place for retirees. Go back further to the
1920s, when, thanks to the construction of
an irrigation system, the land became alive
with farms and orchards. Rewind even more
to the late 1800s when the region saw its
heyday during the Gold Rush. And then, to
the thousands of years when Canada's
Indigenous people occupied these lands.
Actually, I'm sitting on Band land right now.
Spirit Ridge rests on a small part of the
12,950-hectare Osoyoos Indian Reserve. The
Band owns Nk'Mip Cellars (pronounced
in-ka-meep), North America's first aborig-
inal-owned winery situated right next door.
After consulting with Band elders, Nk'Mip
winemakers name their wines in the
Okanagan language. Its premier tier, for
example, is called Qwam Qwmt (pro-
nounced kw-em kw-empt), which means
"achieving excellence." If you're looking for
a lovely red with an interesting story, to me,
the Qwam Qwmt Merlot is the bottle to take
home. And, it pairs beautifully with cheddar.
I know this because I took Nk'Mip's wine and
cheese tour. After a walkabout complete
with a historical and cultural lecture, we sat
down to five local cheeses paired with five
wines in the private underground cellar. An
unbeatable experience for $25.
But that's the thing about Oliver Osoyoos
that's even crazier than the Half Corked run.
It's affordable.
TRAVEL PLANNER
Air Canada (aircanada.com) offers daily flights from Toronto to Vancouver where you
can rent a car and enjoy a 4 ½-hour drive to the region. Flights to Kelowna from Toronto
can get you there more quickly. Rent a vehicle and take a scenic drive south. For more
details on the Half Corked Marathon, visit oliverosoyoos.com/halfcorked.
DS
OPPOSITE TOP: Costumes are all part of the fun in the
Half Corked Marathon. LEFT: Indulge in delicious food
and fine wine at Nk'Mip Cellars, North America's first
aboriginal-owned winery. Leila Kwok
