FALLING FOR WINE
Salut! celebrates the Okanagan Valley.
The morning air is crisp, the afternoons warm, the vineyards a riot of red and white as the Okanagan Valley is on the edge of what many believe will be a year to remember.
The fall harvest is well underway and will no doubt be counted as one of the earliest ever when it’s all done. As it was in 2014, it’s been a stellar growing season for grape growers, and while wildfires made for some nervous moments, it appears the valley will escape any real damage, smoke or otherwise, as they head into harvest. The frenetic pace should make the Okanagan Wine Festival (Oct. 1 to 11) one of the most interesting ever.
If you haven’t noticed, winery folks have an extra hop in their step at this time of the year as they prepare for the picking, sorting and crushing of grapes in anticipation of the crucial ferments to come. For anyone headed to the Okanagan this month, or next during the festival, be prepared to encounter plenty of crush activities at the wineries. Our advice is to set some time aside to visit vineyards and experience crush as it takes place up and down the valley. And consider signing up for one or two of the hundreds of fall festival events taking place valley-wide through the Thanksgiving weekend.
As we do each year we have screened all of the planned events at the fall festival and using our considerable wine country experience prepared a short list of some of the best. We concentrated on the main 10 days of the festival. Most important of all, don’t forget to get off the road once in a while, find a spot in the warm afternoon sun, feel the earth, smell the air and practise being a grape. You will never look at a vineyard the same way again.
Sip into Sunset, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Oct. 1, 5 to 9 p.m. | Kelowna
Summerhill Pyramid Winery will host a three-course menu prepared by executive chef Jonas Stadtländer every evening during the Fall Wine Festival. It will feature local organic ingredients with wine pairings by winemaker Eric von Krosigk. $49 for three courses/$65 with wine pairings. Reservations recommended. Contact Keshia Evans, bistro@summerhill.bc.ca; 1-250-764-8000, ext. 501.
summerhill.bc.ca
Autumn Harvest Tasting Menu, Quails’ Gate Old Vines Restaurant,
Oct. 1 to 11, 5 to 9 p.m. |
West Kelowna
Quails’ Gate winery chef Roger Sleiman and the entire culinary team will be pulling out all the stops, pairing the freshest fall ingredients with all new fall release wines. The fourcourse paired menu is a study in wine and food matching and a great opportunity to try the new wines of winemaker Nikki Callaway. Cost is $85 plus taxes and gratuity at Old Vines Restaurant. For reservations contact oldvinesrestaurant@quailsgate.com; 1-250-769-2500
quailsgate.com
Perfectly Paired Wine & Cheese Tastings, Upper Bench Winery & Creamery, Oct. 1 to 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Naramata
Join the staff at Upper Bench for perfectly paired tastings of their sustainably farmed wine and hand-crafted cheese, made on site by winemaker Gavin Miller and his wife and cheesemaker Shana Miller. The cost is $5 and the tasting room is open daily. Contact Sarah Sloan, info@upperbench.ca; 1-250-770-1733.
upperbench.ca
Stag’s Hollow Winery, Harvest Dinner with Joy Road Catering, Oct. 2, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. | Okanagan Falls
Join the crew at Stag’s Hollow for a memorable sunset harvest dinner orchestrated by the magic of Joy Road Catering. An intimate evening of fabulous food and wine for 24 guests at $130 each. The wine alone is worth it. Contact Linda at info@stagshollowwinery.com; 1-250-497-6162.
stagshollowwinery.com
Hester Creek Estate Winery Garlic Festival at Hester Creek, Oct. 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Oliver
Local garlic growers, artisan crafters, food carts, live entertainment and more are the draw at this family friendly event in support of the Oliver Elementary School’s Farm to Table lunch program. Admission is by donation to the program. Contact Sarah Lefebvre, sarah@hestercreek.com; 1-250-498-4435.
hestercreek.com