MariaLiving in the Bay Area, we are so fortunate to have Napa and Sonoma in our backyard. I never even thought about wine country in British Columbia, Canada! That is until our last roadtrip; we visited a few wineries in Okanagan Wine Country in various areas of Kelowna, Osoyoos, and Oliver. Below are just a few of the wineries that we visited!
Tantalus Vineyards
Located in the eastern slopes of the Okanagan Valley, this winery boasts old vines and single vineyard wines. The tasting room is sleek, edgy, and beautiful, just like their wines. As you enter the tasting room, you are greeted by the picturesque views of Lake Okanagan through the vast glass panels. This new facility was completed in March 2010 and was distinguished as British Columbia’s first LEED certified winery.
My two favorites from our visit was the 2015 Old Vine Riesling and the 2015 Old Vines Riesling Brut.
2015 Old Vine Riesling: The intense aromatics are bold yet the wine itself is subtle and complex. The wine was bottled for 2 years before its release and has tasting notes of apple, pineapple, lime and mandarin. The crisp acidity makes it a refreshing wine to drink on a beautiful warm day.
2015 Old Vine Riesling Brut: I love my bubbles and this one was splendid! Tasting notes exude pear, Granny Smith apple and just a hit of florals; the finish is crisp, bright with a subtle minerality. The aroma is reminiscent of grapefruit and just a hint of brioche. Perfect bottle for any celebration.
Tantalus Vineyards (Central Okanagan)
1670 Dehart Road, Kelowna
250-764-0078
Frequency Wine and Sound
Ever heard of a winery that uses sound to make their wines? Us neither, until we visited Frequency Wine and Sound. Situated in Kelowna, this intimate wine tasting room has its very own recording studio. They welcome artists and bands to play record and play in the studio to play to their wines! A definitely unique experience that walks you through different sounds waves that they use to make their wines.
Frequency Wine & Sound Winery (Central Okanagan)
3210 Gulley Road, Kelowna
250-868-3737
Kitsch Wines
Their hashtag is #okanaganinaglass and it couldn’t be more true. This family owned winery has an intimate tasting room located right in their home and with views of beautiful Lake Okanagan and terroir. The varietals are crisp and aromatic and reflect the Okanagan rich soil and sun soaked valleys. I am normally not a Chardonnay fan, but this one was smooth with subtle notes of butter and crispness.
Kitsch Wines (Central Okanagan)
3330 Neid Road, Kelowna
778-821-1955
Kismet Estate Winery
Indian food and wine? Yes please! I love that their restaurant is on site and you can partake in amazing food paired with their delicious wines. Their wines are fruit forward and delicate and a great representative of the South Okanagan terroir. The 2017 Safed is a blend of Sauvignon blanc, Semillon and Orange muscat. This harmonious wine is dry, medium bodied, well balanced and has a zesty acidity. This pairs well with mildly spiced curries and stews. The 2016 Orange Muscat Sparkling is unique in its flavors with a balanced and zesty acidity and ends with a smooth and creamy finish.
Kismet Estate Winery (South Okanagan)
316 Road 20, Oliver
250-495-4462
Rust Wine
I love the industrial feel of the tasting room as well as the breathtaking views overlooking the Black Sage Bench to the east and Osoyoos to the south. Besides the tasting room, there is also a guest house available for rent that was originally built in the 19th century and features a one of a kind live desert roof that was sourced from the surrounding hillside.
My favorite wine is the 2014 Rust wine Zinfandel that has tasting notes of dried fruit and spice. The savory and medium body is unique to British Columbia.
The Syrah is deep in black raspberry, cola, wild sage and spice notes. Great for aging or to enjoy now with something grilled.
The labels are noteworthy as well. They are all photographs of various types of rust found all over British Columbia and beyond.
Rust Wine Company
4444 Golden Mile Road, Oliver
250-498-3276