AMA Insider Spring 2016 | Page 43

WIN IT Enter to win a VIP experience at Liquidity Wines ($3,250 value). Prize includes: 2-night stay for four in the exclusive luxury suite, chef’s dinner at Liquidity Bistro, a VIP wine tour in a private limousine and a $250 Esso gas card AMARewards.ca/Liquidity TOP: LIONEL TRUDEL; RIGHT: COVERT FARMS Prepping for dinner at award-winning Liquidity Bistro patio, soak in views of lakes Vaseux and Skaha. Then head to the bistro for Pacific Northwest dishes made with ingredients freshly cut from chef Rob Walker’s own garden. The bistro was recently rated by Open Table as one of the top 100 restaurants in Canada. After a sip and a bite, make your way to Liquidity’s indoor-outdoor gallery of sculpture and paintings. The winery hosts an artist lecture series, bringing some of the world’s top artists to the area to discuss their work—over a glass of wine, of course. Winemaker dinners, art exhibits and music events make Liquidity a total cultural experience. Before destination wineries like Liquidity moved in, Okanagan Falls was an international rock-climbing haven. Now with better access and parking, Shaka Bluffs Provincial Park is a 489-hectare playground for climbers, hikers and mountain bikers. On well-marked hiking trails, we pass by groups ascending sheer rock faces, happily chatting away in German, Spanish, French and English. Oliver & Osoyoos “Laverne! Shirley! Tonta! Patrick!” Derek Uhlemann calls the herd of shaggy-haired Highland cattle lum- Resident Highland cattle greet visitors at Covert Farm bering toward him. He’s handled these beauties since they were babies, but I’m still glad to be on the other side of the fence of these gentle giants. Uhlemann is an affable guide for Covert Farm’s Signature Series Experience farm tour (300 Covert Pl., Oliver, covertfarms. ca). From the back of a 1952 Mercury pickup, guests explore the picturesque organic farm, U-pick and vineyard at the foot of McIntyre Bluff. It’s the perfect blend of South Okanagan history, culture and tastings. The Okanagan has been home to the Interior Salish Syilx people for thousands of years. A great way to learn about the cultural history, flora, fauna and geography of the area is at the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre (1000 Rancher Creek Rd, Osoyoos, nkmipdesert.com). The Osoyoos Band are pioneers in aboriginalowned and operated wineries, with award-wining vintages made at Nk’Mip Cellars (1400 Rancher Creek Rd., nkmipcellars.com)