wine: thompson okanagan
DESCRIPTION
Travel down the small, twisted roads of the Thompson Okanagan and sooner rather than later you're going to find something worth drinking, The region, now boasting more than 130 wineries offers wine drinkers a distinctly un- Napa experience. Not that there is anything wrong wit Napa, but you can't get to Napa in 45 minutes from Calgary or Vancouver, or be so close to the slopes of some of BC's est ski resorts. End of discussion.TRANSCRIPT
paired up with the region’s best activities.�
A TASTE OF THE THOMPSON OKANAGAN: WINTER 2010
While harvest is now a distant memory, the
Thompson Okanagan’s wineries are still open
and perfect for winter weekend getaways.
It’s just so easy to belly up to a tasting room
bar, quaff back some Pinot Gris or even some
Merlot before you can spell Loire. Driving down
routes like Bottleneck Drive and Corkscrew
Drive, where you can experience wineries
of every shape and size. From garage-based
tasting rooms or those where you buzz the
family to come down and let you in for taste, to
epic stop-and-pinch yourself moments at exotic
Tuscan-like villas that will have you wondering
when Lorenzo de’ Medici is going to pop up and
pour you a glass and discuss the intricacies of
15th century Florentine politics.
Travel down the small, twisted roads of the Thompson Okanagan and sooner rather than later you’re going to find something worth drinking. The region, now boasting more than 130 winer-ies offers wine drinkers a distinctly un-Napa experience. Not that there is anything wrong with Napa, but you
A LITTLE TASTE OF FLORENCE At Quails Gate, hopefully someone else is driving
you because you absolutely don’t want to waste any time spitting their Pinot, and certainly not their
prized Old Vines Foch – a cult wine made from 44-year-old vines. After having tried that, you are
probably ready to hit Mission Hill. Remember those Medicis? Well this is that architectural wonder,
complete with a 12-story bell tower, a childhood dream of proprietor Anthony Von Mandl.
OLD VINES RESTAURANT AT QUAILS’ GATE
THE SONORA ROOM AT BURROWING OWL
CELLAR DOOR BISTRO AT SUMAC RIDGE ESTATE WINERY
PASSA TEMPO RESTAURANT AT NK’MIP RESORT
SUNSET BISTRO & VERANDA RESTAURANT AT SUMMERHILL
PYRAMID WINERY
winery eating experiencesCAN’T-MISS
Like a local
&EAT DRINK
can’t get to Napa in 45 minutes from Calgary or Vancouver, or be so close to the slopes of some of BC’s best ski resorts. End of discussion.
Victoria
British Columbia
Alberta
Pacific Ocean
USA
ThompsonOkanagan
Vancouver
EdmontonCalgary
A TASTE OF THE THOMPSON OKANAGAN: WINTER 2010
STUNT CASTING AND NORTHERN GRAPES Defying the experts, these Northern
winemakers are defining how to make wine in unlikely places. If there is a place where cool climate
wines go to die and end up in heaven, this is most definitely it. Near Salmon Arm, a surprising
middle of BC hotbed of artisanal cheese makers, farmers markets, plenty of wineries and all around
tasty goodness, there is still more to taste – like the hardy and unusual varieties of Siegerrebe,
Madeleine, and Angevine at Larch Hills Winery. This gorgeous, homey winery has all the hallmarks
of something ripped out of Switzerland or Austria and dropped in the Okanagan, right down to the
distinctly German accent and firm handshake of mountain-man owner Jack Manser. It’s like film-
maker Wes Anderson did stunt casting for a new movie about winemaking and found his ideal calm,
collected, Swiss wineman.
FROM EXECUTIVE CHEF BERNARD CASSAVANT AT WILD APPLE,
MANTEO RESORT WATERFRONT HOTEL & VILLAS, KELOWNA
THINGS YOU HAVE TO TASTE
6
The local flavours in Wild Apple Restaurant’s 3-course winter dinner
Chef Neil Schroeter’s new breakfast and lunch spot Okanagan Street Food
Meadow Vista Libra apricot honey dessert wine
Local apples and pears at the BC Tree Fruit packing house in Clement
Anything mixed by Liquid Chef Jerry Jobe at Raudz Regional Table
Local chefs and wineries serving it up at Pirouette on February 5, in support of Ballet
Kelowna
From Chef Paul Cecconi at Summerland’s Local Lounge & Grille
THE ULTIMATE WINTER TASTING MENU
CHICKEN CONFIT - rossdown farms chicken leg confitchicory-anjou pear slaw, warm veal jus vinaigrette
BEEF SHORTRIB - braised beef shortrib on cranberry sourdough, bison smokie ragout, horseradish cheddar, onion rings
PACIFIC HALIBUT - chorizo and fall squash, red curry-coconut broth, warm quinoa pilaf, bok choy, smoked apple chutney
RISOTTO - wild mushroom-truffled spinach risotto fried cheese curds, toasted pumpkin seeds
SAUCY REDS AND BUTTERED
TOAST On the way from Kelowna to Oliver,
the Wine Capital of Canada, you hit Bottle-
neck Drive. Here 11 wineries hide in a
surprisingly friendly suburban landscape
where, more often than not, the winemakers
man the tasting room. At Dirty Laundry
(named for the little known story of a Chinese
Laundromat that fronted a brothel), they serve
up wines that can make you blush, literally.
Their Hush blush is a fitting start, but don’t
leave without a taste of the saucy Bordello, a
velvet cake mix of Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.
Over on the Naramata Bench, famous for its
view emblazoned on the $100 banknote from
1954 to 1975, now sits the unpretentious
winery, La Frenz. This must stop place
features a good breakfast Chardonnay
– well, at least one that has aromas of
buttered toast and tastes like a French kiss
that goes on for days.
This is only a taste of the food and wine of
the Thompson Okanagan. It’s an area so rich
in culinary treasures that the Gold Medal
Plate finals will be held in Kelowna for the
first time this February. And they’ll continue
to be held in the city for the next five years.
Mouth watering yet? Explore the Thompson
Okanagan this winter and indulge in its
flavours. Get delicious special offers and
four more vacation/pairing getaway ideas at
thompsonokanagan.com
LAMB SHANK - peace country lamb shank sundried cherries and sage, parmesan polenta, sauteed broccolini
DUCK BREAST - yarrow meadows duck breast, honey roasted yams, brussel sprouts, cauliflower puree, licorice jus
AMBROSIA APPLE DOUGHNUTS - with crème fraiche ice cream, scotch caramel
CHOCOLATE CAKE - ‘soft center’ chocolate cake, frozen raspberry parfait, white chocolate ganache