Day One has us driving from Vancouver to the Okanagan using Highway 3, through the Similkameen. Josh has done this leg before; I had not. We paused at two fruit wineries: Rustic Roots and Forbidden Fruit.

Both had solid fruit wines, with Forbidden Fruit edging out Rustic Roots for overall depth and maturity. But we actually bought a bottle of rich plum dessert wine from Rustic Roots so were obviously impressed by both. Both have splendid settings but Rustic Roots is off the main road, whereas Forbidden Fruit is on an impossibly pristine perch overlooking a river and has that tremendous picnic spot. You can even buy wines by the glass here, which is unusual and awesome. Tastings are free at both these friendly fruit wineries.

In Osoyoos we paid a visit to the Nk’Mip winery, which is actually indigenous-owned. The place is monstrous and a bit of a tourist trap, although it’s worth a visit. The wines are decent but only two tasters are offered on the house.

In Oliver, we took down a flight of beer at the Firehall Brewery and Bistro. Their smoked stout, one of three regular house beers, was solid. They also have three guest taps and all were BC brews. We even saw Canadian luminary environmental activist and author David Suzuki at a large table near us.

We bedded down at our first AirBnB and really lucked out with a well-equipped suite on a small lake near Oliver. More pix to come.