cuisine loves. And what could be better, to the grape-growing season, when holding a festival to announce during the bud break can! Guests can choose one incredible 100 plus events throughout Okanagan Wine Country in a time of year when itabsolutely delightful to enjoy spring in the warm sunshine. The Okanagan Spring Wine Festival has been described as "one of the best small festivals Canada" and it is no wonder that its success continues to grow. The dates are: 2006, May 4-7, 2007 May 3-6; 2008 1-4 Mai
The Okanagan Summer Wine Festival is held every second weekend in August at Silver Star Mountain Resort in Vernon. Come and treat yourself to an intimate weekend of wine education, arts, music and mile high outdoorRecovery. This is a very popular ski resort in winter, with excellent snow conditions.
The summer wine festival offers unique wine seminars, great evening entertainment, a foot stomping musical outdoor wine tasting and wonderful presentations by local artists. Enjoy delicious food, wine education seminars, a unique consumer wine tasting and a variety of online activities in the mountains. The beauty of the mountain wildflowers in a Victorian-inspired mountain resort settingYou can do most pleasant and relaxing experience this summer. Dates: 2006 10-12 August, 2007 August 9-11, 2008 7-9 August
If you love great wine, good food and unique events, then the annual Okanagan Wine Festival event is accompanied for you. Autumn in Okanagan Wine Country is the perfect time to watch the grapes ripen in the sun and you can celebrate the harvest. This is the only wine festival in North America, while the heart of the harvest takes place. Duringthis festival, experience vineyard tours, lunches, dinners, events and harvest in autumn - there's no better way to visit Okanagan wine country. For ten days in early October enjoy over 165 events throughout the valley which are focused on wine, food, education and the arts in one of North America's most spectacular settings - the Okanagan Valley. This festival continues to be ranked in the Top 100 Events by the American Bus Association. Dates: 2006 September 29 to October 8, 2007 September 28 to October 7; 2008 2-12 Oktober
The Annual Okanagan Icewine Festival in January at Sun Peaks Resort is the unique of all wine festivals. Spectacular wines and an award winning alpine resort create an unbelievable weekend of education and recreation. From wine masters dinners, to educational seminars and a unique progressive tasting, this is an unforgettable weekend in the production. Sun Peaks Resort is known for its commitment to quality and amazing winter recreation known. TheseCombined> outdoor adventure in the fresh mountain air, with the renowned and world famous wines, ice wines of the Okanagan, make this a Canadian winter escape to be remembered. Dates: 2006 19-22 Januar, 2007 Jan 18-21; 2008 17-20 Januar
The Okanagan Valley has everything for the wine. Especially good weather for growing grapes, with plenty of sunshine, just enough rain, the topography, the characteristics of slopes in the summer sun drenched and the right soil conditions required forthe vines. It also has some of the finest winemakers in all regions of wine production in the world, each having its own personal touch and knowledge, which attracted some unique award-winning wines.
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