The Okanagan is British Columbia’s Answer to Napa

Even though I’ve been talking a lot about the food up here this week, it’s the wines that really grabbed my attention after a week of dining. At nearly every restaurant or upscale bar we walked into, a list bulging with BC pride – most of it from the Okanagan Valley – dominated the varietals we saw on hand. There are some wines being produced across the Bay, on Vancouver Island (there’s even a new gin producer there) but the bulk of the world-class vino is coming from the Okanagan, about four hours North of Vancouver. Crisp, effervescent rieslings; sharp, mineral-rich pinot gris and earthy, fruity pinots as good as many Oregon wines I’ve tried make this region one to watch out for. Unfortunately, there are limited bottles in the U.S., and I’ve rarely seen these wines in Chicago.  We tried three different glasses at dinner on our last night in town.