Page 38 - 2023-2024 Travel Guide to Canada

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RIVER CAFÉ, PRINCE'S ISLAND PARK, CALGARY, AB • TRAVEL AB
A Toast
to Canada
BY MARGARET SWAINE
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 three seasonal festivals
in the Okanagan Valley and produces and
runs the province’s most prestigious wine
competition, the Lieutenant Governor’s
Wine Awards (www.thewinefestivals.com).
Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country has some
great signature events including the Half
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.
Corked Marathon in May, an approximate
24 km (12 mi.) run through beautiful
vineyards, and Pig Out in September
(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.
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
brews there are the BC Ale Trails with over
220 craft breweries (www.bcaletrail.ca).