Tag: Kelowna

Day 19

We had a delicious breakfast this morning from Lynn and Tom at the B&B (baked grapefruit with honey, apple juice, coffee, fresh baked blueberry-bran muffins, and eggs benedict with smoked salmon – although for me, it was back bacon…). We talked with the new couple staying here for a couple of nights – they are from Vancouver. Their kids are all married – their son married a woman from Santiago, so we were telling them about the area (views and wineries) and encouraged them to visit.

After breakfast we got on the road. What a sight – mountains to our right, lake to our left, and mountains beyond the lake….truly breathtaking! On our journey south, Todd received a call from his cousin, Scott, who talked about the birth of his first grandchild on Friday…a girl, Lola !  he is extremely proud and let us know they are on their way home today.

We travelled to Osoyoos (Canada’s only desert region). The landscape is so interesting – mountains of rock and brush, then lush vineyards. On the way to Osoyoos, we stopped at Hester Estate Winery (needed a restroom stop) for our first tastings. The woman who served us was originally from ……Kitchener! She lives half the year in the Okanagan Valley and half the year in the Baja region (both desert areas). We sampled a couple of wines, then went into the barrel cellar and tasted a Merlot right from the barrel. We purchased two bottles of 2009 Reserve Cabernet Franc.

Next stop, in Osoyoos, was Nk’Mip Cellars The first Aboriginal winery in Canada.

   The tasting room had beautiful native art – carvings and paintings (although a little pricey). We purchased a 2009 Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir and a 2009 Qwam Qwmt Syrah (Todd is becoming quite partial to Syrahs).

As we headed North, we stopped at Burrowing Owl Winery just outside of Oliver for tastings and lunch. We purchased a 2009 Syrah and 2009 Cabernet Franc.

For lunch we enjoyed the Baby Artesian Green Salad, the Vine Ripened Tomato and Organic Basil Salad with local goat cheese, and the Grilled Skirt Steak with Nugget Potato Salad, Mushroom Vinaigrette, and Tomato Shallot Marmalade. The steak was delicious – a wonderful marinade and grilled perfect!

Next stop – Tinhorn Creek Winery – self-guided tour, complimentary tastings, beautiful views, and live music on the patio…..the full experience. We purchased a Rosé to drink with our cheese and crackers tonight, a 2008 Pinot Noir, and a 2010 Cabernet Franc.

Once parked back at the B&B, we walked up the street to Mission Hill Winery for some tastings. We enjoyed 4 of their premiere wines, before purchasing one to drink later tonight or tomorrow. We will return to purchase a couple to cellar. While there, we made dinner reservations for Tuesday (our last night in Kelowna). The woman that took our reservation immediately noted we were from Ontario – she was originally from Windsor (same 519 area code). We have spoken to an amazing number of people from Ontario who have relocated out here in BC……truly mind-boggling……maybe a sign…..

Days 17 & 18

Day 17 was the drive from Vancouver to West Kelowna, so although not a lot to report, the scenery on the drive was amazing.

We drove through some mountainous areas (forest, rock, and snowy caps in the distance). We saw our first bald eagle (since yesterday, we have seen more while in the Kelowna area).  

We stopped at a Tim Horton’s for a restroom break and some lunch…..never seen a Timmy’s with this kind of background!

 After a 5 hour drive, we arrived at the B&B in West Kelowna (Gala View) where we will be staying for 5 nights. The view from the patio is beautiful as it overlooks Lake Okanogan. Mission Hill Winery is a couple of minutes away to our right and Quail’s Gate Winery is a few minutes away to our left.

 This morning, on Day 18, we started our day with a wonderful breakfast from our hosts, Tom and Lynn…melon balls in a honey sauce, coffee, orange juice, back bacon, and a rhubarb bread pudding with lemon sauce and maple syrup. The other couple staying at the B&B for one night is a semi-retired Gynecologist and his wife. They are originally from England, but came to Canada in the 60s. Currently, he travels to rural BC areas to fill in for doctors on vacation. He and his wife also travel all over the country for meetings. They were a very interesting couple to talk to. Their next big vacation is a cruise around Cambodia and Vietnam. As we finished eating, Tom and Lynn gave us a map of the area and some insight into places we may want to visit.

Our touring started with a visit to a goat farm, Carmelis, for goat cheese tastings. We tried 8 different cheeses from spreadable herbed cheese, to Smoked Goat Cheese, to a Goat Gorgonzola. The family came to the area from Israel 12 years ago to begin the goat farm and were greatly affected by the fire of 2003, burnt down 1/2 their buildings on the property, but they have rebuilt and are doing very well. They also sell gelato made from goat’s milk. Todd and I tried the Crème Brule and Pistachio gelato and then bought the three cheeses mentioned above.

Our next stop was Cedar Creek Estate Winery. We sampled four to the Platinum Series wines (a perk with our Visa) and purchased Rosé to drink “soon”” and a 2008 Platinum Pinot Noir to cellar. The grounds here are beautiful (although that can be said for all the grounds around here – vineyards, gardens, water….). Next stop was Summerhill Pyramid Winery where we did tastings – they are renowned for their Sparkling wines ( Champagne, but it can’t be called that outside of Champagne, France). We bought a Brut Sparkling wine and a 2008 Petite Syrah. Wines cellared in the “Pyramid” Cellar are said to have better flavours because of the magical powers of the pyramid (??).

We also opted to have lunch here on their patio. We shared a mixed greens salad with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and goat’s cheese, and a wood-oven baked prime rib pizza with caramelized onions, watercress, and goat cheese (delicious!).

After lunch I realized that I had my camera, but not its leather case…. I asked at the winery if they had one turned in, but they didn’t. We drove back to Cedar Creek….and there it was (even though, I swear I had it with me when we left….).

We drove up Knox Mountain on the lookout for bears, but didn’t see any (a sign said if you are walking to be alert, make noise, and carry a bell). In the city, after a short walk on the trail along the Kelowna waterfront (too much sun exposure for me).

 We headed back towards the B&B, and decided to make one more stop…..at Quail’s Gate. There we enjoyed a flight of wines with salted walnuts, dark chocolate, and smoked gouda.

Dinner tonight – at the B&B – with some veggies and dip, and a baguette with some of the goat cheese we bought earlier in the day…..