Skip to content
site-logo

Foodie Town

Travel for the Food

  • About Us
  • Cities & Places
  • Guides
  • Work With Us
  • Podcast
  • About Us
  • Cities & Places
  • Guides
  • Work With Us
  • Podcast
British Columbia

Gatsby Plans a Moveable Feast {Okanagan Style}

Gatsby Plans a Moveable Feast {Okanagan Style}

See Ya Later Ranch Winery, the host site for the kick-off opening reception of the Wine Bloggers’ Conference, features one of the best views seen high above the Okanagan Valley, as well as vast acres of growing Gewurztraminer and champions one of the best winery origin stories~
The land was purchased by a Major Hugh Fraser in 1919 finding it perfect for his many dogs and Gatsby-esque parties within the countryside. However, his London wife found the location too remote and she severed the relationship as cruelly and cooly as a modern day text message simply penning “See ya later”. 
Fraser, with a renown sense of humour, adopted these three words as a name for his ranch and, since 2003, it is the brand name upon his bottled grapes he once planted so many years ago. The various dogs upon the labels are also a nod to Fraser and his love of dogs – upon the grounds you can visit the cemetery where his canine friends rest in peace above the spectacular valley.

Photo Credit: SYLRanch.com
Photo Credit: SYLRanch.com

It is at this remarkable site that the Wine Bloggers’ began their remarkable evening with the setting sun. 
Immediately exiting from the bus I smelled roasting meats, heard a trilling banjo and clinking glasses. It was an impressive sight with multiple food stations scattered about the property and their paired wines right next door to each. This evening was my first taste of the talents belonging to Joy Road Catering. Joy Road has fast become a legendary Okanagan experience for their al fresco dinners within vineyards and passion for the unique produce and food of the Okanagan terroir. If you ever come to the Okanagan make sure it coincides with a Joy Road Catering event and have your fingers crossed that they aren’t sold out. Visit their website for more information or to purchase tickets.

Joy Road Catering at See Ya Later Ranch event for The Wine Bloggers' Conference 2013 sponsored by Constellation Brands via TheWanderfullTraveler.com #WBC13

With each food and wine station there was also music to be paired alongside. With the baguette sandwiches and Osoyoos LaRose wine there was a man dressed in a chapeau and French stripes playing an accordion. With the salmon and the Nk’Mip Cellars wine there was a First Nations man drumming and musically cawing with traditional garments and feathers. By the parking lot of old classic cars truffle popcorn and sea salt chips were served with See Ya Later Ranch wine and music from the 1950s and 60s rang through speakers and a wide-smiling banjo player accompanied some of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time. It seemed as if it was more than a moveable feast, it was a globetrotting feast, a feast that traveled through time and all of a sudden I was at Major Fraser’s iconic parties upon his See Ya Later Ranch.

Music & Cars at See Ya Later Ranch Constellation Event for #WBC13 via TheWanderfullTraveler.com

 

I must also give a Kudos! to Vintage Origami Decor Rentals for decorating the grounds and stations. It made the evening magical and brought home the theme of travel.

 

SHARE THIS

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.

More articles by Murissa

Related Posts

Things To Do In Whistler With Kids
Things To Do In Whistler With Kids
Summerland, BC has a wine train with insane views
Summerland, BC has a wine train with insane views
The Delicious Richmond Dumpling Trail
The Delicious Richmond Dumpling Trail
The Right Way To Visit The Richmond Public Market
The Right Way To Visit The Richmond Public Market

Post navigation

Beneath the Grapevine: An Underground Dinner at Seven Stones Winery
Photo Essay: An Okanagan Birthday Fit For a Royal Gourmand

8 comments

  1. Esther of Local Adventurer says:
    July 6, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    can i get in on this even if i don’t blog about wine? haha

    Reply
    1. Wanderfull says:
      July 13, 2015 at 8:37 am

      I rarely blog about wine and went more as a local looking to rediscover my area. They just had the WBC in California again at a cool little wine valley (I can’t recall the name) but I know you would enjoy yourself. I would just say you might want to skip the speed wine tasting – it’s fun but I found it really didn’t help my readership/followers engage with the wine/wineries. In speed wine tasting you have to tasting 4 wines in 4-5 minutes and do reviews via social media. It was a bit much.

      Reply
  2. Andi says:
    July 6, 2015 at 2:11 pm

    The more I see about Joy Road Catering the more I want to go to your wedding to try them out! This looks like a WONDERFUL event!
    Andi recently posted..[mis]Adventures in Loco Moco in HiloMy Profile

    Reply
    1. Wanderfull says:
      July 13, 2015 at 8:38 am

      It was really fun and I wish they would have continued with this annually but at that time it was a big deal to have the WBC come to the Okanagan – it was also their first time participating in Canada.

      Reply
  3. Tamara says:
    July 2, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    What a fun time! I love these types of events. Who am I kidding, I love any events in wineries!!
    Tamara recently posted..Where to Eat in Capri, ItalyMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Kelly @ TastingPage says:
    July 2, 2015 at 3:22 pm

    That sounds like an amazing time. That ranch has everything I love – great views, wine and fun parties. I’m in!
    Kelly @ TastingPage recently posted..Michael Voltaggio’s ink.sackMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Pingback: Joy Road Catering on God's Mountain EstateThe Wanderfull Traveler
  6. Pingback: Sparkling Wine Caves at Sumac Ridge | The Wanderfull TravelerThe Wanderfull Traveler

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

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!

Sign Up for the Newsletter

Get daily tips, freebies, and advice delivered to your inbox every week.

Food Tours

Guides

Podcast

Follow @foodietownca

These Canadian girls run on brunch and beer.

Welcome to FoodietownCA
Copyright © 2022 | All Rights Reserved | Owned by Wander Full Food Tours Inc.
Close

Like what this writer has to say? Take her for coffee!

A ridiculous amount of coffee was consumed in the process of building this project. Add some fuel if you'd like to keep me going!