Valley stomps Napa grape

Okanagan tourism promoters might want to hire actress Rachael Leigh Cook as a spokesperson.

Cook was recently in the Okanagan filming Summer in the Vineyard, a Hallmark movie and sequel to the acclaimed Autumn in the Vineyard.

While making the rounds this week on early morning network TV to promote the movie, Cook had nothing but glowing reviews of the Valley.

"The most stunningly beautiful location I have ever had the pleasure of working," said Cook on NBC's Today Show.

On New York Live, another NBC morning program, she went further, comparing the Okanagan to California's famous Napa Valley wine region.

"I got married in the Napa Valley, but I've got to say, not to be unpatriotic, the Okanagan's got it beat. It's amazing," she said.

The comparison is apt, considering the movie is centered around wine and winemaking.

Cook also said she would be agreeable to coming back up to the Okanagan to shoot future films.

Summer in the Vineyard premiers on the Hallmark Channel Saturday evening at 9 p.m., following a rerun of Autumn in the Vineyard.