| The oldest wine-producing region in BC is the | | | | tapestry by the renowned painter, Marc Chagall. |
| Okanagan Valley. The first winery was established | | | | Then there's the wine: Mission Hill is an established |
| in the 1930s and today, more wines pour forth | | | | winery that has won many awards over the |
| from this part of the province than any other. Of | | | | years, including "Best Chardonnay" at London's |
| course, grapes aren't the only fruit that grow in | | | | prestigious International Wine and Spirit |
| abundance in the Okanagan Valley: tree fruits such | | | | Competition. These are serious wine makers, are |
| as apples, peaches, pears and cherries, were | | | | obviously very good at it and love to talk about |
| cultivated in the region long before grapes and | | | | what they do. The Mission Hill Family Estate is a |
| orchards still account for more hectares (acres) | | | | 15-20-minute drive west from downtown |
| of agricultural land than do grapes. But the wine | | | | Kelowna.A perfect marriage of wine and culinary |
| industry is growing fast, with some vineyards | | | | tourism is the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival. For |
| producing award-winning wines, both in Europe and | | | | the first four days in May each year, it offers a |
| in the USA. Museums of various sizes present a | | | | tantalizing experience for anyone who loves |
| wealth of information on the people, places and | | | | fabulous wine accompanied by fine cuisine. And |
| technologies that shaped the current agricultural | | | | what better way to announce the grape-growing |
| landscape and there are event-filled wine festivals | | | | season than to hold a Festival during bud break! |
| throughout the year.The Okanagan Wine Route | | | | Guests can choose an incredible 100 plus events |
| snakes through the Okanagan Valley from | | | | throughout Okanagan Wine Country at a time of |
| Osoyoos in the south beside the US border to | | | | year when it is absolutely delightful to savour |
| Salmon Arm in the north on Shuswap Lake. | | | | Spring in the warm sunshine. The Okanagan Spring |
| Distinctive burgundy and white wine route signs | | | | Wine Festival has been described as "one of |
| with a grape-cluster logo mark the way. The Wine | | | | Canada's best small festivals" and it is no wonder |
| Route includes some 60 wineries, each with its | | | | that its success continues to grow. The dates are: |
| own unique ambience and style. Some tasting | | | | 2006 May 4-7; 2007 May 3-6; 2008 May 1-4The |
| rooms are large and rather grand, while others | | | | Okanagan Summer Wine Festival is held every |
| are small and intimate; one operates out of an | | | | second weekend in August at Silver Star Mountain |
| elegant stone mansion, another out of a | | | | Resort in Vernon. Come and treat yourself to an |
| pioneer-era log house; some are large commercial | | | | intimate weekend of wine education, arts, music |
| enterprises, while others are small, family-run | | | | and mile high outdoor recreation. This is a very |
| affairs. Most wineries are situated in picturesque, | | | | popular ski resort in the winter with excellent |
| natural surroundings, with a great number of them | | | | snow conditions.The summer wine festival offers |
| clustered around Okanagan Lake. Many welcome | | | | unique wine seminars, great evening |
| drop-in visitors for tours and tastings and of | | | | entertainment, a foot stomping musical outdoor |
| course, sales.In the Okanagan Valley, there's a | | | | wine tasting and wonderful presentations by local |
| wine -and wine festival- for every season. In | | | | artists. Enjoy gourmet meals, wine education |
| January, ring in the New Year at the Icewine | | | | seminars, a unique consumer wine tasting and a |
| Festival, where between icewine seminars, | | | | wide variety of on-mountain activities. The beauty |
| tastings and Winemasters' dinners, you can enjoy | | | | of mountain wildflowers in a Victorian-inspired |
| world-class skiing and snowboarding. In May, the | | | | mountain resort setting may be your most |
| Spring Wine Festival focuses on the culinary arts, | | | | enjoyable and relaxing experience this summer. |
| with wine-pairing luncheons and dinners by | | | | Dates: 2006 Aug 10-12; 2007 Aug 9-11; 2008 Aug |
| renowned chefs in addition to tastings and wine | | | | 7-9If you love fabulous wine accompanied by |
| education events in Vernon, Kelowna, | | | | great food and unique events, then the Annual |
| Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, | | | | Okanagan Fall Wine Festival is for you. Autumn in |
| Oliver and Osoyoos. The Summer Wine Festival | | | | Okanagan Wine Country is the perfect time to |
| at Vernon's Silver Star Resort in August marries | | | | watch the grapes ripen in the sun and indulge |
| fine wine with art, music and outdoor recreation. | | | | yourself in the harvest celebrations. This is the |
| When it's time to harvest and crush the grapes, | | | | only wine festival in North America that takes |
| it's time for the Fall Wine Festival, the Okanagan | | | | place during the heart of grape harvest. During |
| Valley's largest wine festival of the year and one | | | | this festival, experience vineyard tours, lunches, |
| of the leading festivals of its kind in North | | | | dinners, events and the fall wine harvest - there is |
| America. Wines and activities to satisfy all tastes | | | | no better way to visit Okanagan wine country. |
| are on offer all over the region during this | | | | For ten days in early October enjoy over 165 |
| October celebration.Two wineries you might be | | | | events throughout the valley, which are focused |
| interested in visiting are the Summerhill and | | | | on wine, food, education and the arts in one of |
| Mission Hill wineries, both a short 15-20 minutes | | | | North America's most spectacular settings - the |
| drive from downtown Kelowna. The city of | | | | Okanagan Valley. This festival continues to be |
| Kelowna is a good place to establish as your base | | | | ranked in the top 100 events by the American |
| as it is centrally located in the Valley and has a | | | | Bus Association. Dates: 2006 Sept 29-Oct 8; 2007 |
| large selection of hotels and restaurants.The | | | | Sept 28-Oct 7; 2008 Oct 2-12The Annual |
| Summerhill Pyramid Winery is truly unique. | | | | Okanagan Icewine Festival in January at Sun |
| Summerhill ages its wines in a four-storey, | | | | Peaks Resort is the most unique of all the wine |
| concrete replica of the Great Pyramid and | | | | festivals. Spectacular wines and an award winning |
| maintains that this "sacred geometry" improves | | | | alpine resort create an unbelievable weekend of |
| the quality of its wines. On a sunny day, the | | | | education and recreation. From wine masters |
| pyramid is a brilliant white apparition on a hillside | | | | dinners, to educational seminars and a unique |
| overlooking Okanagan Lake. A Certified Organic | | | | progressive tasting, this is a memorable weekend |
| Vineyard, Summerhill eschews all herbicides, | | | | in the making. Sun Peaks Resort is renowned for |
| pesticides and chemical fertilizers. The vineyard | | | | its dedication to quality and amazing winter |
| uses glacier rock dust to add trace minerals to its | | | | recreation. These outdoor adventures in the crisp |
| soil with good results: Summerhill regularly wins | | | | mountain air, combined with the acclaimed wines |
| awards for its intensely flavoured and aromatic | | | | and world famous Icewines of the Okanagan, |
| wines. The Summerhill Pyramid Winery is a | | | | make this a Canadian winter escape to be |
| 10-minute drive south from Kelowna via Highway | | | | remembered. Dates: 2006 Jan 19-22; 2007 Jan |
| 97.The Mission Hill Family Estate is a little world | | | | 18-21; 2008 Jan 17-20The Okanagan Valley has |
| unto itself and one entirely dedicated to wine. | | | | everything for winemaking. Especially good |
| Unusual architectural elements -the massive | | | | weather for growing grapes, lots of sunshine with |
| contemporary entry arches, outdoor grass | | | | just enough rain; the topography that features |
| amphitheater and 12-storey bell tower- create an | | | | sloping hillsides drenched in the summer sunshine |
| ambience that is modern and California mission | | | | and the proper soil conditions needed for the |
| style at once. From May to October, you can dine | | | | vines. It also has attracted some of the best |
| al fresco on the terrace, enjoying panoramic | | | | winemakers from all the wine making regions in |
| views of the vineyards, Lake Okanagan and the | | | | the world, each bringing his or her own personal |
| mountains beyond. The estate's Wine Education | | | | touch and knowledge, resulting in some truly |
| Centre holds a theatre and features a rare | | | | unique award winning wines. |