pudgy hits the wine trails - day 3
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
day 3 was a big day for me. i check out of my hotel and head south to osoyoos. after a good breakfast at the hotel, i pack up my things and load up my little green Fiesta. before i continue, i want to mention the landscape in Kelowna. much of the landscape was ravaged by forest fires many years ago. it's very evident as the mountain sides show "bald spots" where trees used to grow. the city is also growing so there is development everywhere. but still, wherever i drive .. i am blown away. i have a soft spot for the west coast .. especially the Rocky Mountains.
anyway, let's talk wineries!
my first stop today was sumac ridge. eugene m. mentioned that i should visit the winery and try their sparkling. so i did. :) the sparkling was really good - what a way to start a morning, right? i followed that with their gewurztraminer - very good. and then they also recommended that i try the sauvignon blanc. i must say .. i was impressed with their wines. they are very affordable and true to the varietal. the gewurztraminer had notes of rose petal, tropical fruit, and i got banana off it. just the right amount of sweetness .. i can see it working with spicy thai food.
since i was the only one at the tasting bar, we started talking about the various wineries in the area. she recommended that i check out "see ya later" ranch vineyards. it wasn't on my itinerary but since she recommended it, i'll make time for it. i did not purchase any bottles since the sauvignon blanc and gewurztraminer will be available in ontario. i highly recommend you check those out.
the next winery had a funny name .. dirty laundry vineyard. unfortunately, the only thing quirky about the place was the name. i dunno, it didn't seem like a serious winery to me because the entire place was decorated in clothes lines with undergarments hanging off it. even the wine shop looked more like a lingerie store than a tasting bar. i didn't bother asking about the wine .. i just took a few pictures and left.
i looked to my gps for the next winery - lake breeze vineyards. at first, the gps says it's really close by. wrong! it was so far from dirty laundry. luckily i have a sense of humour .. but sometimes getting from one winery to the next is an adventure .. the gps took me on some really winding roads and hairpin turns. sometimes i wonder whether my little Fiesta will be able to handle all the twists and turns.
at lake breeze, they had some really nice views of okanagan lake. the restaurant was busy but the tasting bar was fairly quiet. maybe the food there is better than the wine? the highlight of my visit was the convertible Bentley parked behind me. omg .. who was the baller owner of that baby?! it was two older ladies. it was a gorgeous car. where was i again? oh yeah .. wine. sheesh. :)
i was feeling disappointed in the Naramata bench. i went on to red rooster and it was fairly busy. the property was interesting and reminded me of Huff Estates in Prince Edward County. they had wrought iron sculptures and a wishing fountain. i couldn't help it .. i made a wish.
after my wish, i headed to La Frenz Winery. eugene m. recommended i try the wines here .. so i did. i looked at their sampling menu and i decided to try the 2011 semillon and the 2010 montage. the semillon was very nice, fruity, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweetness. the 2010 montage was amazing. long finish of dark chocolate, blackberry, plum, and hint of vanilla. medium tannins gives it some roundness. i think the malbec component of the blend really stands out in this wine. i was tasting it for a long time and i couldn't stop thinking about it. i could be in love. :)
after La Frenz, it was getting a bit late and i had to get to my hotel. i'm staying at a luxury resort called the Watermark Beach resort. my room is like a small apartment, complete with a full kitchen. i feel like i'm in my previous apartment. anyway, i have to review my vinification notes for tomorrow. i'll be in osoyoos for the next three days .. there are even more wineries here than in kelowna. but i have three days to enjoy the sights.
i can't say enough about how beautiful it is out here. i wish i could stay.
good night .. and i still wish you were here. even though i traveled alone, i laughed and smiled a lot. perhaps it's because this is what i've wanted to do all along.
cheers,
pudgy
anyway, let's talk wineries!
my first stop today was sumac ridge. eugene m. mentioned that i should visit the winery and try their sparkling. so i did. :) the sparkling was really good - what a way to start a morning, right? i followed that with their gewurztraminer - very good. and then they also recommended that i try the sauvignon blanc. i must say .. i was impressed with their wines. they are very affordable and true to the varietal. the gewurztraminer had notes of rose petal, tropical fruit, and i got banana off it. just the right amount of sweetness .. i can see it working with spicy thai food.
since i was the only one at the tasting bar, we started talking about the various wineries in the area. she recommended that i check out "see ya later" ranch vineyards. it wasn't on my itinerary but since she recommended it, i'll make time for it. i did not purchase any bottles since the sauvignon blanc and gewurztraminer will be available in ontario. i highly recommend you check those out.
the next winery had a funny name .. dirty laundry vineyard. unfortunately, the only thing quirky about the place was the name. i dunno, it didn't seem like a serious winery to me because the entire place was decorated in clothes lines with undergarments hanging off it. even the wine shop looked more like a lingerie store than a tasting bar. i didn't bother asking about the wine .. i just took a few pictures and left.
i looked to my gps for the next winery - lake breeze vineyards. at first, the gps says it's really close by. wrong! it was so far from dirty laundry. luckily i have a sense of humour .. but sometimes getting from one winery to the next is an adventure .. the gps took me on some really winding roads and hairpin turns. sometimes i wonder whether my little Fiesta will be able to handle all the twists and turns.
at lake breeze, they had some really nice views of okanagan lake. the restaurant was busy but the tasting bar was fairly quiet. maybe the food there is better than the wine? the highlight of my visit was the convertible Bentley parked behind me. omg .. who was the baller owner of that baby?! it was two older ladies. it was a gorgeous car. where was i again? oh yeah .. wine. sheesh. :)
i was feeling disappointed in the Naramata bench. i went on to red rooster and it was fairly busy. the property was interesting and reminded me of Huff Estates in Prince Edward County. they had wrought iron sculptures and a wishing fountain. i couldn't help it .. i made a wish.
after my wish, i headed to La Frenz Winery. eugene m. recommended i try the wines here .. so i did. i looked at their sampling menu and i decided to try the 2011 semillon and the 2010 montage. the semillon was very nice, fruity, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweetness. the 2010 montage was amazing. long finish of dark chocolate, blackberry, plum, and hint of vanilla. medium tannins gives it some roundness. i think the malbec component of the blend really stands out in this wine. i was tasting it for a long time and i couldn't stop thinking about it. i could be in love. :)
after La Frenz, it was getting a bit late and i had to get to my hotel. i'm staying at a luxury resort called the Watermark Beach resort. my room is like a small apartment, complete with a full kitchen. i feel like i'm in my previous apartment. anyway, i have to review my vinification notes for tomorrow. i'll be in osoyoos for the next three days .. there are even more wineries here than in kelowna. but i have three days to enjoy the sights.
i can't say enough about how beautiful it is out here. i wish i could stay.
good night .. and i still wish you were here. even though i traveled alone, i laughed and smiled a lot. perhaps it's because this is what i've wanted to do all along.
cheers,
pudgy
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