Kelowna Itinerary – Mission Hill Winery

In the previous Okanagan trip post we’ve suggested  that you start your Winery Day Trip at the bottom of the hill at the beginning of the West Kelowna Trail and work your way to the top .   At the very top of the hill you will reach the magnificent Mission Hill Winery Estate.  If you have started your winery journey  early in the day, it’s a perfect place to stop for a lunch date.  However if you only had an afternoon, I can imagine how breathtaking dinner at the Terrace Restaurant would be. As it is an open air dining, the restaurant is only opened during the summer season, starting in May.

 

We’ve reached Mission Hill gates in the late afternoon.  It’s a good idea to reserve in advance, even on the week day, there was about 40 minutes of wait to get seated at the restaurant.  Which actually worked out great, as we had some time to take in the architecture, the views, walk around the gorgeous green lawns, take pictures  and, of course, sample the wine.  The estate is breathtaking in its scale, artistic vision and the use architecture to compliment the landscape.  Sculptures of people as if frozen in time and in moment are situated all throughout the garden: looking up the tree, gazing through the window at the winery and lake below, sitting down on the grass – as if people that wanted to stay at the Mission Hill Estate forever just turned into stone.

Mission hill table

Wine Boutique Tasting Bar and the store also carries that artistic touch.  Wines, dishes, souvenirs and artisanal treats are grouped around  an art theme and positioned in tasteful groupings throughout the store.  Wine tastings are offered at two stations and a trip to the Mission Hill Cellar is available as a private tour.
After enjoying the grounds and a visit to the store it was our time to get seated at our table at the Terrace.  Every seat at the restaurant has a gorgeous view of the wine fields and the Okanagan lake, with tables located in two long rows  in the open air.  Local, seasonal and stylish menu is offered and dishes are changed based on what  is in season.  It’s impossible to even think of rushing such an experience and we wished we could stop that moment in time.  Servers glide almost invisibly between the tables and take great care to not disrupt the conversation.  The food is light, balanced and tasteful.  Produce tastes of summer, soaking up the sun and perfect taste is not overpowered.  This is one of a kind dining experience where the place, the wine and the food are in perfect harmony.  Where conversation is long and thoughtful and with every bite and every second we wished we could just stop the time and extend the feelings of peace and summer and natural beauty that we are lucky to enjoy in BC.

Perfect Date Wish List – Places to Visit

We’ve talked about some of the memorable places we’ve visited and yet there are so many we dream of experiencing or going back to.  Here’s our “to do” list that will grow with time.  We welcome suggestions and places you think we should visit – share your date favorites in comments!

Seattle

Portland

Vancouver

Okanagan

San Francisco

Toronto

 

 

 

Okanagan Itinerary: Quail’s Gate and Westside Wine Trail

You’ll need more than a day to really enjoy an Okanagan Trip, plan for three days to focus on Kelowna wineries.  Do spend that time together in that beautiful part of British Columbia without rushing and taking in the beauty of the area and the dedication of the winemakers, and it will be the most relaxing, enjoyable and memorable trip you’ll take all year.

Here’s how we started the trip.  We drove to West Kelowna area and stayed in one of the hotels with the lake view.  There is plenty around, we’ve stayed at The Cove Lake Resort, the suite had a fridge, kitchenette which are a must as you will have to try some of the wines and local cheese after the long day at the wineries.

As this was our first foray into the wine country, we’ve wanted to start small and explore a grouping of West Kelowna wineries (The Westside Wine Trail), which happened to be just a few minutes drive from our hotel.

The wineries are located along the winding road leading towards the top of the hill.  I highly recommend you start at the bottom and work your way to the top.  We’ve started with Volcanic Hills winery, and were blown away with some interesting Ice Wines, continued through the Little Straw winery, Mt. Boucherie,  German style whites at Sonoran Estate Winery.  We’ve enjoyed tastings at each one and picked up a few bottles at each of the styles that we’ve liked the most.

Quail's Gate Winery

Quail’s Gate Winery

Some of the wineries are small, with tiny tasting rooms, and as you move up the hill, you come across more and more elaborate stores, larger vineyards, until you hit two of the gems at the top –  Quail’s Gate and Mission Hill Wineries.

Vines

Vines

We were lucky to hit an open reservation at Quail’s Gate winery restaurant – Old Vines –  the night of our arrival at the hotel.   This was an unforgettable dinner, on the outside patio, over- looking the sunset over the vineyard and the lake.  Sometimes things come together perfectly – the weather, the timing, the atmosphere of the place, the server with the great sense of humor and impeccable timing, the wine, the, food, the deserts and the view.  That was that type of dinner date.  We’ve done a sampling of the wines at the Tasting room before setting down for the meal, but made a note of coming back there the next day to fully take in the winery during the day light.  The restaurant is a must try and the experience is unforgettable.  With the menu changing seasonally, there will always be something new to try and be blown away with.