This is the second post of two – original post was August 10th, 2007

We came…we saw…we liked!

As I mentioned earlier, we were very much looking forward to getting away and had eagerly anticipated exploring wine country to its fullest potential. The arrangements that had been made for us BEFORE we got there (i.e., Blue Mountain, Burrowing Owl, and others), the way we were treated when we were there (the Mercier’s hospitality, property – VERY impressive acreage with half of the vines being Merlot and the other half, Chardonnay), and breakfasts (amazing fritattas and scones) truly made this a vacation to be remembered!

I would be remiss if I didn’t make special mention of the Toasted Oak Wine Bar & Grill (where dinner had been pre-arranged for us on the Friday night).

The Toasted Oak is a very cool place…it actually is an old fire hall that was retro-fit into a wine store and restaurant…very nicely done. Jay Drysdale, the General Manager, not only helped us find the Grapevine (yes, I got lost on the way to the B&B) but assisted us with wine recommendations (as the resident Somelier, this is something Jay is VERY good at) and incredible food pairings.

The Toasted Oak is well worth your while as the service is strong and the wine list is epic. And, like me, if you like simple directions, this place is EASY to find…it’s right on the main drag (Highway 97) in the centre of town. A must do…

To finish this off, I’ll end with two words…Sonora Room.

Again, Kathy has pre-arranged lunch for us at Burrowing Owl’s tuscan-inspired restaurant. Without going into a lot of detail (which could be the topic of a future post), let’s just say that it lived up to its reputation.

After touring Burrowing Owl, which is something you absolutely must do when in Oliver, it’s in your best interests to walk the extra 50 yards from the tasting room to the Sonora Room. You’ll be more than glad you did.

darren