Head to Canada’s westerly wine region and discov er why you need to visit this region (Penticton and Summerland) now.
DAY 3 Okanagan Crush Pad Winery
Home to flagship wines Haywire and Narrative, the custom winemaking facility was designed as a collaborative space for winemakers to work side by side and share ideas. The all–encompassing concept allows small winemakers to take product from field to market including branding, marketing, communications and distribution and sales. The 7,750 square foot Okanagan Crush Pad Winery (Switchback vineyard) is located on a 10-acre property in Summerland, BC.
Painted Rock Estate Winery
Owners John and Trish Skinner’s purchased the 60 acre bench, ‘The Black Hawk’, on Skaha Lake Penticton in 2004, a former orchard. The landscape, vineyards and architecture of the uber modern tasting room come together as one of the most beautiful in the region. Though a relatively young
winery, Painted Rock produce wine beyond its years. Each estate wine has a distinctive expression; the 2013 syrah’s permeated with white pepper notes and bold tannin, while the 2014 cabernet franc (CSL’s personal favourite) delivers chocolate, dark fruit and spice with a balanced smoky quality.
DAY 4
Poplar Grove Winery
Founded in 1993, this winery, owned by Tony and Barbara Holler, was one of the original five wineries on the Naramata Bench and uses exclusively estate grown grapes to focus on a core of six wines: chardonnay, pinot gris, merlot, cabernet franc, wyrah and a signature blend, The Legacy. Winemaker Stefan Arnason excels at perfecting the barrel ageing to produce easy–to–drink wines. Red wines are barrel aged in French Oak for 18-30 months while whites are released the year after harvest. Lunch or dinner at elegant Vanilla Pod restaurant is requisite. The sweeping views of the Okanagan Valley will make you swoon, while the Mediterranean infused menu (think prawns and chorizo and paella) from Chef Bruno Terroso will make you a return visitor.
TOUR
Experience Wine Tours
Owner and host Matt Wentzell, has over a decade of experience in hospitality industry, with intimate knowledge of the wines and wineries of the Okanagan Valley. He also holds a Sommelier Diploma certification through the International Sommelier Guild;
STAY
Penticton Lakeside Resort
Resort, conference centre and casino is ideally located on Lake Okanagan;
Want more Okanagan? This original travel article first appeared in the Winter 2016 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
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