July in the Okanagan – Your Eat and Drink Calendar

Reigning 2011 Similkameen BBQ King Executive Chef Chris VanHooydonk from Sonora Room Restaurant with Orofino Winery.

Wining and dining in the Okanagan in July offers an array of choices from lakeside patios to dining among the vines or star-gazing from roof-top patios. The Okanagan Summer Wine Festival  runs from July 7^th to July 15^th.  EAT magazine’s top picks for July include:

Friday, July 6^th 5:00pm to 9:00pm Okanagan Falls Wineries- Party in the Park. Okanagan Falls

What better way to kick off the weekend, than a party on the lake at Kenyon Park with the 12 newly formed wineries of Okanagan Falls. For their inaugural event, expect a great evening of food, wine and live music. Festival-style tasting with Southern Style BBQ dinner from The Chef Instead. Wine also available by the glass for small fee for those who want to kick back and enjoy the music. $56.00 inclusive. Tickets/Info: Okanagan Falls Winery Association

Thursday, July 12^th, 6:30pm

Cedar Creek Winery’s The Tradition Dinner-Celebrating 25 years of Wine-making . Kelowna

Special guest chef John Bishop from Vancouver’s award-winning Bishop’s Restaurant. With John Bishop in the kitchen and the carefully paired wines of Cedar Creek this promises to be an exceptional evening. A four course wine paired dinner with stunning Lake Okanagan views. $125.00 plus Tickets/Info: Cedar Creek Winery 

Thursday, July 12^th-7:00pm Winetender Mixology Face-Off. Kelowna

Wine with a twist. The Okanagan’s best bartenders vie for the title-Winetender Mixology Champion currently held by Gerry Jobe from RauDZ.  In fact, if you can’t make this hip event held in the recently renovated BC Wine Museum, make sure to drop by RauDZ to see some of the Okanagan’s best bartender’s in action. Yes –when the drinks are this good, it’s time to get to know your bartender by name. $50.00 incl with bonus free ride home at the end of the night. Tickets/Info: Okanagan Summer Wine Festival  info@thewinefestivals.com 250-717-5304.

Friday, July 13^th. 6:13pm to 10:30pm Road 13 Vineyards Summer Dinner Series. Oliver

Held on the 13^th of each month until October, the Winemaker’s Dinners at Road 13 are a first-class affair. Enjoy canapés outside before sitting down to an intimate four course wine paired meal in their modern winery with floor to ceiling glass windows and sweeping views. A must for Road 13 wine-lovers.  $99.00 plus. Tickets/info: Road 13 Vineyards.

Saturday, July 14^th 5pm-8pm Similkameen Wineries BBQ King/Queen Event. Keremeos

A highlight of the Summer Wine Festival. Held on the beautiful grounds of the Historic Grist Mill & Gardens, this is the signature event for the Similkameen Wineries. Enjoy an evening feasting on the dishes created by eight of the Okanagan’s best chefs each paired with a Similkameen winery as they compete for the title of Similkameen BBQ King or Queen. This little winery association has sprung out of the vine as a must visit wine destination. Enjoy all of their wineries in one beautiful evening. Arrive hungry. $75.00 inclusive. Outstanding value. Shuttle service available from Osoyoos, Penticton and Kelowna by calling 250-488-0878. Tickets: Similkameen Wineries Association

Saturday, July 14^th 5pm-9pm Quails Gate Winery Dinner in the Vineyard. West Kelowna

This event has already sold out but here’s advance notice for their Saturday, August 18^th dinner. Quail’s Gate never disappoints. Enjoy a special evening dining in the vines overlooking Lake Okanagan with beautifully wine paired dishes prepared by chef Roger Sleiman as the sun slowly disappears. $130 plus. Tickets/Info: Quails Gate Winery 

Wednesday, July 18^th. 4pm. Outstanding in the Field. Covert Farms, Oliver.

The very special roving culinary adventure Outstanding in the Field makes a stop in the Okanagan on their 2012 North American Tour. Covert Farms, one of only three Canadian stops, and paired with Joy Road Catering  ensures a spectacular epicurean evening on North America’s best tour of local farm to long-table dinner in the field.  Warning: attending may make you quit your job and join the culinary tour across North America.  A food-lover’s dream. A five course meal following the story of one of the Okanagan’s best organic farms paired to perfection with British Columbia wine. $190 inclusive. * Note price is in USD. Tickets / Info: Outstanding in the Field

Saturday, July 29^th 5:30pm Orofino Winery’s 1.6 mile Farm to Table Dinner Cawston

Always sold-out, this dinner features a five course wine paired meal with all of the ingredients coming from within a 1.6 mile radius! (Cawston is the organic capital of Canada.) Orofino Winery has become the “it” winery of 2012.   To add to their impressive resume, including winning Best of Show Wine for their Syrah at the 2012 Gold Medal plates, Vancouver’s Hawksworth Restaurant  chose Orofino Winery to produce two wines exclusively for their award-winning wine list aptly named “H’s Blend”.  An evening to remember including a chance to toast with their first sparkling- a Moscato Frizzante.  Or book now for next year. $140.00  Tickets/Info: Orofino Winery 

July Thursday Alfresco Winemaker’s Dinners Joy Road Catering Penticton. $115.00 plus

Cameron Smith and Dana Ewart, the owners of Joy Road Catering have made dining al fresco a must when in the Okanagan. Before starting their own company, Cameron and Dana worked at Toronto’s A-list restaurants including Scaramouche  and Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar as well as Normand Laprise’s Toque  in Montreal.  Held at the breath-taking God’s Mountain Estate.  July’s Winemakers Dinners include Joie Farm, Van Western Vineyards,  Tantalus, Okanagan Crush Pad, and Le Vieux Pin.   $115.00 plus Tickets/info: Joy Road Catering 

July –Friday and Saturday evening 5 course local BBQ Menu Bogners of Penticton

Held outside on one of Penticton’s best garden patio’s, the Summer evening weekend BBQ’s at Bogners are sold out affairs. Enjoy a full local Okanagan menu, much of which comes from chef Darin Paterson’s own farm.  $29.00+ Good  value. Reservations/info: Bogners of Penticton 

Lazy days of summer and gourmet meals. Cheers