It’s Fall Wine Festival time in the Okanagan.
For many people, the oenophiles out there, this is a chance to sample some of the new offerings from many of the local wineries and is a good opportunity for one last visit to a favourite vineyard or another.
It’s also a great chance to get out there and enjoy a little entertainment, should the mood strike you.
As much as it might seem like a loose connection for an arts column, local wineries have long been supporters of the arts and Fall Wine Festival is a great chance to take advantage of the nice weather one last time and enjoy a little bit of live music on a patio overlooking Summerland.
The wineries around town are some of the most relaxing and enjoyable spots to not only watch some great local talent, but from a performer’s perspective, they make a great vista to look at while playing.
Thornhaven Estates Winery, who also offered a great summer music series, has music playing on their patio on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 1 to 4 p.m., for instance.
Fall Wine Festival is something of a farewell to the busy days of summer for many local wineries and is often a great chance for them to do something a little more exciting than they might normally do.
Along with offering up a simple tasting newest vintages, as I mentioned, many local wineries are also going the extra distance to stand out from the rest by offering well thought out food pairings to help their wines shine. Some provide informative sessions to teach you about the different methods of wine making that are used here in the Okanagan.
You can also take advantage of the local artists and artisans that Summerland’s local wineries support.
I’ve always loved taking time during wine tastings to take a look through the jewellery I’ve seen in tasting rooms and have even gone back to pick some up for my wife.
Not only that, but the paintings from local artists on the walls always serves as a great reminder of just how many people are inspired by the beauty of the Okanagan Valley.
Fall Wine Festival runs until Oct. 11.
Douglas Paton is a Summerland writer and musician. If you know of a local arts and culture event, contact him at dgpaton80@gmail.com.
