Sip, Savour & Stay: Why the Similkameen Valley Should Be Your Summer Getaway

By Kurits Kolt

The Ultimate Summer Road Trip: Wine, Cider, and Adventure in the Similkameen Valley

As spring turns into summer, many of us find ourselves looking to hit the road, whether a quick weekend getaway, or a longer, leisurely pursuit. There are plenty of options right in our British Columbian backyard dependent on what activities are dreamt of.

Fancy a little wine touring? How about picking up an array of local, organic produce, and collaborating with friends or family on preparing a big feast while cracking a cold, craft cider? Or maybe the idea is to explore the landscape on horseback, by bike, or kayaking a lazy river?

Make the Similkameen Valley your destination, and you won’t have to choose; you and yours can do all those things, and much more! An added bonus, you’ll be supporting local, Canadian, businesses and attractions!

 With a stunning mountainous backdrop, the Similkameen’s range of independent wineries all enjoy a spectacular setting. The seasonal sunny weather ensures each vineyard’s fruit gets perfectly ripe, and complex soils lend to wines with plenty of charisma.

For almost 20 years, the team at Clos du Soleil Winery have been crafting wines with ‘old world elegance and new world edge.’ Step into their tasting room, perched on Upper Bench Road in Keremeos, and have one of their savvy team members take you through the line-up. The specialty here is Bordeaux-inspired wines, so expect sturdy Cabernets, Merlots, and blends on the red side of things, while zippy Sauvignon Blancs will put a fresh and lively spring in your step! Recent additions to the portfolio is the Lumière collection of wines: a white and a rosé that are fermented at a lower level of alcohol, both of them coming in at a very civilized nine percent ABV.

Just down the road is Corcelettes Estate Winery, sitting on a sweeping mountainside 150-acre estate, 40 of those planted with Bordeaux varieties, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. It’s a family operation, with Charlie Baessler farming the land, and making the wine alongside his wife Jesce, who you’ll likely meet in the tasting room if she’s not chasing their twin daughters around the property. The Sunshot Vineyard Guest House a few steps away from the tasting room has an epic wraparound patio with panoramic views for whiling your lazy afternoon away.

A short drive away in the neighbouring town of Cawston, is Orofino Winery: a much-beloved local gem that’s been knocking people’s socks off for over 20 years now. Proprietors Virginia and John Weber gave up their respective Saskatchewan-based nursing and teaching careers to live the dream in this sunny corner of the world. Legendary bottlings include Beleza, a rich, Bordeaux-styled red, a handful of site-specific Rieslings, and an un-fined, un-filtered Syrah fermented in concrete. Accommodation includes a three-bedroom, free-standing guest house, and two vineyard guest suites atop the winery’s barrel room.

Forbidden Fruit Winery has a little something for everyone. Their fruit wines have made many reconsider the category; the whole lineup is fresh and cheery, with bottlings like Pearsuasion Dry Pear, Cherysh Cherry Rosé, and Speachless Off Dry Peach. Traditional grape wines include a savoury Grüner Veltliner, and a hefty Tannat-Malbec blend. Don’t miss their adorable stubby bottles of craft cider under the Dead End brand: you’ll have your choice of Sinner (apple), Saint (peach) or Cynic (pear).

On the cider front, the Similkameen has an impressive cidery-to population ratio. You can’t miss Twisted Hills Craft Cider’s iconic geodesic dome while driving along Highway 3. Step inside to encounter an array of crunchy ciders made from organically-grown apples, specifically selected by 5th generation orchardist Jo Schneider, to unleash waves of flavour and acidity, for perfectly-balanced sips.

Untangled Craft Ciders are also not to be missed. You can taste through them at the tasting bar to the side of Row Fourteen, the hyper-local, seasonal restaurant at Klipper’s Organic Acres. Annamarie and Kevin Klippenstein tend this land, farming a wide range of organic fruits and vegetables, which foodies can find anywhere from their on-site restaurant to their popular stalls at various farmer’s markets around Vancouver. Utilising fruit grown on site, favourites of their many cider bottlings include the Lionheart Plum, which is steeped with shiso for an exotic edge, Crimson Star, a blend of (you guessed it) Crimson Star pears and green apple, and a little Lavender Nectarine number which has a few apples in the mix, too!

At Row Fourteen, open for lunch and dinner, their home-grown fare is the star of the show, with all dishes being at once elevated, rustic, and cozy. Think dishes like coal roasted beets, compressed daikon, cured egg yolk, and beet vinaigrette, or smoked salmon with capers, apple cider aioli, focaccia crisp, and jalapeño relish. Guest suites are also available for booking, so you won’t have to toddle too far home when you’ve wrapped your meal.

Hearty eats can also be found at Crowsnest Vineyards, where you can grab a glass (or two) of their Rieslings, Chardonnays or Merlots while kicking back on their buzzy patio. Tuck into wood-fired pizzas, or nosh on charcuterie and cheese boards, ensuring to remember to pick up a loaf of one of their artisan sourdough breads, so you’re all set up for breakfast the next morning.

When looking for staples to ensure your stay is as comfy as possible, there are a good handful of places that will come in handy for stocking your cooler or fridge.

The Farm Store in Keremeos carries a compact, curated selection of local produce, meats, cheeses, and other culinary delights. Those not wanting to do the cooking themselves can enjoy a picnic table breakfast or lunch on the lawn, with casual house-made dishes like a mushroom and ham latke, Shakshouka, falafel bowls, and even a grilled cheese for the kids.

Tree To Me Organics in Keremeos is not only a great place to land accommodation-wise, but their market features phenomenal breads, local produce, house made condiments, and more.

This is the organic farming capital of Canada, so do stop off at a couple of the many fruit and vegetable stands at the side of the road, to not only stock up for your stay, but to also nab some local produce, garlic, jams, and pickles to bring home, so your trip is always only a nostalgic bite away.

You can even catch your own dinner! Those with a license can enjoy a morning or afternoon fly fishing in the Similkameen River, securing yourself a little whitefish or trout for dinner. Those hoping for active pursuits can take advantage of many biking or hiking trails in the region. There will be plenty of Instagram-able moments on offer, it’s not uncommon to catch sights of bighorn sheep, mountain goats, deer, eagles, elk, and other locals enjoying the landscape, too.

While we all enjoy country getaways and getting swept up in the beauty of the wilderness, the main drag in Keremeos ensures you won’t be stuck without any comforts of home. Alongside artisan shops and galleries, you’ll find a full—service grocery store, a liquor store, a couple pubs and diners, and even a family-run Thai restaurant for those wanting to mix things up a little.

The Similkameen Valley has it all. A cavalcade of activities and discoveries, and the opportunity to discover your next favourite splash or bite.

What are you waiting for?

By Kurtis Kolt

Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver-based freelance wine consultant, writer, and competition judge. Certified by London’s Wine & Spirit Education Trust and the Court of Master Sommeliers, his enthusiasm and experience have resulted in many high-profile appearances, from being the subject of a Wine Enthusiast magazine profile and appearing at New York’s James Beard House, to leading wine festival seminars and beyond. Catch him at KurtisKolt.com.