Tinhorn Creek...Oliver

My goodness...I'm busy packing to leave on my next vacation and I still have a post from the last one on file. So today I'm taking you back to Oliver...the wine capital of British Columbia. Sixty percent of all B.C. wines are grown right here on the hills around this desert town. More than 4500 acres of grape vines are cultivated in this area.

Since we were camping just down the road from the Tinhorn Creek Estate Winery...we decided to take a little tour. We hopped on our bikes for a short ride...and soon decided we would mostly be pushing our bicycles up the hill!

Nestled in the hillside below an abandoned gold mine, Tinhorn Creek looks down on the town of Oliver in an area called the 'golden mile' of vineyards. It really is a lovely spot...with a great view.

There are garden areas and an amphitheatre...ideal venues for weddings and concerts. Several concerts slated for this summer were already sold out...including a Lisa Brokop concert in September.

As we stood on the deck overlooking the valley, the storm blew in...

...and before long the valley was obscured in a cloud of sand (this is a desert location, after all!).

Then came the rain...and we are not talking about a little drizzle. The skies opened up...and everyone ran for cover. It looked like we may be spending a whole lot more time in the wine-tasting room than we had planned on. Oh well...we were in good company!

I'm not much of a wine connoisseur, but had to try the Kerner Ice wine...an award winning wine made from red trollinger and white riesling grapes. How sweet it is!

Once the thunder storm had rolled by...we too rolled off down the hill. If you are ever in British Columbia's wine capital...go take the tour. You'll be glad you did!

There may not be a whole lot of action on 'my front porch' for the next little while...since we will be visiting sunflower country. I'll tell you all about it later...but let me just say that it is not France or Italy...or Nebraska, for that matter!