paired up with the region’s best activities.�

A TASTE OF THE THOMPSON OKANAGAN: WINTER 2010

While harvest is now a distant memory, the

Thompson Okanagan’s wineries are still open

and perfect for winter weekend getaways.

It’s just so easy to belly up to a tasting room

bar, quaff back some Pinot Gris or even some

Merlot before you can spell Loire. Driving down

routes like Bottleneck Drive and Corkscrew

Drive, where you can experience wineries

of every shape and size. From garage-based

tasting rooms or those where you buzz the

family to come down and let you in for taste, to

epic stop-and-pinch yourself moments at exotic

Tuscan-like villas that will have you wondering

when Lorenzo de’ Medici is going to pop up and

pour you a glass and discuss the intricacies of

15th century Florentine politics.

Travel down the small, twisted roads of the Thompson Okanagan and sooner rather than later you’re going to find something worth drinking. The region, now boasting more than 130 winer-ies offers wine drinkers a distinctly un-Napa experience. Not that there is anything wrong with Napa, but you

A LITTLE TASTE OF FLORENCE At Quails Gate, hopefully someone else is driving

you because you absolutely don’t want to waste any time spitting their Pinot, and certainly not their

prized Old Vines Foch – a cult wine made from 44-year-old vines. After having tried that, you are

probably ready to hit Mission Hill. Remember those Medicis? Well this is that architectural wonder,

complete with a 12-story bell tower, a childhood dream of proprietor Anthony Von Mandl.

OLD VINES RESTAURANT AT QUAILS’ GATE

THE SONORA ROOM AT BURROWING OWL

CELLAR DOOR BISTRO AT SUMAC RIDGE ESTATE WINERY

PASSA TEMPO RESTAURANT AT NK’MIP RESORT

SUNSET BISTRO & VERANDA RESTAURANT AT SUMMERHILL

PYRAMID WINERY

winery eating experiencesCAN’T-MISS

Like a local

&EAT DRINK

can’t get to Napa in 45 minutes from Calgary or Vancouver, or be so close to the slopes of some of BC’s best ski resorts. End of discussion.

Victoria

British Columbia

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Pacific Ocean

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A TASTE OF THE THOMPSON OKANAGAN: WINTER 2010

STUNT CASTING AND NORTHERN GRAPES Defying the experts, these Northern

winemakers are defining how to make wine in unlikely places. If there is a place where cool climate

wines go to die and end up in heaven, this is most definitely it. Near Salmon Arm, a surprising

middle of BC hotbed of artisanal cheese makers, farmers markets, plenty of wineries and all around

tasty goodness, there is still more to taste – like the hardy and unusual varieties of Siegerrebe,

Madeleine, and Angevine at Larch Hills Winery. This gorgeous, homey winery has all the hallmarks

of something ripped out of Switzerland or Austria and dropped in the Okanagan, right down to the

distinctly German accent and firm handshake of mountain-man owner Jack Manser. It’s like film-

maker Wes Anderson did stunt casting for a new movie about winemaking and found his ideal calm,

collected, Swiss wineman.

FROM EXECUTIVE CHEF BERNARD CASSAVANT AT WILD APPLE,

MANTEO RESORT WATERFRONT HOTEL & VILLAS, KELOWNA

THINGS YOU HAVE TO TASTE

6

The local flavours in Wild Apple Restaurant’s 3-course winter dinner

Chef Neil Schroeter’s new breakfast and lunch spot Okanagan Street Food

Meadow Vista Libra apricot honey dessert wine

Local apples and pears at the BC Tree Fruit packing house in Clement

Anything mixed by Liquid Chef Jerry Jobe at Raudz Regional Table

Local chefs and wineries serving it up at Pirouette on February 5, in support of Ballet

Kelowna

From Chef Paul Cecconi at Summerland’s Local Lounge & Grille

THE ULTIMATE WINTER TASTING MENU

CHICKEN CONFIT - rossdown farms chicken leg confitchicory-anjou pear slaw, warm veal jus vinaigrette

BEEF SHORTRIB - braised beef shortrib on cranberry sourdough, bison smokie ragout, horseradish cheddar, onion rings

PACIFIC HALIBUT - chorizo and fall squash, red curry-coconut broth, warm quinoa pilaf, bok choy, smoked apple chutney

RISOTTO - wild mushroom-truffled spinach risotto fried cheese curds, toasted pumpkin seeds

SAUCY REDS AND BUTTERED

TOAST On the way from Kelowna to Oliver,

the Wine Capital of Canada, you hit Bottle-

neck Drive. Here 11 wineries hide in a

surprisingly friendly suburban landscape

where, more often than not, the winemakers

man the tasting room. At Dirty Laundry

(named for the little known story of a Chinese

Laundromat that fronted a brothel), they serve

up wines that can make you blush, literally.

Their Hush blush is a fitting start, but don’t

leave without a taste of the saucy Bordello, a

velvet cake mix of Cabernet Sauvignon,

Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.

Over on the Naramata Bench, famous for its

view emblazoned on the $100 banknote from

1954 to 1975, now sits the unpretentious

winery, La Frenz. This must stop place

features a good breakfast Chardonnay

– well, at least one that has aromas of

buttered toast and tastes like a French kiss

that goes on for days.

This is only a taste of the food and wine of

the Thompson Okanagan. It’s an area so rich

in culinary treasures that the Gold Medal

Plate finals will be held in Kelowna for the

first time this February. And they’ll continue

to be held in the city for the next five years.

Mouth watering yet? Explore the Thompson

Okanagan this winter and indulge in its

flavours. Get delicious special offers and

four more vacation/pairing getaway ideas at

thompsonokanagan.com

LAMB SHANK - peace country lamb shank sundried cherries and sage, parmesan polenta, sauteed broccolini

DUCK BREAST - yarrow meadows duck breast, honey roasted yams, brussel sprouts, cauliflower puree, licorice jus

AMBROSIA APPLE DOUGHNUTS - with crème fraiche ice cream, scotch caramel

CHOCOLATE CAKE - ‘soft center’ chocolate cake, frozen raspberry parfait, white chocolate ganache