Aug
22
Written by:
John Gerum
8/22/2008 10:54 AM
As the Tour Guide/Wine Expert for the VIP Okanagan July wine tour, I had the opportunity to note the good and bad when it came to the individual wineries we visited. In this issue of the Report from the Valley, I will review the winery experiences we had as a guideline for your next trip to the Kelowna area.
Gray Monk is one of the oldest and most established wineries in BC. It is a bit off the beaten track when it comes to the location, but it's well worth the visit. The tasting room is smaller and outdated but they are expending their facilities this year so things will have changed by next season. There are two highlights to note: the first is that the private library tasting room is very impressive with high ceilings and custom bins surrounding the large and ornate table and chairs, the second is that Chef Willi Franz creates fabulous European quality meals that are served overlooking a lake view patio. Prices are very reasonable and the service is friendly and hospitable.
Quails' Gate Winery has recently built a new tasting room and restaurant. The tasting room is bright, airy and overlooks their vineyards gently sloping down towards the lake. Take a glass of wine and sit on the outdoor veranda, the cooling breezes from the lake will soothe you on a hot day. The food at the restaurant is top rate, with a large array of interesting entrees. The service we received was average, but the food arrived hot and at the same time for our large group which was impressive.
Now on to one of my favourite wineries to visit, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, which is located just south of Kelowna. The tour was enjoyable and informative and ended up inside the pyramid. The pyramid ages all of Summerhill's wines and is an exact copy of the pyramids of Egypt on a one eighth scale. The restaurant has the best value lunches anywhere with custom homemade gourmet burgers and fresh salads with house made dressings for about $10 (you can pick up a 2 for 1 coupon in any local hotel lobby for an even better deal)! The Sunday all you can eat brunch overlooking the lake is incredible with carving stations, crab legs, seafood, fresh fruits, hot selections, cheeses and a delicious dessert buffet all for a reasonable price.
The last winery on the tour was the award winning Mission Hill Winery with the most impressive winery architecture in the valley and immaculate grounds. Overall the feeling is a bit corporate and we felt the tour guides only followed their rehearsed lines and were not willing to answer some of the questions we posed to them. The tasting at the end of the tour was perfunctory with little information on the wines we were tasting and a bit sterile, but the free etched wine glass was a nice parting gift.
So there you have it, four wineries all different and enjoyable to visit. You can join us for our August VIP tour or visit these wineries the next time you are in the Kelowna area, you'll be glad you did!