It was right about this time of year in 2010, when I was wrapping up my years running Gastowns Salt Tasting Room, that I decided to take a small break before diving into the very abstract world of freelance wine consulting. A friend was running the Okanagans Naramata Heritage Inn and told me there was an opportunity to help with the wine program over the summer. Having been a long-time proponent of B.C. wine, Id actually spent a criminally low amount of time in our wine country. I jumped at the chance.
My Naramata fling was quite enjoyable, full of the highs and lows that come with living anywhere, really. There was the enchanting, romantic side of things - living in a tiny cabin on a vineyard, a five-minute walk from the beach and having everything from osprey to wild peacocks as my neighbours. Then there was the other side of things, the cabin had mice, the lack of urban comforts and amenities, I had many bears as neighbours. All and all, it was a very rich experience where I got to experience the day-to-day life in living amongst the vines.
Its the people of Naramata that I miss most though, the folks who I got to know quite well over that summer and look forward to seeing again when their Naramata Spring Release event hits town, Westminster Quay actually, on April 24.
People like Rob Van Westen of Van Westen Vineyards. Hes a third-generation Naramata farmer whose family grows apples and cherries, the latter being something he farms as well as the grapes that he makes his award-winning wines from. I count his Viognier ($24.50) as one of my favourite B.C. bottles, bursting with orange blossoms and honey, begging for sunshine and a patio.
Practically next door to his winery sits Miranda and Del Halladays Elephant Island Orchard Wines, a fruit winery that Ive written about before as a mea culpa for being snobby towards wine made from anything other than grapes. I now constantly spread the gospel of their Little King Sparkling Wine ($24.99) a Champagne-method dry bubbly made from apples and a splash of fresh raspberry thats great with a host of hors doeuvres.
Another splash Ill be sure not to miss is Ross Hackworths Syrah from Nichol Vineyard ($35.) The guys gone from being a little boy growing up amongst Naramatas orchards to now tending Canadas oldest Syrah vines, the fruit from which he extracts plenty of black and red currant, fresh mint and a spice rack of flavours, particularly cinnamon and clove. A perfect match for your summer barbecue.
I encourage you to not only follow up on these wines, but to hop the SkyTrain to the River Market at Westminster Quay on April 24 to have a virtual tour of 19 Naramata wineries, paired with the food from more than a dozen restaurants such as Wild Rice and the Hamilton Street Grill. Tickets are $85 and I can guarantee you that the Naramatians (yup, thats what theyre called!) can show you a good time. They provided me some great memories, Im sure theyll do the same for you.
For more information and tickets, go to .
