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Canada

Desert Wine Oasis: Mission Hill Winery, West Kelowna, BC, Canada

Desert Wine Oasis: Mission Hill Winery, West Kelowna, BC, Canada
The Northern tip of the Great Basin Desert cradles the Okanagan wine region of British Columbia, Canada. Along Lake Okanagan, in West Kelowna, rests the Mission Hill Estate Winery atop an extinct volcano. When you enter through the gates it is as if you are entering through a portal where French, Italian and Canadian cultures mingle to create an unforgettable sensory experience.
The bell tower rings through the valley while the scent of roses permeate the grounds with a hint of freshly cut grass and a faint whiff of baking bread. The greenery of the growing vines and sweeping views of Lake Okanagan are an ideal spot to taste the impressive collection of wines Mission Hill offers their guests.

Upon arrival I took in an informative one-hour wine tour where I learned of the soil, grapes, irrigation practices, history and storing process. The tour had all walks of life from as far away as Germany and Newfoundland. The most exciting portion of the tour was the visit down to the basement cellar where there sat a potential eight-hundred French Oaked wine barrels. The walls of the cellar are rock as a result of blasting into the volcanic mountain upon which their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes flourish. The other grapes owned by Mission Hill are grown throughout the Okanagan Valley. Their full-bodied reds are produced near Oliver and Naramata where the desert is most dry. Even more impressive is the collection of antique wine decanters and vessels dating as far back as 2800 BC held within the cellar.

 
I walked away from the winery with an impression that the production and tasting of wine is a respected art form and this was reflected within the art that is currently being held on the Estate grounds. French artist Nathalie Decoster has her first North American showing here and her work pairs nicely within the context of the Mission Hill Winery and landscape. Amidst the vineyard are large circles with human figures posed within them or atop them, all made of metal. Her work echoes the shape of the wine barrels, the wine glass you sip from and the grapes themselves, all while communicating the interconnected and intimate relationship with the landscape this winery holds dear.

The Terrace Restaurant, perched on its side running parallel to the lake, offers picturesque views and innovative dishes inspired by the numerous Mission Hill wines. The menu provides pairing ideas with each plate although there are no judgments if you choose otherwise. I was warmly greeted and taken to my seat where I could look over the edge and see the Chardonnay vines below and a sailboat on the lake taking advantage of the breeze. I ordered my favourite of their white wine called Perpetua and then switched to a Pinot Noir for dinner. I was given a small complementary dish with buttery brioche toast, salty duck prosciutto and topped with sweet Rosé pearls. This small dish set the tone for the rest of the evening – it was clear that no matter what would be ordered, a culinary experience would be delivered with delicious surprises accompanied by an artistic endeavour spawned by Chef Matthew Batey and his culinary team.

-Fabian’s East Coast lobster roll with cured bacon and quail egg was served warm and featured a delicious salty taste among the flavorful lobster which was inside the warm brioche roll and is a sin not to be dipped in the tomato lobster bisque-like sauce.
-The braised octopus with green apple foam and gelatinous vanilla panna cotta offered some unique textures. While the taste of the vanilla was unfortunately lacking, the octopus, on the other hand was the tastiest element within this dish and the green apple foam was as sour as a Sour Patch kid candy.
-The Semzu beef striploin, as explained to me by my waitress, was fed two liters of red wine per day in hopes to make the beef tender and more flavorful. While I am not sure that this was achieved I can say that I would order it again. The combination of the blue cheese and jus added a silky texture along side the tender thinly sliced beef.
-The crispy duck breast, while unfamiliar to some, was turned into comfort food with the inclusion of the Confit of leg perogy. The caramelized Foie Gras elevated the dish as it melted in your mouth and complemented the slightly dry interior of the perogy, making you forget the typical sour cream and butter. Next time you have perogies after a long day at work this dish will make you ask, “dear me, where is the Foie Gras?”
 
-Rose and rhubarb meringue Napoleon with a mousse-like chèvre and creamy raspberry ice cream was lovely enough to hang its image above your bed or fireplace mantle. I was expecting the typical thin sheets of phyllo dough and I was slightly let down to see meringue as I often find it too sweet to be the star of a dessert. However, with the creamy-tart chèvre the sweetness was made pleasant to my enlightened palate.
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About Murissa

Murissa is founder of FoodieTown.ca and you can join her on a food tour with FoodToursKelowna.com. Otherwise, you can find her roaming the Okanagan wine region of British Columbia with her 2 kiddos and hubby in tow.

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7 comments

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  6. Murissa Maurice says:
    July 10, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    Do you work for the winery? You know so much about it!
    As mentioned in the article, I really enjoyed the white wine called Perpetua. The names they give to their wines are so lovely! Quatrain! What a beautiful name for a wine, names after the form of poetry.

    Reply
  7. Dana says:
    July 7, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    Beautiful pictures….My fave wines from Mission Hill are the Legacy Series wines including Perpetua, Quatrain and Compendium are a culmination of 30 years crafting fine wine. Rare and limited, they showcase the finest of everything at Mission Hill Family Estate.
    Last but not least Oculus signature Bordeaux-inspired red wine.The wine is aged separately in 100% French oak barrels.

    Dana

    Reply

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MEET THE TEAM

MEET THE TEAM

Hi! Murissa & Taryn here. We are sisters, foodies and founders, formerly The Wanderfull Traveler. Join us as we explore the Canadian food scene! Check out our YouTube foodie adventures and trusted restaurant recommendations here. We created the Foodie Card - coming to a Canadian city near you!

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