For Immediate Release
April 22, 2022
Naramata Comes to Life with Earth Day Celebrations, Bud Break and the Best Time to Buy Wine All Year
Naramata, BC - Spring has officially arrived on the Naramata Bench. The longer days, an undeniable warmth in the air and the first blossoms of the season motion winter is truly in the rear-view. The awakening of our charming village signals local businesses are ready to welcome guests to eat, drink, stay, explore and spring is the very best time to Discover Naramata. From Earth Day celebrations this weekend, spring happenings, the wine - let’s not forget about the abundance of award-winning wine - Mother’s Day getaway ideas, and a contest!
EARTH DAY EVENTS
The Earth Day 2022 Theme is “Invest In Our Planet. What Will You Do?” and the NaramataSlow group and Naramata Citizens Association are joining forces to present some exciting Earth Day events in Naramata over two days.
Friday April 22 - The Great Global Clean Up, permaculture garden tours, a dark sky adventure, and a look at the night sky.
Saturday April 23 - Weed pull, swap n shop, electric and hybrid car display, bike tune up, clothing sale, birdhouse building, and a speaker series.
Click here for full details.
DISCOVER NARAMATA THIS SPRING
Are you dreaming of vineyards, patios, and the most unique lakeside village?
Spring’s already throwing summer vibes our way and Naramata is ready to roll out the welcome mat in this season of awakening. Mother Nature is putting on one colourful show here on the Naramata Bench with trees blooming, flowers peeking out, and the always impressive Golden Hour that Naramata is known for in the spring! Already starting now is bud break, where orchard blossoms paint the Bench all the colours of the rainbow and cast the most beautiful scent over the eastern shores of Okanagan Lake. Apricots have already had their show, and the cherry blossoms are about to debut!
Here’s our tips on what to do in Naramata this Spring:
Eat - Restaurants, patios and pubs to satisfy anyone’s hunger. From a casual (but delicious!) coffee, to a hyper-local wine paired gourmet experience, Naramata delivers.
Sleep - Cozy accommodation whether you’re on a family vacation or a romantic getaway. Naramata is home to several full-service hotel options, from family-friendly motels to boutique Inns.
Drink - More than just wine - Naramata is home to a number of world class breweries, distilleries and cideries. Taste the beverages in the tasting room before you buy or try them with a leisurely meal. Several of these Okanagan wineries, breweries and distilleries offer menus ranging from a light lunch or snack to gourmet dining. Explore wine country where you will find an abundance of culinary experiences as well as unforgettable events.
Explore - Hundreds of trails, beaches and parks for those looking to get outdoors and experience the Okanagan scenery. With ample outdoor activities, several art studios & locally-owned shops to peruse and even a renowned wellness retreat centre, Naramata truly has something for everyone.
Patio at Legend Distilling
The Patio at Legend Distilling is open for the season, drop by for cocktails - HELLO Gin & Tonic slushies! Those will come in handy on those scorching summer days. Plus a limited menu (Thursdays to Monday) and snacks are available. Tasting bar open seven days a week.
The Bistro at Hillside Winery
The tasting room and bistro are officially open for the season! Get taken on a food lover’s journey, with terroir-to-table cuisine that draws inspiration from the Naramation lifestyle. Be delighted, while you savour interesting flavour combinations and ingredients that pair beautifully with the unique and compelling taste of Hillside's wines.
WINE
The Naramata Bench is home to some of most highly acclaimed Okanagan wineries to visit, each in a beautiful setting, each offering a selection of award -winning Naramata Bench wines.
Some offer a wide array of full-bodied, barrel-aged reds, delightful whites, ice wines and even sparkling wines. Others are small boutique wineries where often the winemaker is behind tasting room counter.
Pro tip: Right now is the highest inventory of wines all year. If you’re planning on coming to visit this year to restock the cellar - the time is now! The Naramata Bench wineries are open, and ready to welcome wine loving guests for tastings and restocking. It truly is the best time to buy some of the more unique, small lot releases before they sell out!
Canada’s 100 Best digs deep into the Okanagan with BC’s best wineries. Two of the five wineries highlighted are from right here on Naramata Bench.
There is a lot to be said about B.C.’s maturing winemaking prowess and its incredible diversity across nine geographical indications (GIs). A focus on the Okanagan Valley and its growing number of sub-GIs — most notably in the Naramata Bench region — reveals convention-bunking winemakers centered on microclimates, soils, clones, oak, yeasts, and non-interventionist viticulture — all in hot pursuit of ultimate terroir expression. —DICK SNYDER
Little Engine - Three tiers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reveal a decidedly Burgundian way of thinking — however, not as an exercise in mimicry. About 7,200 cases are made and they sell fast to club members. Thirteen clones of Pinot are harvested and fermented separately. “It gives you an unbelievable palette to paint with,” says owner Steven French. “The goal is to showcase terroir.”
Tightrope Winery - There’s confidence here in the Naramata Bench sub-GI, with winemaker Lyndsay O’Rourke applying a stylistic brush in a way that feels completely transparent. The wines are pure, fresh, vibrant — coming from a 7.5-acre estate planting and nearby vineyards. Pinot Noir from the Fleet Road vineyard — the old lake bed of heavy silt soils — yields intense, earthy, and concentrated fruit. Across the road, the Rubus vineyard’s light sandy-rocky soils make Pinot that’s all delicate red berries.
MOTHER’S DAY GETAWAY
Whether she’s a mom-to-be, expecting the latest grandchild or has a fur-baby, a Naramata getaway is right up mom’s alley for the perfect getaway all about her.
If mom’s a foodie, Naramata Inn is a really great restaurant with rooms (and they are hosting a Mother’s Day brunch!). Does Mom deserve an idyllic view and a private soak in an outdoor hot tub? Playlist Lavender Guest House is the perfect choice. Does strolling in the Village and getting to rub elbows with the locals sound more her speed? The Village Motel is the cutest motel in the centre of it all. Has mom always dreamed of a lakehouse? Sandy Beach Lodge’s lakefront locale is calling her name. There’s a plethora of B&Bs, vacation rentals and other accommodationofferings to ensure you stay as the best in her flock.
Mom Approved Eats
Neverland Tea Cottage - Once upon a time, a whimsical tea cottage was nestled between adventure-filled mountains and a legend-filled lake. As if plucked from a storybook, this quaint little shop lived in the cutest of villages, surrounded by vineyards and fruit orchards, producing only the plumpest fruits and smoothest libations. Except "once upon a time" is now. And can you even imagine a better place to take a proper high tea?
Picnic at Legend Distilling - There are few things so pleasant as a picnic lunch. Stop by Legend to pick up their signature cocktails and fresh picnic fare before hitting one of Naramata’s beach or local hideaways. We’re talking local fare made with local Okanagan produce, freshly made sandwiches, healthy bowls, share boxes and other locally made treats.
Poplar Grove - You know what language mom speaks? Cheese and wine. Overlooking the picturesque Okanagan Lake mom can enjoy cheese on the beautiful patio paired with local preserves, artisan crackers, a glass of Lock & Worth Wines, and local charcuterie.
There’s a taste of Naramata to fit every palate. Visit discovernaramata.com for a full listing of eateries on the Bench.
Spend Quality Time with Mom
Wine tour - The Naramata Bench is a critically-acclaimed winemaking area in British Columbia; known for its top-quality wines that regularly win national and international awards. You and mom will find plenty of terroir to swirl, sip and savour. The Naramata Bench is home to some of BC’s best known wineries, each in a beautiful setting and offering a selection of distinctive Naramata Bench wines. A stunning setting to show mom how much you care.
Bike for the views - Naramata offers hundreds of mountain biking trails surrounded by beautiful rocky bluffs, ponderosa pine trees and scenic views of Okanagan Lake. The Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail is the most popular ride due to its user-friendly 2.2% grade, picturesque views and the dozens of wineries along the way. The KVR Trail is the longest rail trail network in British Columbia—once a comprehensive railroad system, the decommissioned tracks are now home to an extensive recreational trail. The Three Blind Mice area overlooks Okanagan Lake to the west, and is mainly composed of beautiful ponderosa pine, rock bluffs, and grasslands. Campbell Mountain is a great place to learn to mountain bike.
Lakeside - The beach is always the place to be! Even in May, the young and young at heart are already splashing in the shallows of Okanagan Lake. Mom doesn’t want to get wet? It’s never too early to paddle board or kayak.
Peace, history and wellness - A century ago, Naramata became a cultural hub thanks to J.M. and Eliza Robinson’s sophisticated tastes, legendary parties, and proclivity for the supernatural. Nope, not a typo. Back then, people from across the Okanagan travelled by boat to enjoy concerts, plays, operas, regattas, and quite a few séances.
Keepin’ it slow: Another distinctive trait of the town’s culture is that Naramata is one of only four Canadian towns to receive the Cittaslow designation. Founded in Italy and inspired by the Slow Food movement, the goals of the Cittaslow organization include improving the quality of life in towns by slowing down its overall pace, especially in a city’s use of spaces and the flow of life and traffic through them. The Naramata Slow Community Group was formed to uphold and celebrate the goals of Cittaslow International in Naramata.
REFER A FRIEND TO JOIN DISCOVER NARAMATA'S MAILING LIST AND WIN!
Each new newsletter sign up starting today will be entered to win a $100 Naramata Inn gift card to use on a stay or dining. *friend must enter referred by in the sign up form **contest ends May 10, 2022
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Discover Naramata is a great resource to provide all the best dining, activities and wineries, all in one place!
To help plan your trip, here are some helpful resources: Upcoming Events in Naramata Weather Forecast Road Conditions
MEDIA CONTACT:
Krista Lochhead
Colley Communications
krista@colleycommunications.com
778.227.23.96