5 days & 4 nights of wine & food adventure in the Okanagan (2020)

The Okanagan Valley is one of the biggest Summer attractions in British Columbia. As I have not been able to take any oversea vacation this year due to COVIC-19 and probably won’t be able to do so in a while, I decided to have the foodie adventure in our very own beautiful wine country. And this time I travelled with my new drinking buddy RC, who you might have seen in my recent cocktail crawl posts. He’s more of a whisky person but curious about wine tasting. It’d be interesting to see how he would like the wine country. I would also make sure to visit some distilleries

Planning a food & wine trip is also fun! I’m super thankful to have received some help from Leanne & Guilia from Townhall Brands. Besides offering to set me up with some media tastings, they also make excellent recommendations on the route & the destinations. As my last trip covered West Kelowna, Oliver, and Osoyoos, I decided to focus on the Penticton/Naramata part of the Valley this time. Also, a few of my friends happened to be staying in Osoyoos around the same time, so I decided to travel there first and hopefully meet up with them for wine-tasting or awesome dinner party.

The Route

The route came up pretty quickly: one night in Osoyoos, 3 nights in Penticton, and travelling both ways to the Valley via Crowsnest Highway. The route via Crowsnest also would give us an opportunity to check out the Keremeos/Cawston area, where orchards, farms, wineries, and eateries to check out as well. We could have come back to Vancouver via Kelowna and Coquihalla Highway as well. But we decided to pick up fresh fruits and produce in Keremeos at the end of the trip as well. Of course we could have done that in Kelowna as well, but we decided to stay away from Kelowna due to a recent coronavirus breakout in the area.

The Itinerary

Day 1

09:00 am Leaving Vancouver Downtown
01:30 pm Lunch: Row 14 at Klippers Organics, Cawston
Tasting: Untangled Craft Cidery, Cawston
03:00 pm Hotel Check-in: Shiraz Villa, Osoyoos
04:00 pm Tasting: Checkmate Artisanal Winery, Oliver
05:00 pm Tasting: Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Oliver
06:00 pm Dinner: Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek, Oliver

Day 2

11:00 am Hotel Check-out
11:30 am Lunch, coffee, & drop-in tastings
01:30 pm Tasting: Okanagan Crush Pad, Summerland
02:45 pm Hotel Check-in: Hotel Penticton, Ascend Hotel Collection, Penticton
03:30 pm Tasting: La Frenz Winery, Penticton
04:30 pm Tasting: Da Silva Vineyards and Winery, Penticton
06:30 pm Dinner with friends at their Airbnb, Peak Haven, in Osoyoos

Day 3

11:00 am Coffee & lunch
11:30 am Tasting: Therapy Winery & Inn, Naramata
12:30 pm Tasting: Legend Distillery, Naramata
01:00 pm Tasting: D’Angelo Estate Winery, Penticton
02:00 pm Tasting: Wild Goose Winery, Okanagan Falls
03:00 pm Tasting: Liquidity Wines, Okanagan Falls
08:00 pm Dinner: Theo’s Restaurant, Penticton

Day 4

10:30 am Hotel Check-out
11:00 am Coffee & snacks: The Bench Market, Penticton
12:30 pm Tasting, Tour, & Lunch: Time Winery & Kitchen, Penticton
03:00 pm Tasting: Singletree Winery Naramata, Penticton
04:00 pm Tasting: Maple Leaf Spirits, Penticton
05:00 pm Hotel check-in: E’Laysa Guesthouse and Vineyard Retreat, Penticton
08:00 pm Dinner: The Bistro at Hillside Winery, Penticton

Day 5

07:30 am Morning Walk: E’Laysa Guesthouse and Vineyard Retreat, Penticton
08:30 am Breakfast: E’Laysa Guesthouse and Vineyard Retreat, Penticton
10:00 am Hotel Checkout + Heading home
11:00 am Break: Fruit stands in Keremeos
12:00 pm Break: Cool Beanz Coffee & deer spotting in Princeton
02:00 pm Break: Lunch in Hope
03:30 pm Home in Vancouver Downtown!

Day 1
Vancouver -> Cawston -> Osoyoos & Oliver

Row Fourteen

725 MacKenzie Rd, Cawston, BC V0X 1C2
(250) 499-0758 or rowfourteen.ca

We tried to leave early in the morning. It was around 9 am when we left downtown Vancouver. I felt energetic and only took one quick gas break at Bridal Falls. We were half an hour early for our 1:30 pm lunch reservation at Row Fourteen at Klippers Organics, in Cawston. Cawston, along with Keremeos and other areas in the Similkameen Valley, is known as the organic capital of Canada. Klippers Organics has long been established in the area, and it supplies high-quality organic produce to Vancouver restaurants like Acorn, Farmer’s Apprentice, and the Glowbal Group.

Despite the extremely hot weather in the valley, we asked to be seated outside, surrounded by the rows of farmland and the orchard.

Row Fourteen is known for making the best use of seasonal ingredients from not just its own but also other organic farms and orchards, and this showed on their menu. The Zucchini ($18) offered a taste of the Mediterranean from caponata, grana, and basil, but I might call it “Ratatouille on Toast”? If the Dry Aged Cheeseburger ($20) is attempted to achieve bold flavours of both beef and dry-aged prosciutto with just one patty, the side potato salad tasted more impressive to me. I really liked the Bone Broth ($5) – maybe a little too steaming hot for the weather, but extremely flavourful and comforting. I had a sip from the Row Fourteen Sour ($15). Plum and gin? Just brilliant.

I kinda wish I had chosen a dish that was more refreshing for such a hot day, but overall the quality of the organic ingredients did make me feel nourished and satisfied.

Untangled Craft Cidery

725 MacKenzie Rd, Cawston, BC V0X 1C2
(250) 499-0758 or rowfourteen.ca

Although we really wanted to visit other wineries in Cawston and Keremeos, we decided that we would just have a tasting at Untangled Craft Cidery, head straight to Osoyoos for our hotel check-in, and rest. We were about to have more exciting tasting sessions booked for us in Oliver in the late afternoon, but we just needed to pace ourselves in such hot weather.

Being part of the Klipper Organics and sharing the same roof with Row Fourteen, the cidery offered us a free tasting since we just had a meal here.

Each of the 5 ciders we tasted was tasty in its own unique way. I was happy to pick up a bottle of Crimson Star, technically more of a perry than a cider, made from Crimson Star pears (51% ), Spartan apples (38%), and Granny Smith apples (6%). Clear and bright in golden colour, lightly carbonated, tasting of pears, apples, and honeydew melon, it was slightly sweet and super refreshing.

Shiraz Villa, Osoyoos

12190 BC-3, Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V2
(250) 495-8040 or shirazvilla.ca

At the end of a lovely green pathway through vineyards and orchards, Shiraz Villa features a row of one-bedroom villa suites featuring a queen-size bed, a luxury Jacuzzi and French doors that sweep out onto the suite’s own private patio with gorgeous lake and valley views. It is perfect for a romantic getaway in the wine country!

CheckMate Artisanal Winery, Oliver

4799 Wild Rose St, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1
(250) 707-2299 or checkmatewinery.com

This is one of the well-known premium tastings ($35) in Golden Mile Bench. The winery is also known for the first 100-point wines in Canada!

I remember tasting their Chardonnay at the Golden Mile event at Science World for the first time thought it was some of the best white wines I had ever tasted.

The tasting does not include the 100-point wines (2015 & 2016 Little Pawn Chardonnay) but offers 6 of their premium Chardonnay and Merlot which have received 93-96 points each. I ended up purchasing a bottle of the 2015 End Game Merlot, and they kindly waived our tasting fees as a media discount.

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Oliver

537 Tinhorn Creek Rd, Oliver, BC V0H 1T1
(250) 498-3743 or tinhorn.com

Tinhorn Creek was one of my favourite wineries that I visited during my last Okanagan trip. I absolutely fell in love with their Pinot Noir.

Being one of the most popular wineries on the Golden Mile Bench, it is known for its wine tours allowing visits to its tank room, barrel cellar, and demo vineyard, as well as its outdoor theatre for hosting concerts and events. Not to mention the resident restaurant Miradoro.

Due to the pandemic, the wine tasting is by appointment only and costs $15 per person, but it is waived when you buy 2 bottles. I was disappointed when I was informed that they had discontinued producing the Pinot Noir. However, they found 6 bottles in their cellars and I was happy to take them all!

Their last tasting appointment is at 5 pm, which is perfect for our dinner reservation at 6 pm.

Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek

537 Tinhorn Creek Rd, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0
(250) 498-3742 or tinhorn.com/restaurant

Okanagan Day 1 ended with a delightful dinner with a few friends at the award-winning Miradoro Restaurant, known for its freshly prepared Italian-inspired dishes. With specular views of the Golden Mile Bench, the restaurant is located at Tinhour Creek and was extremely convenient after our group wine tasting.

Highly recommend the “Clams & Chorizo” features beautiful fresh clams steamed in a saffron tomato broth with garlic and a pinch of chilis.

Also stole a taste of my friend’s plates, all decent choices:

✔️Braised lamb belly
✔️Confit duck leg
✔️Grilled baby octopus
✔️Meatballs
✔️Diavolo pizza
✔️Espresso tiramisu
✔️Seasonal sorbetto & gelato

Day 2
Osoyoos -> Summerland -> Penticton

11:00 am Hotel Check-out: Shiraz Villa, Osoyoos
11:30 am Lunch, coffee, & drop-in tastings
01:30 pm Tasting: Okanagan Crush Pad, Summerland
02:45 pm Hotel Check-in: Hotel Penticton, Ascend Hotel Collection, Penticton
03:30 pm Tasting: La Frenz Winery, Penticton
04:30 pm Tasting: Da Silva Vineyards and Winery, Penticton
06:30 pm Dinner with friends at their Airbnb, Peak Haven, in Osoyoos

Shiraz Villa, Osoyoos

Okanagan Crush Pad Organic Winery, Summer Land

Read my review here:

Okanagan wine & food adventure 2020: Okanagan Crash Pad is the must-visit spot in Summerland for fabulous organic wines

Okanagan Crush Pad Organic Winery, Summer Land

Hotel Penticton, Ascend Hotel Collection, Penticton

La Frenz Winery, Penticton

Da Silva Vineyards and Winery, Penticton

Peak Haven, Osoyoos

Day 3 Penticton -> Naramata -> Okanagan Falls -> Penticton

Therapy Winery & Inn, Naramata

Legend Distillery, Naramata

D’Angelo Estate Winery, Penticton

Wild Goose Winery, Okanagan Falls

Liquidity Wines, Okanagan Falls

Theo’s Restaurant, Penticton

@Theos.Restaurant is probably the most beautiful Greek restaurant I have been to in North America, and it’s right here in Penticton, BC! The popular spot is reservation only. We attempted to find a walk-in table at 7 pm on a Tuesday evening and had to settle for a booked table for 8:45 pm.

Both the Lamb Shoulder ($39.95) and the Roasted Chicken ($24.95) are incredibly delicious with classic Greek herbs and seasoning and they are in huge portions. It always works beautifully when authentic ethnic dishes are prepared with fresh local ingredients.

Theo's Restaurant, Penticton — Theo’s Restaurant, Penticton

Day 4 Penticton

The Bench Market, Penticton

Time Winery & Kitchen, Penticton

Read the review here:

Okanagan wine & food adventure 2020: Time Winery & Kitchen delivers a timeless tasting experience in South Okanagan

Singletree Winery Naramata, Penticton

Read my review here:

Okanagan wine & food adventure 2020: Singletree Winery’s newly acquired beautiful location on Naramata Bench

Maple Leaf Spirits, Penticton

E’Laysa Guesthouse and Vineyard Retreat, Penticton

The Bistro at Hillside Winery, Penticton

Day 5 Penticton -> Keremeos -> Princeton -> Hope-> Vancouver

07:30 am Morning Walk: E’Laysa Guesthouse and Vineyard Retreat, Penticton08:30 am Breakfast: E’Laysa Gusthouse and Vineyard Retreat, Penticton
10:00 am Hotel Checkout + Heading home
11:00 am Break: Fruit stands in Keremeos
12:00 pm Break: Cool Beanz Coffee & dear spotting in Princeton02:00 pm Break: Lunch in Hope
03:30 pm Home in Vancouver Downtown!