For wine aficionados keen to expand their experience by straying off the Okanagan region’s beaten path, Recline Ridge Vineyards & Winery offers a palate-pleasing perspective on varietals that flourish in the Shuswap.
Located in Tappen, it’s roughly 14 kilometres west of Salmon Arm in pastoral countryside and forest with a shorter growing season. Rather than procuring grapes from the south, Recline Ridge owners Graydon and Maureen Ratzlaff chose to be true to the region with grapes that can be grown in the Shuswap.
With grapes sourced from its own vineyards and other local growers, wines include expressions of hardy varietals such as Siegerrebe, Ortega, Kerner, Optima, Madeleine Angevine, Madeleine Sylvanner, Bacchus, Maréchal Foch, Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch and Pinot Noir. Wines range from German-style aromatic whites, fruity reds that are light-in-style to dessert selections, including a port-like fortified French Oak aged Maréchal Foch.
Linger on the licensed patio and enjoy a glass or bottle of Recline Ridge wine with your picnic. Bring your own lunch or select locally produced items from the cooler, such as sausages, cheese, preserves, specialty crackers and Recline Ridge wine gums. Open seven days a week during the high season. Check reclineridgewinery.com for current hours, to purchase wine and to discover where else it’s available.