Touring wineries

“A “vertical tasting” is trying the same wine, from the same winery, but in two different years. Doing this really gives you an idea of how different wines can taste when the only thing that changes is the weather of the growing season. At Off The Grid (my absolute favourite winery visited on our tour of West Kelowna wineries), we were given a vertical tasting of their 2014 and 2015 Gewurztraminer. Being two very different years in terms of weather, these two wines tasted incredibly different. I wouldn’t have known they were the same wine! The aromas and tastes were just so very different.”

“By the time we hit this vineyard, I was high on cheese and crackers, and the great outdoors. During the tastings, I lounged on the patio and marveled in the beauty of the landscape … freely and without even a hint of feeling uncomfortable.”

“When I found a table at the wine tasting event that offered bliss honey wines, I had to break out of my “red wine only” rule and give these babies a try. While they were certainly sweeter than I’d usually opt for, even without added sugar, I was blown away by the taste and aromas. There is no way you could miss that they are made with honey (and cherries). This was certainly the most unique wine I tasted over the entire weekend, and I’m itching to get my hands on some.”