La Dolce Vita in Kelowna
Kelowna, BC
By
Deb Smith
The moon was shining down on the columns of the loggia as we lingered over the last of the dessert wine. Starlings rode the warm wind up to the top of the bell tower, and the lights of the town glinted in the lake, like coins in the Trevi fountain. You could be forgiven for thinking that we were spending an evening in Italy when actually we were at the Mission Hill Family Estate in Kelowna, dining at their open air Terrace Restaurant.
This splendid winery, featured in Architectural Digest and Wine Access, has just begun to offer their Chef's Tasting Menu in the evening. According to Terrace Chef, Tim Cuff, all ingredients are gathered from a radius that is less than 45 minutes from the kitchen, most on the same day. Each of the four courses is accompanied by a wine pairing and served on the open air terrace when the weather allows.
Winery Chef, Michael Allemeier, who many might remember from his five years as Executive Chef at Teatro, is ferocious about freshness and clearly in his glory here in the Okanagan. Our meal included a chilled sungold tomato soup made from fruit picked that afternoon, seared wild sockeye salmon and roasted lamb sirloin with thyme-scented portobello mushroom.
We were lucky enough to have a taste of their 2002 SLC Merlot that is scheduled for release shortly. According to Corinne Kovalsky, Director of Communications for Mission Hill,
"We expect (it) to be released in the fall. Because it's one of our top tier wines, not a lot of it was produced, so quantities will be allocated (likely to restaurants and fine wine shops). In terms of a description, I think it's a wonderfully complex wine with ripe aromas of cherry, plum and currants on the nose. As the wine opens up in the glass, I recall almost a licorice taste. Having tasted a number of our winemaker John Simes' Merlots over the years, I feel this is his best effort yet."
The four course Chef's Tasting Menu, including wine pairings, is a very reasonable $76.00, not including tax and tip. Mission Hill plans to present the Chef's Tasting Menu, in addition to their other menu items, until Labour Day.
Italian fever has hit Kelowna. New luxury developments like the Bellasera Tuscan Villas & Piazza, due to open next year, are offering the best in high-end furnishings and fittings to families and couples with a taste for the Tuscan countryside. In keeping with the new trend in vacation homes, each unit is available for purchase on a percentage basis, starting with one-quarter ownership. This makes owning a vacation home more affordable, while providing an opportunity to build equity. Golfing couples and families will find plenty of activities to enjoy with several championship golf courses like Quail, Predator Ridge and the Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear course. Ski hills at Big White, Crystal Mountain and Apex are available in winter.
While the villas are being built, the friendly staff at the Borgata Lodge, which is located just below the site, would be happy to accommodate you in their rental condominiums. The cobbled courtyards, pink stucco columns and the lush tangles of clematis and hanging baskets give the suites Italianate appeal.
The Lodge, which overlooks the Okanagan Golf Club's Quail course, is literally five minutes from the airport, so a flight from Calgary or Vancouver has you golfing in about an hour. If you don't feel like golfing, you can sip a coffee on the balcony and listen to the muffled thock of shots from the course, while you watch the birds and butterflies flit by.
Perhaps you'd prefer to visit one of Kelowna's many spas. The Emperor Agrippa was onto a good thing when he opened the first public baths in 25 BC. The term spa comes from Latin graffiti found at the baths Salut Per Aqua, which translates loosely as, "These baths make you feel great."
Beyond Wrapture Day Spa and Retreat opened in 1994 as Kelowna's first full service spa facility. Since that time they have opened spas at both the Coast Capri Hotel and Manteo Resort. According to the staff at Beyond Wrapture Spa, they have proved very popular with both male and female clients.
Their signature massage features a healing red or white wine therapy (your choice) called Vinotherapy. Research shows that grape seeds, stems and skins contain antioxidants called polyphenols, which are 10,000 times stronger and 50 times more healing than vitamin E. You're cautioned not to stand up too fast as the wine absorbed through the skin can make you dizzy. Wine and a massage - now this is la dolce vita.
If You Go
There are daily flights to Kelowna from Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Seattle on WestJet, AirTango, Air Canada and Horizon Air. Kelowna is a seven-hour drive from Calgary and a four-hour drive from Vancouver.
For More Information
Mission Hill Winery Family Estate
1730 Mission Hill Roa
Westbank, BC V4T 2E4
During the summer, tours run every half hour between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. There is a $5.00 charge for the hour-long tour and tasting of three wines that follows.
Borgata Lodge (and Bellasera Discovery Centre)
11-3185 Via Centrale
Kelowna, BC V1V 2A7
Beyond Wrapture
1965 Richter Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2N4
Visitor Information
Tourism Kelowna
544 Harvey Avenue
Kelowna, BC V1Y 6C9
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
1332 Water Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 9P4
Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.
