The secretsa国际传媒檚 getting out. The Okanagan, renowned for its wine scene and natural beauty, made international headlines this past weekend.

In a feature article from The Times of London, headlined the valley is praised extensively for its natural beauty and wine.

The article, written by Times staff writer Fiona Sima, dubs the Okanagan sa国际传媒淐anadasa国际传媒檚 upsa国际传媒慳ndsa国际传媒慶oming wine region where vineyards are part of the scenery.sa国际传媒�

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Sims visited the valley pre-pandemic and had nothing but praise to give.

sa国际传媒淵ou might not have heard of or tasted wine from the Okanagan Valley. Canadians, wisely, drink pretty much all of it themselves, exporting only 5 per cent, but it deserves to be more widely enjoyed,sa国际传媒� she wrote.

Sims started her Journey in Vancouver before driving along the Coquihalla. After leaving the Lower Mainland, Sims describes the journey as sa国际传媒渁 blissful meander on empty roads through fertile valleys before we reached the pretty little town of Hope.sa国际传媒�

After a stop in Merritt for cinnamon buns at Brambles Bakery and descending the Coquihalla into Kelowna, Sims got her first glimpse of the valley which she described as sa国际传媒渁 glittering string of lakes, which ripple southwards for 84 miles.sa国际传媒�

Having visited 20 years prior, Sims noted how much the valley has changed.

sa国际传媒淏ack then it was a sedate kind of place. These days itsa国际传媒檚 populated by hipsters. Add a number of artisanal coffee shops, a serious chocolatier (Karat), a gin distillery (Okanagan Spirits) and more than seven craft breweries, and you get the picture,sa国际传媒� she wrote.

Sims praised Kelownasa国际传媒檚 Waterfront Wines, and also made sure to mention some classics like Quailssa国际传媒� Gate, Summerhill, 50th Parallel and Mission Hill.

After sampling the best the Kelowna wine scene had to offer, Sims headed south for Summerland.

sa国际传媒淭he next day we drove 28 miles south to the town of Summerland, weaving our way along the lakesa国际传媒檚 western shore, through country lanes, and past orchards of soft fruit trees and grapes ripening in the sun (Okanagan is the fruit bowl of Canada),sa国际传媒� she wrote.

In Summerland, the author visited Okanagan Crush Pad before heading south to get lunch at Time Winery in Penticton. sa国际传媒淚ts buzzy on-site restaurant is the perfect spot for burgers slathered in bacon jam, with a slick of Cabernet/Merlot ketchup and a glass of Syrah,sa国际传媒� she said of Time Winery.

Finally, Sims headed south to check out Oliver and eventually Osoyoos.

sa国际传媒淪outhern Okanagan is Canadasa国际传媒檚 answer to Mexico, with proper sagebrush and cacti-filled desert, and plenty of partying during normal summers in its many lakeside resorts and campsites,sa国际传媒� she detailed.

Sims headed back to Vancouver vie the Hope-Princeton highway to take in the Similkameen Valley.

sa国际传媒淭his pocket of small-town charm follows a namesake river and is the countrysa国际传媒檚 organic farming capital. I look forward to seeing sa国际传媒� and tasting sa国际传媒� how it develops over the next 20 years, but if the Okanagan Valley is anything to go by, Isa国际传媒檓 sure it will age well,sa国际传媒� she concluded.

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jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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