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Okanagan Taste: Combining music, wine and sunshine

It is patio season in the Okanagan
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Allison Markin is the food and libations columnist for the Penticton Western News. Western News file photo

It’s patio season. And that means enjoying live music in the Okanagan’s great outdoors while sipping on a glass of wine, or perhaps a signature cocktail, and indulging in a little nibble from a local chef.

There are a few “large scale” concerts in wine country that often sell out within minutes online. To get to the front of the line, make sure you are on a winery’s e-newsletter list, or join their wine club. Tickets for concerts in the spectacular natural amphitheatre at Mission Hill are all booked, with the exception of Michael Bolton (and that may be sold out by the time you read this). Across the lake, Cedar Creek has a series that is booked, but get on the list for next year.

Each summer, Tinhorn Creek hosts its Canadian concert series in the winery’s amphitheatre, and has seats on terrace at the award-winning Miradoro restaurant. Enjoy dinner above the crowd with a view of sunset over the Oliver-Osoyoos wine region. The next show is the Julian Taylor Band on June 24.

On a smaller, more intimate scale, numerous wineries and breweries feature live music throughout the season. Every Sunday at 6 p.m., Cannery Brewing hosts a performers, a good way to close out a weekend before going back to work.

In Oliver, Hester Creek has music on the patio, Saturdays at 1 p.m., and Quinta Ferreira has tunes at 1 p.m. on Sundays. Thursdays at 7 p.m. in Summerland, Okanagan Crush Pad presents its Live at Crush Pad Music Series. The Grist Mill in Keremeos has “Garden Band Sessions on select dates, and in Naramata, Legend Distilling has Finely Vinted performances a few times this summer.

The number of performances around the valley is lengthy — a few more options are listed below. Enjoy the season, and raise a glass to your favourite performer.

Save the Date

Wednesdays, Naramata Bench: The Naramata Heritage Inn features Tiki Night beginning at 7 p.m. every Wednesday this summer, with local songstress Yanti, and the cuisine of Ambrosia by Chef Victor Bongo.

https://naramatainn.com/ambrosia-restaurant-lounge/

June 25, Oliver: All About the Cask Whisky Tasting and Dinner, hosted by Borderline Whisky Enthusiasts at the Fairview Mountain Golf Club. https://borderlinewhiskyenthusiasts.yapsody.com/event/index/96476/all-about-the-cask

June 26, Penticton: Liquidity Winery and Okanagan College present Wine Talks: An International Perspective on Wine Marketing, featuring five experts. http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/winetalks

June 28, West Kelowna: Quails Gate hosts its Dinner in the Vineyard, a series each Wednesday featuring a four-course farm-to-vineyard long table dinner. https://www.quailsgate.com/visit/winery-events/

July 1 and 2, Naramata: Black Widow Winery hosts its annual vertical tasting of its flagship red blend, Hourglass. Free for wine club members, $25 for non-members. Email info@blackwidowwinery.com.

July 7, Okanagan Falls: The annual Party in the Park with 15 wineries and a barbecue buffet dinner, followed by dancing to a performance by Uncorked. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/party-in-the-park-2017-tickets-21391597845

July 7, Summerland: Savour Summer Progressive Dinner and Tasting. Travel along Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive for a three course progressive dinner and wine tasting,

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bottleneck-drive-savour-summer-progressive-dinner-tickets-35099408275