The Winery Tour // Kelowna, British Columbia

Despite the haziness from the wildfire, the view of the Okanagan Valley remained gorgeous.  

On this tour, we visited several wineries: Gray Monk Estate Winery, Blind Tiger Vineyards, The Vibrant Vine, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, CedarCreek Estate Winery, Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, Volcanic Hills Estate Winery. 

Each winery had its own beauty and character. My favourites are Mission Hill and CedarCreek.  

Mission Hill Family Estate Winery

Walking into the winery, the path was between trees on one side and Pinot Noir vines that are carefully maintained on the other. Passing by a massive archway that held the symbol of the winery in place, the courtyard was stunning, surrounded by beautiful architecture designed by Tom Kundig. Facing the archway was a 12-storey bell tower. On the right was a museum-style reception hall; on the left, the restaurant overlooked the Okanagan Lake. A grassy amphitheatre stood in the middle of the courtyard.  

The barrel-aging cellars were blasted into volcanic rocks and supported by curved arches that span their width.      

The Rosé is stunningly beautiful and smooth, with a subtly sweet and fruity finish.

CedarCreek Estate Winery

Although we didn't spend too much time at CedarCreek, their wine stood out the most for me. 

2013 The Last Word, a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc an Malbec, absolutely amazing. The taste was complex, rich, dark and fruity, with a smooth peppery finish. 

The dinner under the sunset was also delightful.