Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/40418
road trip The Vineyard Path A whistle-wetting tour of the Okanagan's newest wineries by Jennifer Cockrall-King WITH DESERT-HOT SUMMERS AND DRAMATIC Mediterranean-esque geography, B.C.'s Oka- nagan Valley was running before it could walk as a grape-growing region. It took a decade or so of award-winning winemaking for the other elements of wine tourism – fi rst-rate restaurants and luxe accommoda- tions – to fi ll in the gaps, but the Okanagan now has the full pack- age, rivalling oenophile destina- tions such as Napa and Sonoma. While there's nothing wrong with sticking to familiar names, adventurous vino-enthusiasts know that if the paint is still dry- ing on that tasting room sign, chances are you'll have a one-on- one tasting with the enthusiastic owner. And when you return home Me (this page, top to bottom) The SpierHead Winery vineyard; tasters at Township 7 Winery; grape harvesting at SpierHead; (opposite page) writer Jennifer Cockrall-King "Arthuring" a sword at Camelot Vineyards Estate Winery; the new, view- quaffi ng showcase building at Poplar Grove Winery. with bottles that are nearly impossible to get outside of the Okanagan, you'll have bragging rights for coming across the next big wine before the masses. LEG ONE:Kelowna to Naramata (77 km) Start with the East Kelowna Wine Trail, a loop of fi ve wineries so new that most locals don't even know about it. The View Winery and Vineyard 18 WESTWORLD >> SEPTEMBER 2011 JAUNT Kelowna to Nara- mata and back, with stops at newly opened wineries. PRIME TIME Summer or fall. Okanagan wineries switch to winter hours shortly after the Fall DISTANCE Approx. 160 km DURATION 3 days (250-860-0742; theviewwinery.com) is apple orchard land that has been in the Turton/Ward family for fi ve generations and is now partially planted with vines. Pinotage fans take note: The View is one of the few Okanagan producers of this South African red varietal. Two minutes along Spiers Road from The View is SpierHead Winery (250-763-7777; spierheadwinery. com), which opened in 2010. Spier- Head's silky Merlot and its Bor- deaux-blend Vanguard alone are worth the visit. Okanagan Wine Festival, September 30 to October 9 this year, so call ahead. Next, head north along Spiers Road, make a quick right turn on Hart Road and a left on McCulloch Road, then a right on Pooley Road, to fi nd yourself at The Vibrant Vine Vineyards. Tastings at The Vibrant Vine take place in a charming yellow cabin with a quirky rock-and-roll vibe inside (778-478- 1977; tastevibrantvines.com). Vineyard manager and winemaker Tony Lewis is a former rock drummer and his brother, Phil Lewis, designs the winery's psychedelic artwork and labels. Go from psychedelic to Medieval English in a mere 1.5 km, driving east on Pooley Road. Take your fi rst left at Reid Road, and another left onto East Kelowna Road, where you'll find SpierHead Winery, Township 7 Vineyards and Winery