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Brix: A measure of sugar in grapes: one degree Brix equals 10 grams of sugar per litre. Mature grapes are typically 21 to 25 Brix, equating to 11 to 13 percent alchohol after fermentation.*

Must: Unfermented grape pulp or juice.*

Meritage: Rhymes with heritage. A term created in California to identify blends made with Bordeaux grape varieties.*

VQA: VQA=100% BC - All British Columbia wines bearing the VQA symbol must be made from 100% BC grown grapes. The wines are screened by a professional tasting panel and wines found faulty cannot be sold as VQA wines.

Varietals: 48% of British Columbia’s wines are white. 52% are red. In the last crop survey conducted, 98.2% of the yield was from vinifera and vinifera-hybrid grapes.


*Schreiner, John - British Columbia Wine Country, Whitecap Books Ltd., 2003

 
 
KELOWNA-NORTH
 

WINERIES VISITED

 

1. Calona Vineyards
 

2. Arrowleaf Cellars
 

3. Gray Monk Estate Winery
 

Orchards and vineyards surround Kelowna, a city of about 100,000. Kelowna sits on the shores of 110 km-long Lake Okanagan and has miles of beautiful parkland, much of which is located along sandy beaches. It is the central access point to North Okanagan wine country and makes an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding vineyards and wineries.
THE TOUR
 

Begin your tour in downtown Kelowna at Calona Vineyards, 1125 Richter Street. Established in 1932, Calona Vineyards is British Columbia's oldest continually producing winery. It produces premium wines under the Artist Series label. One, the Sovereign Opal, is from a grape developed specifically to be grown in the Okanagan Valley and the only varietal wine of its kind made.

From Calona Vineyards it’s about a 30 minute drive to to Arrowleaf Cellars. Arrowleaf’s winery is situated in Okanagan Centre and offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding vineyard and Lake Okanagan.

Start out going SOUTH on RICHTER ST toward VAUGHAN AVE. Turn LEFT onto CLEMENT AVE. Turn RIGHT onto GORDON DR. Turn LEFT onto HIGH RD. Turn LEFT onto GLENMORE RD N. Turn SHARP LEFT onto BEAVER LAKE RD. BEAVER LAKE RD becomes CHASE RD. Turn LEFT onto CAMP RD.

Arrowleaf Cellars is a small operation producing limited quantities of cool-climate wines with the majority of the grapes processed grown on the 15-acre Arrowleaf Vineyard.

From Arrowleaf Cellars, visit Gray Monk Estate Winery. Gray Monk takes its name comes from one of the first grape varieties it produced - Pinot Gris. In Austria and Hungary, this grape is called 'Grauar Mönch' which translates to 'Gray Monk'.  

Start out going NORTH on CAMP RD toward DAVIDSON RD. Turn SHARP LEFT to stay on CAMP RD.

Finish your tour with lunch at the family-owned and operated Grapevine Restaurant at Gray Monk (closed in winter) and enjoy a spectacular view of Lake Okanagan, amazing hanging baskets of flowers and wines by the glass from their unique deck.

TOTAL DRIVING TIME (ROUND TRIP): 90 MINUTES
RECOMMENDED TOUR TIME: HALF OR FULL DAY
DESIGNATED DRIVER
  Wines should be consumed responsibly. DO NOT taste and drive. Each winery will offer you several samples and over the course of a tour, and it is easy to consume far too much wine to be able to drive. Plan ahead and choose a designated driver before you begin your tour.
 
© 2006 British Columbia Wine Institute.  All rights reserved.