Lots more than just wine and fruit in the Okanagan Valley

The prevailing narrative about the Okanagan Valley this year seems to be the perceived lack of wine, followed by the lack of certain signature fruits.

“Perceived” is the key word. Yes, the weather earlier this year was not kind to the region. Both the short- and long-term impacts are a hot topic (no pun intended) as heat waves are now top of mind, and this will surely continue to discussed for a while.

Many potential visitors may be hesitating to journey here, and in my humble opinion, the “don’t panic, we have wine!” commentary is one hindrance.

Discussing the situation with some visiting friends recently, we agreed a better course of action would be to focus on the positives.

So, let me lay down the gauntlet, and offer a challenge to everyone (myself included)—let’s talk about what makes the Okanagan Valley so unique and spectacular.

World class chefs continue to make their way here thanks to the local bounty of ingredients that can be harvested in the morning to then appear a few hours later on a plate for dinner.

From farms to foraging, locally made products from sake to sauces, the choices are plentiful in our bistros or for aspiring chefs at home.

We are home to numerous creative charcuterie artisans, sourcing their items from around the province. While the origin of the art of charcuterie is French, could our province – or the Okanagan itself – call itself the Charcuterie Capital of Canada? I say, why not? Unless Google led me astray, I don’t think anyone has yet claimed that unofficial title.

Living here, I know I don’t fully appreciate our waterways and mountains until someone comes here for the first time and they take in our breathtaking scenery, and reminds me to take a few moments to admire it myself.

Heading outdoors can be appealing for many who are into adventure sports or exploration, or for those who simply want to take time for quiet relaxation and watch for wildlife. The POV–point of view–stories on social media are popular. How about we bump up “POV Okanagan”when we’re taking pictures of paddlers on our lakes or sunsets over our sandy beaches? Or hashtag #povokanagan when you’re at a festival, event, concert, farmers’ market, art gallery or museum.

Let’s remind ourselves and others what the Okanagan offers this summer is a chance to make some incredible memories.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.