When you think of the Similkameen, what do you think of?
If your answer involves the Similkameen River, Forbidden Fruit Winery has one of the most spectacular riverside picnic spots in the valley. The Ven’Amour Organic Orchard and Forbidden Fruit Winery run by Steve Venables and Kim Brind’Amour is actually the only winery in the Similkameen that is located right next to the Similkameen River.
If you think of incredible organic produce, you would be right on the mark as well. The Ven’Amour farm produces over 60 varieties of tree fruits along with grapes and has been fully organic for 36 years, literally at the groundbreaking level of organic farming in Canada.
If your answer involves award-winning wines, you would be three for three at Forbidden Fruit. Visitors to the wine shop at Forbidden Fruit can see how proud Kim and Steve are of their wines. An entire shelf is dedicated to their award-winners, which most recently includes All-Canadian Double Gold wins for the 2012 Speachless and Gold for the 2012 Earth Series Sauvignon Blanc. Receiving such prestigious awards consistently for both fruit and grape wines sets Forbidden Fruit apart, offering a hugely diverse set of flavours from their portfolio. “I have so many people that come in and half of their order is fruit wine and the other half is grape wine,” says Steve.
Join Forbidden Fruit for their Fall Harvest Blessings everyday during the Fall Wine Festival, when $1 from each bottle will be donated to the BC Children’s Hospital.
~ Luke Whittall