THE OKANAGAN VALLEY W When I was first invited to visit the Okanagan wine country in British Colombia, I thought of two things: Ice Wine and relaxation. As it turns out, both of those treats are specialties of the region, but only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what this playground has to offer. About 45 minutes from Seattle or Vancouver, your descent begins into the seemingly endless forests and lakes of Okanagan. As you close in, the green and blue blur turns into forested mountains and individual lakes that are surrounded by vineyards, orchards, resorts and trails – an undiscovered adult and family wonderland. If you’re into wine, the cliff-side vineyards, Bordeaux Blends, Pinots, Chardonnays, and White Blends are as beautiful and tasty, respectively, as anywhere else in the world. Like sports? This is a mecca for skiing and snowboarding in the winter; golf, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, and watersports in the summer. Seeking wellness and relaxation? They’ve got one of the world’s leading European-style health and wellness resorts, killer farm-to-table dining options, and more nature walks and vistas than even locals can cover in a lifetime. The following is a description of my brief and wonderful stay in “The Okanagan,” a wine and adventure destination I recommend as highly as Tuscany, or any other area in the world (even if the accents aren’t quite as romantic, Aye?) DAY 1: I arrived at Sparkling Hill Resort (http:// www.sparklinghill.com) after a 45-minute, Tahoe-like drive around lakes, through small towns, and past golf courses and farms. This European-style wellness resort is home to over 3.5 million Swarovski crystals, is a short drive from skiing, and surrounded by hiking, biking, and climbing spots. Every room has a glass wall with breathtaking views. I checked in quickly and then began a series of mud and massage treatments (you don’t make much money writing, but there are some great perks). After a quick shower and a classy meal at “Peakfine,” the resort restaurant, I went and explored their seven different sauna rooms and two infinity pools, and looked in on North America’s only cold sauna. Each of these experiences is quite different, and healthy in its own right, but cryotherapy in the cold sauna affects your entire body systemically, from your bones to your circulatory system. It’s crazy. DAY 2: Up early, I headed to a mountain-view yoga class (one of many classes they offer at Sparkling Hill), enjoyed the buffet brunch back at Peakfine, and headed out. I was greeted by Ingo Grady, Mission Hill Estate’s (http://www.missionhillwinery. com) Director of Wine Education, who was wearing red pants and an infectious smile. Ingo filled me in on the “ins and outs” of the Okanagan Valley, and Mission Hill’s winemaking and history, as we headed for lunch on the Naramata Bench. Only later, when I asked about the plaques, did he mention that Mission Hill’s Pinot had just won Decanter’s World Wine Award for “Best in Show” and “Canadian Winery of the Year” at the National Canadian Wine Awards. The Naramata Bench is arguably the best vineyard land in Canada, and one of the most beautiful and unique vineyard terrains in the world, stretching to steep cliffs in some areas and all the way down to the lake in others. The vines are surrounded on one side by steep, rocky mountains and by glistening waters on the other. Ingo and I shared a gourmet lunch prepared by Mission Hill Chef Matthew Batey, and sampled a few of Mission Hill’s wines; the Riesling and Syrah were my favorites of the bunch, and highly recommended. After a vineyard tour (many of Mission Hill’s Sparkling Hill Resort Sparkling Hill Resort Mission Hill Family Estate Winery Mission Hill Family Estate Naramata Ranch Vineyard IMAGES BY BRIAN SPROUT IMAGE BY SPARKLING HILL RSORT Cynthia Enns: Owner of Laughing Stock Vineyards IMAGES PROVIDED BY SPARKLING HILL RESORT
NVLife_NovDec_2013
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