Wine Time: Spring Okanagan Wine Festival May 2 – 12

British Columbia’s Okanagan is one of Canada’s largest wine regions, also referred to as the Napa of the North, so it’s no surprise it hosts a 10-day wine festival in the Spring, Fall and Winter. Lucky for us, we’re experiencing the first three days of the 19th Annual Spring Okanagan Wine Festival which started May 2nd and runs until May 12th.

The fest includes over 100 activities – from an awards ceremony for best varietals, a lobster hot tub party to wine pairing dinners – and more. You’d think not a lot of grapes are being grown for such a cold climate with such a short summer in the Okanagan Valley, but due to its rich soil, concentrated sun and plenty of clean water from the lake, there are over 100 wineries in the area.

The vitis vinifera (quality) wine industry began only in the late 1980s when the government subsidized farmers to plant noble  vines. This resulted in a wave of wine entrepreneurs rushing to the region. Today it’s one of North America’s emerging wine regions of note. Already in 2007 and 2008, Sherman’s Travel named it one of the Top 10 Emerging Wine Regions in the world as well as one of the Top 10 Places to Go, and Frommer’s named it a Top Travel Destination. And the growth has not stopped.

You’ll experience the booming wine industry when you visit the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival with over 100 participating wineries. Some grape varietals that the Okanagan really excels at is Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Chardonnay. It is located on the same latitude and longitude as the Rhine Valley in Germany, so anything you enjoy drinking from that region does well in the Okanagan Valley as well.

For more info on the Okanagan Spring Wine festival, here HERE.