Okanagan wineries to visit

[margaretcowan]

I'll be staying alone in Osoyoos and am free for wine tours on Sunday afternoon of May 8, May 9 and May10.

As a newbie to Okanagan wines from Vancouver, I've looked at tours offered by local tour companies to various parts of the Okanagan. The Golden Mile, the Naramata Bench, the west bench near Kelowna, the east bench near Kelowna etc etc. Overwhelming.

What region or regions would you suggest? I'd to taste some fine wines, enjoy scenic spots and like to avoid great big wineries.

Which wine tour company would you suggest?

Thanks!
Margaret

[Umi_45]

Definiately Elephant Island in Naramata. Fruit wines with the best patio + staff. We go there every year and it is always the highlight of our trip

[wattacetti]

To taste, though in no particular order:

Kettle Valley
Tantalus
Sperling
Silver Sage
Township 7
Blue Mountain
Laughing Stock
Quail's Gate (though it's a "big winery")
Burrowing Owl (ditto)

For scenery: Gray Monk, Quail's Gate

[JohnnyT]

Quail's Gate and Burrowing Owl are also fine dining establishments.

[wattacetti]

Very true. I like Quail's Gate for dinner and Burrowing Owl for lunch.

[LotusRapper]

My Naramata Bench faves:

Red Rooster
Lake Breeze
Lang
La Frenz
Benchland

And Blue Mountain west of Penticton.

[Sam Salmon]

Are you driving or taking the new shuttle?

http://www.okwineshuttle.ca/

[LotusRapper]

Hey is that really new ? Last visit to Naramata wineries was '08 so it's been awhile. I'm a cheap date when it comes to alcohol so I usually "discard" out all the wine I taste as to not risk a Gordon Campbell. But wife can drink like a fish so I rely more on her assessments of the wines ;-) as I'm our own shuttle driver.

[Sam Salmon]

Yes the shuttle is *brand new* just started last week-found the link on the Cherries & Clay blog.

Sounds like a great idea although a few wine tour guide noses will no doubt be out of joint.

[LotusRapper]

Can't believe I left out Joie, their riesling I like the most.

http://www.joie.ca/

[bdachow]

The Naramata Bench is one of the nicest and easiest as the wineries are not as far apart. If the weather is nice, it is theoretically possible to ride bikes from one to another if you don't think you're buying anything. Having said that, I will say I have an inherent bias as I have a family member working at Red Rooster. That said, they just won 2 international competitions for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

http://www.chardonnay-du-monde.com/
http://www.nwiwc.com/

[ladybugs65]

A couple of my favorite smaller wineries in the Southern area (between Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls):
Stag's Hollow
Silver Sage - My favorite! The Grand Reserve is delicious
See Ya Later - lovely setting & nice story to go along with the Winery.

[barcosbarcos]

Poplar Grove and Kettle Valley are fantastic. Poplar Grove also makes some awesome cheeses!