After spending almost two months on the coast, it has been quite the contrast to get to Oliver in the Okanagan Valley where terms like desert, orchards, and winemaking rules the topic on everybodys lips, especially around late September and early October where testing, tasting, picking and crushing the grapes takes up most of the winemakers and the farmers time.
They look ready to pick, but the sugar level and PH value is not yet where the winemaker wants it to be. This year, the grape growers have struggled with the weather conditions.
This vineyard dog has a taste for grapes, She will only eat the grapes that are ready for picking, and she is not shy of helping herself to second servings...
The Winefestival is the big event of the fall, and the whole winemarket is buzzing.
Every direction you look, you will find row after row of vineyards.
A few orchards of apple, cherry, peaches etc are still left, but the winemaking has experienced a boom and everybody wants to be in on the success... That unfortunately means that many fruit orchards are being termintaed and new grapevines are popping up everywhere.
New plants popping up everywhere, these are from last year,
the very young plants hardly reaches over the cardboard boxes
Vineyards as far as the eye can reach in all directions
The beautiful green rows almost have a hypnotizing effect when looking at them from a distance, I find myself staring at the rows, trying to find patterns in the green and brown stripes, almost like looking at cloud formations..
A scientist is testing the grapes for PH value and sugar level before they pick the grapes.
Karen, A winemaker from Red Rooster is testing the grapes before picking
Seeing the different stages of winemaking makes me understand the finesse of making good wine, the testing of PH value and level of sugar in the grape, the best time for picking the grapes, how much the weather has to say, so many things has to fit perfectly.
People from all over Canada come to the area to pick fruit and grapes, these guys are from eastern Canada
Right after picking the grapes are brought to the winery where they are crushed and the grape juice is transported to the big tanks.
I am thankful for having the opportunity to be a fly on the wall, so many wineries has opened their doors and shared their knowledge.
This bear paw print shows where the bear has been... Unfortunately we are dealing with a very camera shy bear, so this will have to be the only proof of the bear being in the vineyard. So this must be the wildlife photo of this week..
I will soon leave this amazing and beautiful valley, I am off to Vancouver again....
Mexico here I come!
