Day 8 – Still in Kelowna
N49° 50.706’ W119° 29.356’
Having arrived in Kelowna last night, today was a rest day. After 2,337 km in 6 days, Wolfgang pretty much spent the day catching his breath. In the meantime, we did what any other self-respecting bikers do upon descending upon Kelowna. We went wine tasting.
What does any self-respecting biker do in Kelowna? Go wine tasting.
The day started leisurely, with everyone taking the time to sleep in. Around 11am, we finally got our act sufficiently organized to think about heading out into the world. Loading up the Ford Escape, we headed north on 97A towards our first stop in wine country – Arrowleaf Vineyards. A small, very boutique operation, they produce some wonderful wines. I had the opportunity while we were in the Sequoia Grill in Vancouver to try a glass, and I wanted to make sure that it still was as wonderful as I remembered. Actually, that’s a total lie. I wanted Dianne to taste it, because once she had there is no way that a case wasn’t going to come home with us. This worked slightly better than planned, as we actually wound up with two cases; not only did we pick up the pinot noir, we also wound up with 6 of the gewürztraminer and 6 of the Bacchus.
Arrowleaf Wine Cellars – great wine, and a view to kill for.
Continuing along the same road, we quickly came to Gray Monk Cellars, where we stopped for lunch. Gray Monk has one of the best patios for lunch, and it’s a wonderful place to spend an hour or two. We had a relaxing meal, along with a couple of glasses of wine, until this biker started to appreciate the virtues of full motorcycle gear in summer. While it may be hot, not only does it protect you from the road, it also protects you from UV exposure. An hour on the patio, and my forehead, nose and neck were starting to feel like they were sizzling.
Mom and Dianne pose for the obligatory winery sign shot.
After an emergency run for sunscreen, we pointed the Escape south. We were heading towards Penticton with strategic intent – we had our eyes set on the Naramata Bench and some of the nicest wines in the Okanagan. First stop was La Frenz, a small winery that at first glance looks completely nondescript. Following the sign, we turned off the highway only to encounter bungalows, trailers and a narrow gravel road. Just as we were questioning whether or not we had made the right turn, their sign came into view. The winery itself is one of the most unprepossessing that have seen. You park among vines, you walk to the tasting room through vines, and all you can see in every direction is vines. Walk into the tasting room, however, and what you are blessed with is one of the most spectacular views I have seen. The tasting room is spectacular, all the more so for not expecting it.
You just don’t get scenery like this in Edmonton.
Our final stop was Therapy Vineyards. If there is a more appropriate name for a winery, I’m sure I don’t know what it is. The winery itself is going through a lot of building, but the wines are fabulously constructed even now. We enjoyed an extensive sampling of the wines they were offering, and wound up with an extensive acquisition of wines to take home with us as well. In particular, their Pink Freud and Freud’s Ego – apart from being aptly hilariously named – were absolutely fabulous. As a result, several have found a home in our cellars.
Not that we’re sanctioning drinking as a way of life, but ‘Therapy’ is a damned fine name for a winery.
Leaving Therapy, we pretty much had to head for the hills – literally. Dinner reservations awaited. We raced back to Kelowna, heading across the bridge to the hotel in order to get changed. In order to head back across the bridge again for our meal. Our final destination of the day was Quail’s Gate Winery, perched high on Mt. Boucherie only a couple of kilometers from Mission Hill. They are blessed with one of the most elegant dining rooms in the Okanagan, with fabulous food and exceptional wines drawn from their own vineyards. As well as their current releases, they have bottles available in their ‘library’ that extend well back to previous vintages. What is wonderful, though, is that you can match every course of the meal with an appropriate wine. Every one of their current release wines is available by the glass.
Quail’s Gate Winery – one of the best dining rooms in the Okanagan.
Saturday was a welcome respite after a week of travel. Tomorrow, we will head to Canmore. Tonight, however, we got to celebrate what Kelowna is truly about – good food, good wine and good company.
What better way to end the day than with a view like this?