The new guesthouse, a beautiful and imposing structure on the Black Sage Bench.

Burrowing Owl was one of the earliest Okanagan ecommerce adopters and still uses this channel well. Their release emails are short, to the point, and target a customer that knows exactly what they want to buy.

Clearly they love the internet and love selling to customers that trust and know their brand and product.

Yesterday two new white wines went up for sale online. The remainder of their wine selections are available for sale in select wine stores as well as from their own wine shop.

Ecommerce Release:

We are pleased to announce the on-line release of two new wines:

2009 Pinot Gris ( $20.00 )

Generous aromas of pear, apple, and honeysuckle, tinged with hints of lychee and exotic spices. On the palate, the apple, pear and honeysuckle aromas continue on, providing beautiful intense, expressive flavours, with a gentle minerality that ensures the wine finishes clean and fresh.

2008 Chardonnay ( $27.00 )

This wine displays classic primary aromas of stone fruit, green apple, and melon. The complexity of the aroma profile is richly enhanced with generous notes of vanilla, nutmeg and other various spices originating from the barrel fermentation. On the palate, the fruit and oak flavours meld together seamlessly to create a complex expression of Okanagan Chardonnay. Texturally, the wine is beautifully balanced, displaying smooth, luscious mouthfeel and a long, clean finish.

For those of you who want to taste before you buy, be sure to make a stop into Burrowing Owl in Oliver. It is easily one of the most spectacular winery experiences in the entire valley. There are few things better than a long, late lunch on the patio at the Sonora Room.

They have recently updated their hours for the tasting bar and retail wine shop for the 2010 summer season. The wine shop is now open daily from 10 am – 5 pm for wine tasting and sales and the Sonora Room is open daily for both lunch and dinner.

Our Review: http://www.okanaganwineguide.com/burrowing-owl-estate-winery/

More Information: http://www.bovwine.ca/

I’m loving all the new brand work that Road 13 Winery has done, including their great new tag line “it’s all about the dirt”. The packaging, advertising, and all creative content really captures the rural farm winery feeling.

It’s the kind of marketing that makes you want to pack your bags up from the big city and open up a small winery in the Okanagan. Guess it hits the aspirational marketing nail on the head!

Road 13 Winery was originally known as Golden Mile Cellars and took it’s new name (and look!) in recognition of the winery’s location along the Golden Mile. Their tag line is based on their deep love, appreciation and understanding of their vineyards’ terroir. They focus on strong farming practices and on growing grapes that suit their land’s soil profile. It really is all about the dirt.

Currently they are producing 18,000 cases of wine annually for three different tiers: Honest John’s, Road 13 varietal and blends, and Jackpot (their premium series).

Road 13 is open year round and is a must visit stop on your Okanagan wine route. If you have extra time, be sure to call ahead and resereve a special barrel room tasting.

More Information & Map: http://www.road13vineyards.com/

PS: Be sure to say hi to Filbert and Nutmeg, the darling winery wiener dogs!

JoieFarm: while they do not currently have a tasting bar or retail store, they have recently planted 5 acres of grapes on the sun drenched Naramata Bench

With a strong focus on producing incredibly aromatic white and rose wines, JoieFarm is undoubtedly one of my all time favorite producers in the Okanagan Winery.

They currently do not have a tasting bar or retail store in their Naramata facility, and their total grape growing property currently only sits at 5 acres. Getting your hands on a bottle of some of their smaller case runs can prove difficult. Joie’s releases also tend to sell out very quickly from Vancouver wine shops, so it’s been exciting to see their wines picked up by more and more restaurants.

The good news is, you can now order Joie year round and from the comfort of your own home thanks to their ecommerce site.

While JoieFarm may not be a visit on your next Okanagan wine tour, definitely make a point to pick up a bottle to enjoy picnic side. Be sure to conjure images of the sun drenched Naramata Bench as you savour it.

More information: https://www.joiefarm.com/

No matter how many times I have JoieFarm’s Noble Blend or quite how high my expectations are, I am never let down. Tonight at Hells Kitchen in Kitsilano I settled in for a nice big glass of this stuff. Aromatic and juicy, with a surprisingly dry finish, this is the stuff that summer is made of.

The 2009 blend is composed of 20% Pinot Gris, 12% Pinot Auxerrois and 8% Riesling (an homage to Alsatian Gentil wines). Currently they do not have a tasting room or retail wine store at their Naramata facility. Thankfully you can stock your cellar (or summer wine fridge) straight from their website.

To learn more, read the Noble Blend spec sheet below:

A Noble Blend in the spirit of Edelzwicker or Gentil, the traditional Germanic-varietal blend of the Alsace region of France. The literal translation of Edelzwicker is “a noble blend” – Noble, also happens to be Heidi’s family name. Our original intent in choosing to produce this proprietary blend was our knowledge that many of the oldest plantings in this valley were Germanic varietals which have proven to be extremely successful in this climate. Blending allows us to utilize the different characteristics of each variety (or of the same variety from different sites) in order to help us achieve natural balance as well as adding greater complexity to the wine. The 2009 Noble Blend is a blend of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Auxerrois, and Riesling.

More Information: https://www.joiefarm.com/

The old Fairview town site provides a great view of the valley from Oliver to Osoyoos Lake

Only a few minutes west of tiny Oliver sits one of the town’s most convenient, quiet, and picturesque picnic spots.

Located near the old townsite of Fairview (now a ghost town), this picnic spot boasts a few picnic tables, a kiosk full of fascinating local history, and a nature preserve.

For the very best views and most remote feeling, we suggest forgoing the roadside picnic tables and taking a leisurely walk down the marked trails until you find a comfy sagebrush softened spot off the path that suits.

Be sure to pack a picnic blanket as there is only prickly sagebrush and dry grass to sit on alongside the path. Open a nice refreshing bottle of local wine, bust out the sandwiches, and relax. All you can hear is the wind.

Must pack list: a camera and a thick picnic blanket!

After soaking in the desert sun and breathtaking valley views, be sure to pop over to the information kiosk to learn about this 20th century boom town turned ghost town.

Must Pack List: A camera, a thick picnic blanket (to cushion against the prickly dry grass), and a bottle of Okanagan wine. Why not stay on theme and try something from Fairview Cellars, located only a few blocks away?

Directions: To reach the old townsite of Fairview follow 350th avenue west of town. 350th is the cross street that intersects the main intersection in downtown Oliver. Follow this road out of town until reaching Fairview Whitelake Road. The drive from the heart of town to Old Fairview should take no longer than five minutes.

Map: http://maps.google.ca/

Glass of wine, Okanagan evening, lake and desert hills are clearly the recipe for a magical photo. Wish we were also raising our glass lakefront.

Wine: Jackson Triggs Sauv Blanc
Setting: Western edge of Tuc-el-Nuit Lake

One of the most important things to do before embarking on your big Okanagan wine trip is to plan out which wineries you want to visit. It’s best to be strategic about which regions you want to focus on for your vacation, and go deep into one part of the Okanagan rather than trying to do everything all at once.

Too many visitors try to cram too many wineries, tastings, and regions into one trip. Keep in mind that the Okanagan wine region can take well over 3 hours to drive from top to bottom, and that’s without stops.

Most areas are also extremely diverse, few could argue that wines from the dry, sun beaten Black Sage bench are dramatically different than their lake moderated Chute Lake Road grown cousins.

Below is a list of map resources currently available online that will help you plot out your trip:

• BC Wine Institute Map Section: The best online resource for planning your wine trip. This site provides .pdfs of all the wine regions in the province along with a general description of each one. Our favourite wine route planning resource available online.
• Sunset Magazine Map: Sunset Magazine did a great story highlighting the Okanagan Wine region and created a great self-guided driving tour and map of the valley.
• Okanagan Valley Wine Map: Breaks the valley down into four distinct regions, plots the top wine destinations, and provides a link to all their own websites.
• Discover Wines Map: Most Okanagan wineries are labelled and plotted on the map. Easy to visualize which region you want to focus your attention and wallet on.

When in doubt, visit the BCWI or local tourist information centre in any Okanagan town for a great set of winery suggestions. Most wineries will also help you plan the next stop on your wine route if you are gung-ho for a less planned wine adventure. Be sure to also visit our Favourite Wineries section for the must visit stops along your wine tour.

Barrels outside the Stoneboat wine shop.

Stoneboat Vineyards thankfully still remains one of the best kept secrets in the Okanagan Valley. This small, family run vineyard and winery offers some of the best Pinots in the valley and the guest experience is unmatched.

Located just a few minutes south of Oliver, nestled off of the famed Black Sage road, Stoneboat is right in the heart of the most exciting part of wine country.

Stoneboat has a small tasting room that is usually manned by one family member or another. This affords a great opportunity to meet the people behind the wine, and learn a fair bit in the process. There is ample parking.

Jay, the young winemaker at Stoneboat.

Their wines are carried in many Vancouver restaurants and wine shops, but to truly understand and appreciate the wine it’s well worth making the trek to the Okanagan. You’ll have the opportunity to try and fall in love with a much greater selection of their wines and really get a feel for the land and the landscape that influenced and inspired their foray into winemaking.

Note: Rumour has it they are launching online sales this Spring.

More Information & Hours: http://www.stoneboatvineyards.com/

UPDATE: As of May 2010 Stoneboat has made shopping available online. Shipping is available within British Columbia for a flat rate of $20 for the first case and $10 for any additional cases. Currently they have their full Spring Release online.

Above: A simple sign welcomes visitors.

The Wild Goose Winery, established by the Kruger Family, sits on 10 acres of rolling hills just South of Okanagan Falls. First planted in 1983, the Wild Goose vineyards were not used for the Krugers’ own wines until 1990. Since then, the winery has gained significant attention for its well-crafted Germanic. It has expanded its acreage to 15 acres with the addition of Mystic River Vineyard on the South Okanagan River.

Wild Goose’s tasting room and wine shop is very simple, conveying its history as an original farmgate winery. There is obvious passion put into the wines by the hard-working Kruger family, whose three generations run the tasting room, make the wine, and manage the vineyards.

Above: While the winery isn't spectacular to look at, what it lacks in a facade it makes up for in pure charm.

The wine shop is bright and spacious, and staff are very knowledgeable. There is a licensed picnic/patio area out front where visitors can enjoy their own lunches and wine. Children are welcome, and can sample fruit juices at the tasting bar.

Above: There is a fabulous patio where you can drink that freshly purchased bottle of wine and relax under the hot Okanagan sun.

Wine: Germanic wines are the primary focus of Wild Goose Vineyards, and suitably so considering the Kruger family’s heritage. Wines are sourced from the estate, as well as other vineyards in the South Okanagan. The Autumn Gold blend, a white, is the most popular wine among consumers.

Last Word: If you are looking to taste some great white wines, among others, stop in at Wild Goose. We recommend that you visit earlier, as the wines may well sell out before the season’s end- and the Krugers might be able to go on a bit of a vacation.

Driving Directions: Turn off Highway 97 onto Oliver Ranch Road and then onto Sun Valley Road. Signage from the North is not so good, so keep your eyes peeled.

More Information & Hours: http://www.wildgoosewinery.com/

Above: The winery sits dramatically on the hill.

Tinhorn Creek Estate Winery has been a fixture on the western side of the Okanagan Valley since its opening in 1995 (to this date, I can remember vividly the salmon-stuffed grape leaves served at the opening reception). The winery building is stately, with a well-lit exterior, so it is visible from a distance both night and day.

Visitors are welcome to enjoy the fine view of the Okanagan Valley from the winery balcony or hike the Golden Mile trails that meander through the grassy Okanagan hills. The winery also provides a self-guided tour of the barrel and fermentation rooms, as well as a vineyard exploration tour.

Above: Tinhorn is visible from the highway and signage is great from the road.

Visitors can also purchase meats and cheeses at the Tinhorn Creek deli and enjoy their food on an outdoor deck patio overlooking the vineyard and valley beyond.

A unique feature of this winery is its outdoor amphitheatre, which plays host to a summer concert series. Here audiences can enjoy a variety of musical performers against a backdrop of mountains and valley floor.

Wines: Tinhorn produces popular varieties of white and red wines sourced from its vineyards at the winery and its Diamondback vineyard on the Black Sage. Winemaker Sandra Oldfield was trained at the University of California, Davis and her American style is reflected in the character of some of Tinhorn’s wines (American oak is used over French, for instance).

Notes on Tastings: The tasting room at Tinhorn Creek is bright, spacious and is staffed by a knowledgeable team- we found them very accommodating.

Last word: Tinhorn Creek offers a great winery experience.

More Information & Hours: http://www.tinhorn.com/