Join Hester Creek Estate Winery on September 29 for the 7th Annual Garlic Festival. This fun, family occasion features over 20 Okanagan garlic growers and artisan crafters, as well as appetizing food carts, live music and world-class wine. Admission is by donation to the winery’s charity, the Oliver Elementary School Farm to Table Lunch program. It provides students with healthy meals using fresh, seasonal, homegrown ingredients. The program also educates students about the benefits of eating well, making it popular with healthy-eating enthusiasts throughout the area. For those coming from afar, there’s no need to travel home right away.
Stay the Night
Complete the trip by staying at one of Hester Creeks’ villa suites. The suites are beautifully arranged with the finest touches and feature gorgeous views of the vineyards. Imagine watching the sunset over the vines: it is simply breathtaking. The cherry on top is the delicious homemade breakfast included in the stay, which highlights the region’s locally sourced produce.
Outstanding Wines
While visiting the winery why not try one or two of their outstanding wines? The Character White 2017 is an inviting blend of Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer from the estate’s vineyard, boasting aromas of white peach, apricot and rose petal. It tastes of orchard stone fruit and apple with a subtle touch of minerality, and finishes fresh with a crisp acidity. This light, lively wine can be enjoyed alone or paired with summer flavours and light tapas dishes. It’s perfect for drinking on the deck with good friends.
The award-winning Character Red 2016 won Gold at Spring Okanagan Wine Festival, Best of Varietal Awards, 2018. A spicy blend of four classic varietals: Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, the Character Red is aged for eight months in a combination of French and American oak. It is a charming savoury wine known for its purity of fruit and aromas of caramel, spice and pepper. It features flavours of dark berries, white pepper, dark fruit and vanilla oak. This wine is big and round with a full, long finish. A great wine for autumn — try it with a classic dinner of roast leg of lamb and fresh rosemary potatoes, zesty lamb burgers cooked on the BBQ or full-bodied cheeses like Stilton. For vegetarians and vegans, pair it with grilled Portobello mushroom burgers layered with roasted vegetables such as local eggplant and zucchini.
More Celebrations
The estate will be celebrating its fabulous 50th anniversary with ongoing festivities, so don’t forget to check their website for upcoming events. There’s always something creative and exciting happening at this winery.
FMI: hestercreek.com