Cheers! {Okanagan Wine Weekend’21}
Hope everyone has had a great week, and if you live on the wetcoast of BC like I do, are ready for a rainy weekend ahead! Going to take a little trip back to a few weekends ago when we headed out to the Okanagan for our annual girls wine weekend. Myself and a group of girlfriends look forward to our annual getaway but unfortunately didn’t get to go in 2020 due to Covid, and we didn’t think we would make it this year either. Just when we thought it was going to be another year with-out wine tasting, great eats, good times and laughter, things opened up and we were able to adventure to BC’s wine country! Our group was smaller as it was a very last minute decision, but we had a great time, tasted some great wines, and most importantly enjoyed the break and time away! So let’s go on a road trip and I’ll share my favourite stops and sips!
You didn’t have to ask me twice to pack a bag and head out for a getaway, I feel like I have been cooped up for 18 months and I was finally free! I of course had to pack my cute little road trip bag which if you love it as much as I do, you can get one from Monika Hibbs Home store {side note if you live locally I highly recommend visiting! its the cutest space} I overpacked as I always do, anyone else need to go to over packers anonymous?
I love to put together little gifts for the ladies, so I put together little cocktail and snack packs for our trip! Love these little single serve on the rocks cocktails you just pour over ice, couldn’t pass up the boujee sparkling wine cans, snacks to keep us fueled on our tastings and how perfect is the “keep going” re-energizing spray so we could hit all those wineries! The day we hit the road it was pouring rain and pretty miserable, but by the time we hit our first winery the rain stopped and we had clear skies!
We were staying in Osoyoos, so stopped in Keremeos & Cawston to try a few wineries and a little cidery, cause we needed wine for dinner, right? Our first stop was at Robin Ridge, I first should say I am no wine connoisseur, and I prefer white and rose, I also may be known to pick wines based on the labels {anyone else with me?!?!} that being said I definitely know what I like! With it being so late in the season a lot of wineries were sold out of many of their whites and very few still had rose, luckily Robin Ridge had a good selection of both left to try! All the wines here are also organic , I ended up choosing the flicker rose as my bottle to take home.
Next stop was Corcelettes, unfortunately they only had one white to try, but the view from the patio was definitely worth the stop, will have to try and come earlier in the season next time!
We popped into the Twisted Hills Cidery and I really recommend making a stop if you love ciders, it was a great tasting experience, such a neat building and most of all the ciders were delicious!
After Twisted Hills, for our last stop of the day we decided to head to Oliver to Nostalgia {Formerly Oliver Twist, in case you thought it was gone, they just did a name change, new look, but same great tasting wines!} We had this winery on our Saturday list but found out they were having an event that day and didn’t want to miss out, in case it was too busy. I am so glad we stopped as this was one of my favourite wineries, not only did the wines taste great, the labels were amazing and the staff were fabulous! I got 4 bottles here, I wish I had bought more, and only one made it home! Look at the view, sunset and truck load of pumpkins could it be any more perfect.
Friday we headed out to wineries in Naramata and Penticton, our first stop of the day was Bench 1775, I have been here a few times and it did not disappoint, also the views are incredible, if you visit make sure to head out to the patio and have a look!
Not a view you want to miss that’s for sure, and look at those clear blue skies, how lucky were we to have this weather in October.
Next stops were Ruby Blues and Red Rooster these wineries are literally right next to each other so it’s an easy double stop. I have been to Ruby Blues many times and love pretty much all of their white wines and their rose bubbles.
Over at Red Rooster we did our tasting out on their covered patio, with the view of the vineyard and a wine flight, it was nice to take a seat, relax and really enjoy the wines.
Next we headed to Three Sisters Winery, this was one I have always wanted to go to but never had the chance and I am so glad we visited. I really enjoyed their wines and they have a super delicious cane cut Riesling which is their approach to a dessert styled wine and they nailed it, with the perfect amount of sweetness, it’s certainly an easy sipper. Of course had to take a bottle home. I loved everything about the winery, the views of the vineyards, along with beautiful art and great aesthetics I can’t say enough good things about our visit here. Oh, but most importantly we were also lucky enough to meet their sweet new puppy who will be the winery dog, and this dog loving gal will definitely be sure to visit this winery each time I am in the area!
We always have to make a stop at Monster Vineyards when we are in the area, and this time was no exception the staff are always great and who doesn’t love their quirky labels.
Play winery was another one I hadn’t visited before and it is one I would for sure visit again. I liked pretty much every wine I tasted there, shockingly even the reds! They also had a great atmoshere, amazing views, and pretty bottles and who can say no to a pretty bottle!
Our last stop on the Friday was at Ramification Cellars, another new winery for me. They served our tasting on the patio, which is right on the water and the best place to end the day. They not only had rose but also a sparkling rose, which I brought home a bottle of each!
Just another amazing view to end our day!
On Saturday we did wineries in the Oliver area, we had a slow morning and started our day a little later. Our first stop was a reserved tasting out on the patio of French Door Estate Winery and it was fabulous I loved everything about this winery from the style of the building, to the décor, the merchandise, the labeling and of course the wine. It was nice to start the day with a relaxed tasting experience, chit chat and of course enjoy the view.
Isn’t it great! was completely my style, I will be sure to visit again but another one to visit earlier in the season to get to try more whites and their rose, I did however really enjoy their Malbec! I highly recommend a stop here if you are in the area.
Next we headed to Hester Creek and enjoyed a tasting here, before our lunch reservations. Always a good idea to do a tasting at a winery you are going to dine at before hand then you know what you like best to enjoy a glass with your meal. I have been to Hester Creek many times and always enjoy there wines, I have to say though I loved their Ti Amo Frizzante, and yes we sure did order a bottle to enjoy with lunch. Speaking of lunch, their restaurant Terrafina is a great spot to have a bite to eat, the food is always amazing and I love its Tuscan feel! In my excitement over the bubbles and lunch I completely forgot to take a picture of the winery but here’s a couple of snaps of the restaurant below!
This was a shorter day, and a lot of the wineries were really busy or fully reserved, so our last stop was Rust Winery, and it was a great spot to our wine tour. We had a tasting out on a covered patio area, the staff were so friendly, it was relaxing and the wines were great! Then we headed back, hopped in the hot tub, and enjoyed some wine before dinner, a great way to end the last day!
Had to share my my top three with you! First up was Nostalgia and I only brought one bottle home cause we finished the rest on our nights up there! Thank goodness they sell it down here at a few places so I can go and restock, but will teach me to be sure to stock up next time!
Of course French Door was in the top three and they are definitely one I will visit next time earlier in the season!
Last but not least rounding out my top three … Three Sisters, one I will for sure add to the list for every visit going forward and I can’t wait to enjoy the bottles I got!
Not a bad wine haul, smaller than normal but being later in the season and with restrictions making it harder to visit as many wineries as we usually do I would say all in all it was a success! I’m so glad we got to make the trip, create new memories and can’t wait for next year! Would love to hear if you have visited any of the wineries we went to, what your favourites are, or if you have any you think we need to visit in 2022.
Cheers!
