Plan Your Spring and Summer in Oliver & Osoyoos Wine Country

The last time I was in the South Okanagan was during the harvest in October. Winemakers with hands stained purple, the scent of late season flowers in the air, and the hum of de-stemming equipment as the bounty of the year was pumped into tanks and poured into bottles. Now that buds are returning to the vines, the sun is shining brighter and longer, and the whole process begins once more, you can begin to plan your spring and summer in Oliver & Osoyoos wine country.

Between your tours of the 39 wineries and tasting rooms in the region, make one of these special events the focus of your getaway this coming season:

Pig Out: On Saturday, April 30th between 1:00 and 4:00pm, chefs from eight local restaurants will be showcasing their hog roasting skills in the beautiful vineyards of Covert Farm in Oliver. This year’s Pig Out theme is ‘If Pigs Could Moo‘, a cornucopia of dishes featuring BC beef will be offered alongside the wineries of the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association’s new releases and fan favourites. Entertainment from local musicians, souvenir wine glass and lots of great food and wine are to be expected at this fun-filled summer kick-off event. Tickets are available for $55 online here.

Half Corked Marathon: The Half Corked Marathon weaves racers through the beautiful vineyards of the Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country sampling wines and fine food on route. For those not partaking in the race this year there are still many fun events to participate in.

The night before the Half Corked Marathon (May 27th) invites racers and non-participants to join the Primavera Dinner to indulge in delicious pastas, salads and wines from the Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country. On May 28th between 11:00am and 3:00pm, head to the party at the finish line for a relaxing afternoon of entertainment, food, wine, friends and family. General admission of the finish line party is free but if attendees wish to participate in wine tasting and a finish line lunch tickets will be available for purchase.

Tinhorn Creek Summer Concert Series: Follow up an afternoon of fun at the Half Corked Marathon finish line party by heading to the kick-off of the Canadian concert series on the evening of May 28th (Pernell Reichert will be performing). The concert series continues once a month throughout the summer and the final show takes place on September 10th. Concert-goers can also enjoy delicious BBQ food options from the talented team of Miradoro Restaurant while sipping on award-winning Tinhorn Creek Vineyards wines.

Market on Main: This charming farmer’s market celebrates all things local and home-grown in the Oliver Osoyoos region. Every Saturday through the summer on Main Street in Osoyoos you can pick up fresh local fruits and vegetables, artisan crafts, and regional wine, beer & spirits.

Covert Farms U-Pick: In season Covert Farms encourages wine customers to visit the Seacrest Organics at Covert Farms to try hand-picking their own produce from the 40 different kinds of crops offered on property. Freshly-harvested produce is also available in their farm store and some crops are available from late spring until the first frost.

New Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association Members: OOWA is pleased to welcome the three newest members of the association, Bordertown Vineyards & Estate Winery, Blue Sky (opening soon) and Lariana Cellars. These three wineries bring OOWA’s count up to 39 wineries and will be a great addition to the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association. Find out more by following the OOWA on Twitter and Facebook.