34
Craft breweries, artisanal distilleries and
cideries have also blossomed across the
nation. Spirits range from the unique
Birmingham's Dill Pickle Vodka to the
sublime Royal Crown Northern Harvest Rye
Whisky, selected by a British critic as 2016
World Whisky of the Year.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
SUNNY WAYS AND SUNNY
VINEYARDS
Sunny Okanagan is the place many
Canadians think about moving to for their
retirement years. The Canadian version of a
riviera, it has glittering lakes as a backdrop
to ski hills, golf courses, cycling and hiking
routes, and wine trails. Okanagan Wine
Festivals produces four seasonal festivals
with over 100 events annually and two wine
competitions in the Okanagan Valley
(www.thewinefestivals.com).
Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country has some
great signature events: the Half Corked
Marathon in September, an approximate 19
km (12 mi.) run through beautiful vineyards;
the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival in May; and
Pig Out in June (www.oliverosoyoos.com).
Many of the wineries have excellent res-
taurants and some have great accommoda-
tions. Mission Hill's Terrace Restaurant, open
May to October, offers an unforgettable
alfresco dining experience overlooking the
vineyards and set against the spectacular
backdrop of Okanagan Lake. Locally-sourced
fare is complemented with herbs and vege-
tables from their own organic varietal gardens,
along with locally foraged ingredients
(www.missionhillwinery.com). Quails' Gate
offers flights of wines and locavore meals in
their Old Vines Restaurant and patio
overlooking the same lake (www.quails
gate.com). The Sonora Room at Burrowing
Owl Estate Winery (www.burrowingowl
wine.ca) and Tinhorn Creek Vineyard's
Miradoro Restaurant (www.tinhorn.com)
have breathtaking views and delectable food.
Hester Creek, one of the oldest wineries in the
region, has a great restaurant, Terrafina, and
unique accommodations (www.hester
creek.com). Nk'Mip Cellars was the first
Indigenous owned and operated winery in
North America. Here the Osoyoos Indian Band
People have created a wine and cultural experi-
ence, bar none (www.nkmipcellars.com).
On Vancouver Island, visit wine, mead,
cider, and premium spirits producers. The
first commercial vineyard was established in
the Cowichan Valley in 1970 and the Island's
first winery opened in 1992. Today, there are
around 30 wineries (vancouverisland.travel/
itineraries/vancouver-island-wine-guide).
The Gulf Islands nestled in the Georgia Strait,
which separates Vancouver Island from the
mainland, are home to an additional 12
wineries. Vancouver Island Expeditions offers
local food and drink tours such as the
Cowichan Valley Wine Tour (www.vancouver
islandexpeditions.com).
Started in 2014, the BC Distilled festival is
the largest artisan and micro-distillery event
in Canada, exclusively for the province's 70
local distilleries (www.bcdistilled.ca). For
A Toast
to Canada
BY MARGARET SWAINE
BANFF NATIONAL PARK, AB • TRAVEL ALBERTA
Canadians are sophisticated drinkers. This northern country
is home to licenced wineries stretched out in select pockets
of land from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, and is the
world's leading producer of icewine. The cool climate
viticulture also makes for elegant, finely structured table
wines with crisp fruit flavours from European Vitis vinifera
grapes such as chardonnay, riesling, pinot noir, pinot blanc
and cabernet sauvignon.
