Okanagan Wine Country, British Columbia

Karin and her husband took a short trip to the Okanagan wine country in British Columbia. The Okanagan Valley is British Columbia’s oldest and main grape-growing region, with several distinct microclimates. The Southern Okanagan Valley grows over 50% of BC’s grapes, including Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Less than 10 inches of annual rainfall are typical – some say it’s the northernmost extension of the Sonora Desert, others that it’s a “pocket desert”. Whatever it’s nomenclature, the towns of Osoyoos and Oliver are home to numerous wineries. (I think I’ll have to visit Oliver some day so I can say this Oliver has been in Oliver.)

Visits to Road 13, Burrowing Owl and Hester Creek were on the agenda. Karin brought back 5 cases of wine, and a couple of bottles of Road 13 late harvest Chenin Blanc for me. (You should all know my love of sweet wines by now!) What I found unusual is that instead of the usual foil wrap around the cork, there’s a seal of red wax on the cork and that’s it. Nice bottle — and since I’ve opened one, I can vouch for its deliciousness.

Enough blather, on to the pictures (you all can thank Karin).

There were even Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep (these are ewes, since their horns aren’t the large curvy ones sported by the males).

And oh yes, there was food too!