Trip Advisor Pro

I had a glimpse of Summerland when I was at the Local Lounge & Grille dinner at the Greenhouse. Everyone seemed to know each other and acted as if they had known me just as long. The welcoming was most definitely a sign of things to come in that town.

We got up early and headed out of the Ramada Inn Penticton for the short ride to Summerland. With a day starting in a place called “Good Omen,” we had a good feeling. That is the name of the coffee house that Lisa Jaager, General Manager of the Summerland Chamber of Commerce, met us at.  Susan had the Pour Over, a freshly made cup of an Ethiopian Blend that Good Omen is known for. I enjoyed my usual non-fat latte (with cinnamon) and a great cinnamon roll that wasn’t too sweet or sticky. We chatted for awhile about Summerland before heading to Vinegar Works at Valentine Farm.

Valentine Farm has everything from vineyards to horses, but John Gordon and Kim Stansfield are best known for their vinegar. The couple has owned 10 acres here since the late 1990s. They have kept it going with green practices and focusing their production on some very tasty vinegars. My favorites were: Balsomico Rosso, a fruity balsamic style; Raspberry Infused, filled with lots of the red fruit; and Tarragon, an herby blend that would be delicious on everything from potatoes to chicken.

Next on the agenda was a fun winery that’s undergoing some major renovations, though not as big as the ones in went through when it first became a winery. This building originally had a Chinese laundry downstairs and a brothel upstairs. It now pays tribute to its heritage as Dirty Laundry Vineyard and they are serious with the motto, “Wine is Fun.” From hidden pictures on bottles (which come with a magnifier) to playing dress up with Judy Skinner in the tasting room, I guarantee you will not be bored here!  And, even more important, you will taste some wonderful wines. I fell for the 2010 Pinot Gris the previous night and discovered the 2008 Bordello, a blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot with lots of black fruit in the front and a little spice in the back, as well as the 2010 Hush (which one the 2010 People’s Choice Gold Award), a quite unusual mix of cabernet franc, pinot noir, merlot and a bit of “hush hush.”