The boutique wineries of the Naramata Bench provide an experience unlike anything else in the Okanagan Valley.
To be sure, the wines produced on these west-facing slopes overlooking Okanagan Lake exhibit the benefits of abundant sunlight and long, frost-free autumns. They display the distinct characteristics of clay soils laid down by retreating glaciers and the craftsmanship of knowledgeable winemakers.
But many of these wineries also put their own special spin on touring and tasting.
Anyone interested in collecting unusual winery names will find this fertile territory. Care to speculate on the origins of Black Widow or Laughing Stock? And who can pass up a little Therapy, where they really work the theme with inkblot labels and wines named Freudian Sip, Pink Freud and SuperEgo.
Food & Wine
Food and wine must inevitably be linked. The Barrel Room Bistro at Hillside Estate Winery was the first vineyard eatery on the Naramata Bench and it stands as a seasonal institution. The Patio at Lake Breeze Vineyards serves Mediterranean-inspired lunches from May through mid-October. Year-round, try the one-stop wine tour at Cobblestones Wine Bar in the Naramata Heritage Inn and Spa.
Winery Delis
Several wineries sell deli items, cheese and local preserves to match up with a bottle from the wine shop for an al fresco picnic on a patio with a view. At Poplar Grove, watch cheese makers in action through a window in the tasting room and ask the attendants for advice on pairing their wines and cheeses.
Art in the Vineyard
Red Rooster Winery provides tasters with a full-on visual experience both indoors and out. Items displayed in their permanent collection include the controversial sculpture "Frank the Baggage Handler" by Michael Hermesh. Two upstairs galleries host new exhibitions by local artists each month.
At Holman Lang Wineries, see works by the Artists of the South Okanagan Similkameen for one half of the year and the Naramata Artists Studio the other half.
Tuned to Nature
Drive down the hillside to Soaring Eagle and keep an eye to the sky to see where this winery got its name.
Orchard to Wine Glass
Generations of vacationers remember the drive down Naramata Road as a trip through orchard country with apple, peach and cherry trees cascading up and down the hillsides. These days the orchards are morphing into vineyards as fast as the land can be cleared. Although one exception is Elephant Island Orchard Wines, where the two cultures are joined in memorable fruit wines.
Winery Events
Budget two or three days to properly sample all the wineries around Naramata or plan to attend a catch-all event. The Annual Tailgate Party in September is a celebration of the new releases with lots of food and music. Later in the month, the Naramata Unfiltered Wine Education Retreat is a chance to get behind the scenes in wine country.
Read Less