Okanagan Valley Landscapes
Merlot. Pinot Gris. Pinot Noir. Chardonnay.
These are the top grapes planted by the 153 licensed vineyards in Canada’s breathtaking Okanagan Valley. Stretching across 250 kilometres of prime grape growing land, with distinct terrains, soils, and sub-regions, it’s paradise on earth for the wine lover.
Too bad I don’t really drink. :p
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- Quail’s Gate
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- Quail’s Gate Vineyads
Still, the wineries are worth a visit if only for their stunning vistas and amazing landscapes. It can be absolutely mind-boggling to pick just a few to see when there are so many enticing choices available, but on a road trip through interior British Columbia, we wound up at Quail’s Gate and Grey Monk.
We spent an afternoon strolling through gorgeous sunlit rows of vines before heading in for a little wine-tasting, which hubby was all over of course. But since I’m not much of a drinker, I had my heart set on a meal at one of vineyard’s restaurants, which can be as much of an attraction as the alcohol. When we couldn’t get a reservation at award-winning Quail’s Gate resto, Old Vines, we turned our attention to the Grey Monk Estate Winery and the Grapevines restaurant.
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- Grey Monk Wines
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- Steak! Steak! Steak!
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- Pork belly and halibut with root veggies
And while the more established Quail’s Gate was undeniably gorgeous, it was the the younger Grey Monk Estate Winery’s landscape that I really fell in love with. The neatly cultivated rows of vines set above one of the Okanagan’s peaceful lakes was truly spectacular.
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- The road to Grey Monk
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- Grapes
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- Simply stunning
Are you a wine drinker? What’s in your favourite glass? Have you ever visited a winery or taken a wine tour?
AndysWorldJourneys
personally I like a dry wine – red or white, but pinot noir is my favourite. Which Im not sure would be a popular type in Canada as you need a hotter, dryer climate. the place looks absolutely stunning, perfectly located!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
You’d get along with my hubby then. He’s all about the dry reds…but I definitely prefer a sweeter white, like a Riesling. It’s my Asian-ness I think, and my inability to tolerate alcohol. The sweeter wines feel more like soda. 🙂
lexklein
Beautiful scenery! I’m not a huge wine drinker (I do love beer!), but the coolest wine place I’ve visited was in South Africa, near Cape Town. We went from vineyard to vineyard, starting at about 9 am, and by noon, we’d drunk more red wine than I’d had in my whole life up until then! Perhaps that affected my camera finger as I do not have many good photos of this day!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
We missed the vineyards when we visited South Africa unfortunately, but I have heard that they’re absolutely beautiful! It’s always a danger when touring wineries to overindulge I think. Those tastings seem so small…until you add them all up. Lol. 🙂
Mabel Kwong
Like you, I’m not a wine drinker and don’t drink a drop of alcohol! But I have to agree with you – vineyards and wineries have the most spectacular views. Love the last shot, the panorama of Grey Monk. Views of greenery, mountains and water too. So cool. No reason why you can’t rock up to a winery and enjoy the view. You can also see grapes and have a look at how the wine is made first hand in some instances 😀
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Yes, I think wine tours are well worth your time even if you don’t drink at all, like we do. 🙂 There’s something so peaceful about those places, and wandering through sun drenched vines for an afternoon is certainly a wonderful experience. The Okanagan Valley is incredibly beautiful anyway – not too many places in the world with the combo of lakes, valleys and mountains like that I think…