In Kelowna, check out Summerhill Pyramid Winery where organic wines are aged in a four-story-high replica of the Great Pyramid of Cheops. At CedarCreek Estate Winery, the big-bodied, award-winning reds pair beautifully with the chevre produced by the goats up the road at Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan.
Try the Riesling at the eco-friendly Tantalus Vineyards, stop and smell the flowers at Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm, then sample the fresh-baked goodies at Okanagan Grocery Artisan Breads.
Across the lake at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, sip some chardonnay under the 12-story bell tower or catch a play at the outdoor amphitheatre. The nearby Quails’ Gate Winery has a historic 1873 log home and a vineyard-view patio; it’s known for its terrific Pinot Noir and dark, old-vines Marechal Foch. Watch for little birds that give the winery its name.
If you are looking for some interesting shopping, bring home a piece of artistic Kelowna from the Kelowna Cultural District, six lakeside blocks of galleries and boutiques, or browse the one-of-a-kind shops in funky Pandosy Village.
And here’s a tip: if you taste a wine you like, buy it; chances are you won’t find it at home. Pick up a bottle – or a case– from any of the more than 90 local wineries at the VQA Wine Shop at the BC Wine Museum in downtown Kelowna. You can learn about local wine history at the same time.