Field Trip #589: How To Deface A Winery And Not Get Arrested…

by Andrew Morrison | I’ve spent the better part of the last few weeks zipping up and down from the Okanagan Valley camping, resort-hopping, eating, sippng and generally taking it easy. In that time I’ve visited dozens of wineries, old and new.

Though I’ve long loved their products, the architecture and design has often left plenty to be desired. The lack of representative style has always irked. More often than not – perhaps out of fear that they won’t be taken seriously – owners tend to produce on a stunted aesthetic that replicates what they see and over-respect in their French, Spanish, Italian and Californian counterparts.

It’s aspirational thinking, and as a consequence we have not a few absurd-looking Italian villa-flavoured Burgundian chateau buildings with Spanish tiled roofs and Napa-inspired tasting rooms painted in seven shades of Tuscan regret. It may be a sad testament to a tremendous lack of self confidence on our part (not to mention taste), but I prefer to think of it as an opportunity to do something different. Read more

Field Trips

Outstanding In The Field

National Belgian Day at Chambar

Dropping The Bar At Pourhouse

Bavarian Debauchery @ The Alpen Club

Jay Jones Makes a Norman Collins

The Wickaninnish Chefs

Tofino Food & Wine Fest

Charlie Ainsbury Pours

2009 Naramata Unfiltered

2009 Spot Prawn Fest

Interview With The Pourhouse Boys

Interview With Daniel Boulud

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Interview With Jean-Georges Vongerichten

Interview With Angus An

Interview With Mark Brand and Josh Pape of the The Diamond

Okanagablog #417

UR | Feb 23rd 2009

Canadian Culinary Championships

Opening Of Market

Best Dinner Ever

Dine Out Preview

Au Petit Chauvignol

Field Trip To Sidney

R.TL Opens In Yaletown

My First DB Burger

First Look at R.TL

First Look at Campagnolo

First Look at Piato

First Look at The Refinery

2008 Whistler Cornucopia

First Look at Miku

2008 Gold Medal Plates

Field Trip To Victoria

Okanagan Debauchery

First Look a Pan