Wine in the Thompson

There’s a good chance that the first places that you think of when it comes to BC wine is, you know… the Okanagan places like Kelowna, Penticton and Osoyoos.

But guess what? some hard chargers, adventurous souls you might say have domesticated the sage, semi-arid land and two rivers in the Thompson .

They’re cultivating cool climate grapes that love long sunny days and cooler evenings.

Kamloops is becoming the hub of the developing Thompson-Shuswap wine-growing region, which includes 6 vineyards and 4 licensed wineries.

The wineries Harpers Trail Winery, Privato Vineyard and Winery, Sagewood Winery and Monte Creek Ranch (due to open in a couple of months) have formed the Kamloops Wineries Association and are marketing themselves as The Kamloops Wine Trail.

Visiting our local wineries is as much about the experience as it is about the product.

Kamloops Wine Trail vineyard charms may include sharing your experience with big horn sheep, grass-fed cattle, horses, bald eagles and honey-bees or a chance to sip with the wine-maker who most likely is the owner.

Each vineyard welcomes visitors and there are winery tours and tasting rooms.

Harpers Trail
Wines produced:  Riesling, pinot Gris, chardonnay, late harvest Riesling, field blend white, rose, and cabernet franc

Privato Vineyard & Winery
Wines produced:  Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Sagewood
Wines produced: Kerner, Gewurztraminer, Emmarie white blend, Pinot Noir, Marechal Foch, Gnarled Rhapsody red blend

Monte Creek Ranch
Wines produced: Gewurztraminer, Frontenac Gris, Riesling, Hands Up White Blend, Marechal Foch, Cabernet Merlot and Hands up Red

Head out to a local winery there is sure to be something to suit your palate.

You may have a hard time pronouncing "Gewurztraminer",  but one great thing about visiting a winery is connecting with other people who are passionate about wine.