In Honour of Moms
Photo credit and copyrights to Roslyne Buchanan & Gonzo Okanagan
As spring flowers blossom in time for Mother’s Day so, too, do wineries and other culinary hotspots. The special perks designed in honour of Moms multiply as we approach May 14. Don’t delay booking though because the best celebrations will be snapped up quickly.
Okanagan options sent to me:
Phantom Creek
Phantom Creek Estates is offering its luxury “Tea over the Okanagan” on May 14. Whether guests are looking to celebrate a Mom-To-Be, Grandmas expecting their latest Grandchild, Aunts, Sisters or Moms with babies of the furry variety, Phantom Creek helps you secure your status as favourite child. It includes all the staples of a traditional high tea paired with a glass of Phantom Creek bubbles in the winery’s Phantom Room. Chef Alessa Valdez’s hyper-local lunch dishes will also be available.
Or if guests are looking to celebrate Mom in a more intimate way, a Mother’s Day takeaway high tea box is available to take away with a discount on bottles of Phantom Creek wine to ensure the perfect pairing.
Hester Creek Named BC Winery of the Year 2023
Exciting news in the Okanagan as Great Northwest Wine Magazine named Hester Creek Estate Winery as British Columbia Winery of the Year 2023. The patio season opens officially on May 5 with live music returning, May 20. Spring releases are in time for Mother’s Day. Wine Shop hours are 10 am to 6 pm daily with complimentary tastings at the bar, plus Signature Tastings and the Estate Tour and Tastings available to book. Watch for Happy Hours, International wine days and other significant holidays. Full list at hestercreek.com
Winery restaurant Terrafina is open daily for lunch 11:30 am to 4 pm with dinner, 5 to 8 pm. Watch for Estate Dinners led by Chef Adair Scott, wine features including a ballot for those purchased to enter an end-of-month draw. Details at hestercreek.com/visit/terrafina-restaurant/
Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek
Treat your Mom to Mother’s Day Brunch starting at 11 am, May 14 at Miradoro Restaurant. Make reservations for this and other culinary events made extra special with the panoramic views.
Next door at Tinhorn Creek, the doors are open for Tastings, daily 11 am to 5 pm. First of its Summer Concerts is Steven Page on July 15. For details, see tinhorn.com
Nostalgia Wines
Nostalgia Wines Inc. dipped into its exclusive cellars to make a limited bundle of red wines, creating a mix to help Mom chill, and a bouquet of rosés (the liquid variety). See details below, and order quickly for timely delivery!
District Wine Village
The Mom Market Okanagan at District Wine Village, 11 am to 5 pm. Walk around and enjoy the District Wine Village experience with your Mom while checking out the 16 local vendors featured in the Centre Plaza.
Heart of Wine Country Celebrates Spring: Okanagan Falls, Skaha Lake
Join Heart of Wine Country wineries to celebrate the arrival of Spring and Moms, 11 am to 4 pm, May 13 and 14. Special experiences are planned with each winery offering something different. Many will require reservations. See https://theheartofwinecountry.ca
Black Market Wine Co: Reservations recommended for complimentary wine tastings and a vertical tasting of Syrah (Saturday) and Syndicate (Sunday) library wines.
Blasted Church Vineyards: Free premium tastings, live music with Lachlan Gann. Reservations recommended.
Bonamici Cellars: Italian inspired baked goods paired with Italian inspired wines.
Crescent Hill Winery: Enjoy spring releases, Cabernet Franc, Vendetta, and Blanc de Noir.
Lakeboat Winery: Open for tastings.
Liquidity Wines: Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm.
Meyer Family Vineyards/Mayhem Wines: Meyer and Mayhem are hosting a property-wide celebration. Live music, noon to 3 pm, Justin Koshman and Tak-oh Food Truck serving Mexican food. Patio and tasting room, 11 am to 4 pm. Tickets available online.
Nighthawk Vineyards: Sunday Brunch with live music from Joshua Smith. Reservations required.
Noble Ridge: All Moms receive a “MOMOSA” created sparkling cocktail. Local bouquets of flowers from Sahara Garden Arts for sale.
Play Winery: Wine and Food Pairing of three wines and a selection of meat, cheese and chocolate for $10/pairing. Vertical Library Release of 2019 Teatro, 2020 Teatro and 2021 Teatro available for $75.
See Ya Later Ranch: Open for tastings.
Stag’s Hollow Winery: Free tastings using code: MOMSARETHEBEST. Reservations recommended. Dolcetto Rosato Wine Jelly with every purchase of wine while quantities last. Enter for the chance to wine a Stag’s Hollow Spring Prize Pack.
Wild Goose: Perfectly paired chocolate covered strawberries with sparkling in a can “Frisch”.
TIME and OROLO
TIME Family of Wines has curated three favourite spring wines to delight your mother. TIME Brut’s delicate citrus flavours and soft texture make it the ideal sparkling for mom-osas, the quintessential brunch pairing. Evolve Pink Effervescence’s beautiful fruit flavours and delightful bubbles make it the perfect sparkling for relaxing anywhere from the beach to the bath. New 2022 Chronos Rosé has complex flavours and balanced acidity that make it an incredibly versatile food-pairing wine. This trio is bundled at $69.99 with 50 percent off shipping until Mother’s Day. (The Wine Club discount applies, too.)
The relaunched restaurant OROLO is ideal for taking Mom to brunch.
Along the Naramata Bench
Poplar Grove Winery
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, Poplar Grove Winery assembled something special called ‘To Mom with Love’ six bottle Rosé pack. This pack features three bottles of newly released 2022 Lakeview Rosé, three bottles 2022 Rosé paired and a decadent four-piece chocolate box by @sandrinepastry.
You can’t beat the view from the slopes of Munson Mountain at the Poplar Grove Restaurant where Executive Chef Stacy Johnston creates carefully crafted food to pair with exceptional wine and other beverages.
Da Silva Vineyards & Winery
Book a visit today for a unique tasting experience where the Da Silva team walks you through the story of five of our wines in varietal specific glassware. Open daily,
The Kitchen by Abul Adame opens May 4 and Abul has been sorting his menu to showcase his food travel adventures – four countries in three months!
Upper Bench Estate Winery
The Oven at Upper Bench is opening May 6, where you can feast on cheeseboards and traditional Neapolitan-style pizza. Of course, in the Tasting Room there is always a great variety of cheeses made on site to taste along with the wines.
Lake Breeze Vineyards
The Wine Shop and Tasting Room at Lake Breeze is now open daily Monday to Sunday 11 am to 5 pm, last tasting at 4:15 pm. Why not plan a lunch on The Patio? Seatings are first come, first served, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, except closed on Wednesdays.
Moms Are Legendary celebrations include gift boxes, subscriptions to the Cocktail Club, and Cocktail Classes.
OpenTable Top 100 Brunch List has Okanagan Options
For Mother’s Day if you are looking for a seal of approval, four Okanagan restaurants made the OpenTable Top 100 list for brunch. Check out Shaughnessy’s Cove in Summerland; Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery in West Kelowna; DunnEnzies Pizza in Kelowna; and Block One Restaurant at 50th Parallel Estate Winery in Lake Country.
Barley Mill Brew Pub & Sports Bistro
Celebrate all MOMS with Penticton’s Barley Mill Brew Pub & Sports Bistro with brunch and dinner features and specials on Caesars, Sangria and Mimosa. All day prize giveaways from Melt Mineral Spa and La Crème.
Mother’s Day Paint Night
At St Andrews by the Lake Golf Course, Mother’s Day Paint Night for two hours of guided instruction as well as all the supplies required to create an original piece of art. Paint a beautiful starry forest night while taking in the spectacular views.
If you’d rather visit than paint, the Thirsty Turtle Patio Restaurant is open. Watch the artists create while you enjoy the food and beverage specials offered (no Ticket’s required) Guests must be 19 years or older to attend after 6pm due to the special event.
