Page 48 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019
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VANCOUVER FOODIE TOURS, BC • DESTINATION CANADA
Canadians love a good homegrown drink. Of late, craft
A Toast to breweries, artisanal distilleries and cideries have
blossomed across the nation. Spirits range from the
Canada unique Birmingham’s Dill Pickle Vodka to the sublime
Royal Crown Northern Harvest Rye Whisky, selected by a
British critic as the world’s best whisky in 2016. This
northern country is also home to over 700 licenced
BY MARGARET SWAINE
wineries and is the world’s leading producer of icewine.
BRITISH COLUMBIA (11 mi.) run through beautiful vineyards; Room at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery (www.
SUNNY WAYS AND Winter in Wine Country in November and burrowingowlwine.ca) and Tinhorn Creek
SUNNY VINEYARDS December, which includes the Festival of Vineyard’s Miradoro Restaurant (www.tinhorn
Sunny Okanagan is the place many Trees; and Pig Out in spring (www.oliver .com) have breathtaking views and delect-
Canadians think about moving to for their osoyoos.com). able food. Hester Creek, one of the oldest
retirement years. The Canadian version of a Many of the wineries have excellent wineries in the region, has a great restaurant,
riviera, it has glittering lakes as a backdrop restaurants and some have great accommo- Terrafi na, and unique accommodations (www.
to ski hills, golf courses, cycling and hiking dations. Mission Hill’s Terrace Restaurant, hestercreek.com). Spirit Ridge at Nk’Mip
routes, and wine trails. Three 10-day annual open May to October, off ers an unforgettable Resort was the fi rst Indigenous owned and
wine festivals take place in winter, spring alfresco dining experience overlooking the operated winery resort in Canada. Here the
and fall as well as signature events through- vineyards and set against the spectacular Osoyoos Indian Band People have created a
out the summer (www.thewinefestivals.com). backdrop of Okanagan Lake. Locally-sourced wine and cultural experience, bar none
Winter season mountaintop wine fare is complemented with herbs and vege- (www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/canada/
festivals at Sun Peaks are days fi lled with tables from their own varietal gardens, along spirit-ridge/ylwub ).
skiing, wine crawls, sparkling brunches and with locally foraged ingredients (www.mission On Vancouver Island, visit wine, mead,
progressive tastings (www.sunpeaksresort. hillwinery.com). Quails’ Gate off ers fl ights cider, and premium spirits producers. The
com/wine-festival ). Oliver Osoyoos Wine of wines and locavore meals in their Old fi rst commercial vineyard was established
Country has some great signature events: Vines Restaurant and patio overlooking the in the Cowichan Valley in 1970 and the
the Half Corked Marathon in May, an 18 km same lake (www.quailsgate.com ). The Sonora Island’s fi rst winery opened in 1992. Today,
