My first visit in the morning was to Oliver Twist.  These guys do a helluva good job of whites and the tasting room is rather impressive.  They are also super friendly and you get a very strong feeling that this is a family business.  I like that.  I ended up with a Pinot Gris and a Kerner.

Silver Sage was next.  I’ve been to this winery every year except the Easy Rider Tour 2006.  At this point I’m really just going so that I can take in ‘the show’…the routine that the hostess/owner gives to everyone in the tasting room.  The wines here are great to taste and they certainly have some fun and unique flavours…a gewürztraminer with peppers in it called the “Flame”, lots of fruit dessert wines, and another gewürztraminer with sage in it.  The problem is that they are like candy…better to taste but when you actually drink a bottle at home it’s a bit much.  I still had two bottles of the Flame from years past and did not feel the need to buy any more.  Surprisingly, I did a tasting and did not purchase any wine.

The third winery is perhaps my favourite in the entire valley- Desert Hills. I bought an entire case here last year.  Their reds are absolutely outstanding and they have the best gewürztraminer I have ever tasted.  Ever.  I enjoyed the tasting thoroughly, despite a packed and crowded tasting room.  In the end I bought a Malbec and a bottle of the Gewurz.  Nothing new- but I was happy to get my hands on some of Desert Hills’s product.  Great, great wines.

The opening trio of wineries were all closely situated on the Black Sage Bench, and while there were a few others that I would like to visit later if I had time, I decided to head across the other side of the valley.  I wanted to get to Hester Creek- not only because I enjoy their wines, but because they have a stellar restaurant and patio where I wanted to have a late lunch.

Once in the restaurant I enjoyed a lunch of Haida Gwaii Halibut cakes with seared scallops and quinoa salad.  It was pretty damn awesome, and I felt refreshed after to take in another wine tasting.  The temperature was over 30 at this point and the sun was sapping energy from me.  The tasting at Hester Creek was enjoyable, although they were sold out of my favourites. I settled for a bottle of Pinot Gris.

It was now nearly 3:00 and I was in no mood for more wine tasting in the hot sun.  I went back to the Cactus Tree Inn, found the pool was abandoned, and took the most obvious course of action.  The cool water of the pool was very relaxing despite being under the hot sun with no shade.  I spent about two hours just sitting the water reading travel magazines and sipping more wine.

I crashed pretty hard after the pool- so hard that I didn’t even get up for supper.  The hot sun combined with wine made the air conditioned room and bed comfortable.  I simply watched films through the evening, went for a nice midnight stroll through Oliver one last time, and started to pack my things before heading to bed.

My time in Oliver was enjoyable and relaxing.  I took in the scenery, took on some great roads, and drank some first-rate wines- exactly what I was aiming for. I was sad to move on, but I was also ready.  Tomorrow was going to be a big day- not only was I traveling to a new locale, but I was going to be joined by some surprising tour companions once I got there.