Road Trip to Kelowna – Quails Gate Winery and Mission Hill Winery
This entry is based on my trip to Kelowna on mid June 2008. My other entries on this trip includes:
Road Trip to Kelowna – Highway 3
Road Trip to Kelowna – Downton Kelowna
Road Trip to Kelowna – Summerhill Pyramid Winery
So far, all the wineries I have blogged, in a way or another, I tasted/sampled their wines. Since I was in a tour, it was safe for me to do so. However, on my way back to Vancouver, I decided to stop at two best known wineries (not necessarily producing the best wines, in my opinion, though) in Kelowna: Quail’s Gate and Mission Hill. Since I was driving (no drinking and driving!) that meant pictures only…
Unlike the previous day, the weather in my last day in Kelowna was great. Bright and almost not a single cloud in the sky. My first stop was Quail’s Gate, in Westbank (again, west of Kelowna). I overheard the name of the winery was due to quails in the area. Whether it is true or not, I did not bother to check. I must say I have mixed feelings about the place. Sure, it looked busy and modern to a certain extent; however, I did not feel the charm I felt from other wineries.
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They also have a restaurant but, since I was not hungry, I did not walk in. Based on the pictures of the view taken from the restaurant, it looks spectacular so, in a way, it is a shame. Yet, I will not find that out with my own eyes anytime soon if that is indeed the truth… Oh, contradictions… C’est la vie.
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 Mission Hill and its well known tower on the background. |
I did not spend a lot of time in Quails’ Gate and then drove to Mission Hill. At first, I missed the turn and had to drive around a bit to go back. Once I arrived, I was rewarded with an indescribable view… But, hey, that’s why we have pictures, right? Fortunately (or unfortunately), the comments for Quails’ Gate applies to Mission Hill. It was interesting in its own way; yet, I did not find it charming as other wineries (specially the three others I haven’t blogged yet). Conclusion: Great view, so-so wines… And, as usual, comments appreciated! |
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This is the restaurant. You can see from here the view ought to be spectacular.
In this amphitheatre, there are functions in summer. I did not attend to any, as it was a bit out of the way.
A close-up of the vine. According to other wineries, it was a bit behind schedule.
View of Westbank from Mission Hill. To the right, the road that would take me to Okanagan Connector and, eventually, the Coquihalla.
