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Oliver SCENIC ROUTE
Heading south along Highway 97, watch for bighorn sheep in the hills around Vaseux Lake. You can’t miss n ʕ aylintn (McIntyre Bluff), a large ridge with a narrow opening where an ice dam formed 8,000 to 12,000 years ago. This dam held back the waters of Glacial Lake Penticton, which covered the silty Naramata bluffs. Eventually the dam melted, creating a spectacular spillage of water and soils that now grow the South Okanagan’s grapes. WINE TOUR (& MORE!) Oliver has vineyards on both sides of the north-south valley and produces nearly half of BC’s wine grapes. The areas on the east slopes bask in the scorching afternoon sun; the slightly cooler sites on the west side are known as the Golden Mile. Bartier Bros. are well worth a visit for elegant, fresh Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. And be sure to stop in for wine tastings and local, farm-fresh lunch at the District Wine Village, a cluster of 13 wineries, a brewery, a distillery and a vineyard.
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Osoyoos SCENIC ROUTE
A visit to the Nk ' Mip Desert Cultural Centre is a great way to learn about the region and the Syilx Okanagan Nation. From Osoyoos Lake, Canada’s warmest freshwater lake, head west on the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) to the Similkameen Valley. About 15 minutes out of town, stop at naturally formed kɬlilx ’ ʷ (Spotted Lake), a traditional medicine lake with hundreds of circles of concentrated minerals. WINE TOUR Oliver’s vineyards merge seamlessly into those of Osoyoos and the large plantings along Black Sage Road. These west- facing vineyards, with deep sandy soils deposited when the ice dam burst, are often the hottest sites in Canada. This area is true desert. Roll down your windows and inhale the smell of sage, an aroma often detected in the region’s rich, full-bodied red wines. Sample some of these bold, flavourful, award-winning wines at Nk ' Mip Cellars, the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America.
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