Beer and spirits causing a brouhaha in wine country

It used to be when friends or family visited us in Kelowna, we only took them wine touring. We’d hit three or four vineyards in the city’s farmy southeast quadrant, loading up on bottles of rosé, riesling and pinot gris. Times have changed.

Now, we might spirit them to nearby distillery Forbidden Spirits for a gin gimlet, pop over to Soma Craft Cidery for a flight of ciders and a visit with the resident alpacas, or stop by one of Kelowna’s craft breweries for a hoppy IPA or a malty Belgian-style ale. 

With more than 20 breweries, five cideries and four distilleries — in addition to more than 40 wineries — it’s fair to say the city is in the middle of an alcohol renaissance.

“We have a super strong culinary scene here, which goes hand in hand with the craft beverage and winery scene. Those are two driving forces,” says Jennifer Molgat, president of The View Winery and Ward’s Cider. “And our proximity to where the food is produced helps —  people can actually see the fruit on the trees or the vines and then try the cider or wine.”