Penticton is the perfect place to base your wine country getaway

Claire Newell

Whether it's a romantic weekend for two, friends looking for a weekend break or a family adventure - Penticton truly has the best in food and wine. The city is ideally located; just steps to beaches, mountains, trails, shops and outdoor adventure - not to mention world-class food and wine.

About a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Vancouver, this South Okanagan city, which receives more than 2,000 hours of sunshine per year, is also conveniently located at less than an hour's drive from more than 120 wineries!

Penticton is also a five-minute drive or 20 minute lake view trail ride by bike to the famous Naramata Bench where many boutique wineries are growing and producing award-winning wines in beautiful vineyard settings.

While tourists flock to visit Penticton's famous beaches, which were just named the second best in Canada, according to Trip Advisor, wine tours are the most quintessentially "Okanagan" activity you can do. Many of the wineries in the Okanagan feature unique architectural styles paralleling those found in California's Napa Valley. When visiting a winery, visitors can sample many varieties of wines in the tasting room, shop for wines, and in select wineries, dine at their establishments while surrounded by breathtaking scenic views of lush vineyards.

Stop into the BC Wine Information Centre, the perfect place to start and finish your trip. You can pick up maps, get info on wineries, even pick up a bottle (or a case) of your favourite wines. They have a great selection of BC VQA wines. Enjoy a Swirl, Sniff & Sip before venturing out on the wine trail.

Only a few years ago, Penticton and the Naramata Bench had just 12 wineries. Today, there are nearly 30 wineries on the bench. The city boasts many award-winning options and a great mix of old and new - each with its own unique story and style. Be sure to check out:

• Howling Bluff Estate Winery - located on the renowned Naramata Bench, it's dedicated to producing small lots of fine wines. It was awarded 2010 Red Wine of the Year by the Canadian Wine Awards for its 2008 Pinot Noir.

• Kettle Valley Winery - was one of the first wineries on the Naramata Bench and marks its 20th anniversary this year. To celebrate this, anniversary pricing is available - wines priced at what they were 20 years ago!

• Poplar Grove is opening a new winery and restaurant this July. It will become a new iconic stop on the Naramata Bench wine tour; situated just under the famous Munson Mountain's "Penticton" sign.

• Serendipity Winery - opened April 2011 on the Naramata Bench by ex-tech lawyer turned winemaker Judy Kingston. Their most notable wine is a 2008 Serenata, a delicious Bordeaux blend.

Guided tours are a great way to see Penticton and experience wine country. Options include wine tours by kayak, helicopter, coach, and even classic car tours! If you would like to ride in style in a vintage automobile, a cool option is to tour one of Penticton's neighboring wine routes in a classic convertible from Nixdorf Classic Cars. You can finish up your day with a scenic or dinner cruise aboard the Casabella Princess, Penticton's unique paddle wheeler. It's about $485-$565 for the tour and cruise for four people. Penticton offers a fantastic local cuisine experience. Penticton is not just recognized for wine, but also their acclaimed artisan food producers' gourmet creations. Many of these local products are used in Vancouver restaurants or food shops, and have received recent awards.

Poplar Grove cheese on the Naramata Bench will tantalize your taste buds with their delicious Tiger Blue Double Cream Camembert, Harvest Moon or Naramata Bench Blue cheeses.

Get a taste of some of this local fare served up deli-style at The Bench Artisan Market. This funky hillside market features Mediterranean-style cuisine served up with a local flare. Enjoy everything from homemade sandwiches and salads to mouth watering pastries and locally roasted coffee. A personal favourite is the vegetarian eggs benedict, made with in-season vegetables. Enjoy your breakfast or lunch on the patio or in the cozy deli and market, where tables are set up amongst shelves packed with delicious preserves, pastas, cheeses, dips, sauces, olive oils and vinegars, many of which are made locally.

You can sample more of the delicious local fare by taking part in dining experiences offered by local businesses. Some options are:

• Joy Road Catering, Alfresco Vineyard Dining at God's Mountain Estate in Penticton & Wine Country. Add some romance with these Skaha Lake and mountain view dinners every Thursday and Sunday June - September, for $95 - $110 per person.

• "Thirst for Thursdays" Culinary Wine Dinner Series at Serenata Guesthouse &Vineyard Retreat overlooking Okanagan Lake in Penticton - fivecourse culinary adventures with Chef Roger Planiden. Every Thursday June 30-September 8, for $105 per person.

• Bufflehead Pasta & Tapas Room at the Penticton Lakeside Resort - an ultimate experience in upscale casual tapas style dining, serving exotic tastes of the Mediterranean. (The name "Bufflehead" comes from one of the many ducks living in the riparian area on the shores of the resort.) About $30 per person.

Visitors should definitely not miss the Penticton Farmers' Market, celebrating its 20th anniversary and the neighbouring Downtown Community Market. The Farmers' Market begins on the first Saturday in May and runs every Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. until October 31.

Here you will enjoy a wide selection of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and honey, tantalizing baking and preserves, artisan crafts and gift items all produced in the South Okanagan and Similkameen valleys.

For a little shopping and exploration, visit historic downtown Penticton with its more than 400 shops and services, including colourful Front Street. Vintage & Vogue is full of high fashion vintage treasures just waiting to be discovered! Check out the galleries, book shops and gift boutiques like the classic Penticton stop, Terwilliger's - voted the "Best Cool Gift Shop in the South Okanagan".

Uptown you'll find unique styles and flavours at the shopping centres, including Peachtree Square and Cherry Lane, or at owner-operated boutiques tucked into plazas throughout the city.

Penticton, the true gem of the Okanagan! For more details for planning your trip, visit: www.tourismpenticton.com