Off the Beaten Path

Cache Creek

JoAnn and Gary Armstrong selected the area near Cache Creek for their winery. Its a hand known mores for ranching than producing wine. the climate can be described as : Hot, semi-desert climate with sagebrush and bunchgrass covering the rolling hills.

True to its name the town is steeped in Caribou History and is located on the old Caribou Wagon Road. This popular spot was a stopping place for miners gathering supplies before heading farther north to the gold fields. Just north of town is the Hat Creek Ranch , open to the public May to October, which housed weary travelers and their animals

The town's name is accounted for by a variety of legends, the most romantic version concerning a couple of prospectors who buried a hoard of gold and never returned to pick it up. Sadly, it's likelier to derive from early trappers' more prosaic habit of leaving a cache of supplies at points on a trail to be used later.

Cache Creek can be reached from the south, north and east by car or bus. It is located at the junction of Highway 97 and the Trans Canada Highway. The Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) winds its way north from Vancouver to Cache Creek where it veers east and heads to Kamloops, while Highway 97 takes travelers on to northern B.C. and the Yukon. Visitors with private planes can take advantage the small 3280 ft. asphalt airstrip located just south of town.

Bonaparte Bend Winery Highway 97, Cache Creek Tel. 250-457-6667 info@bbwinery.com
The Armstrong's chose Cache Creek to be their home because they loved the land and started a ranch. One day while on holidays in Hawaii JoAnn declared"when i get home i going do do a business on fruit wines" and the adventure began. Since they were off the beaten path there was was no help from local winemakers. They had to learn the business themselves. The adventure began in May 1999, today they produce 1,4000 liters of apricot,apple,blueberry, black current, cranberry honey, and other fruit wines.
website	Bistro

Columbia River Valley

The Rocky Mountain Trench, also known as the Columbia Valley, is surmounted by the Rocky Mountains on the east and the Bugaboos on the west. Both are impressively high and rugged ranges. Equally impressive is the Columbia River, which rolls through the southern part of the valley. The broad waterway is an important stopover on the semiannual migration route for wildlife. Canada geese nesting platforms dot the marshier sections of the Columbia River on the stretch of Hwy 95 from Parson to Golden. Highway 93/95 links Cranbrook at the south end of the Columbia River Valley with Golden, about 230 km north.

Columbia Gardens Vineyard and Winery 9340 Station Road Trail BC V1R 4W6 250 367-7493
The first winery and only located in Kootenays open in the fall of 2001. The winery owned and operated by the Bryden and Wallace family. Currently there are 5 acres of vines. The winery selectively produces few wines seeking quality of quanity. Pinot Noir,Marechal Fock and Gewurztraiminer and unoaked Chardonnay . The tasting room along with a gift shop are located in a log cabin . Author John Schreiner writes; the charm of the Columbia wine shop surprises first time visitors who do not expect a tasting room with sophisticated decor this far off the beaten path. •  Winemaker – Lawrence Wallace •  Winemaking philosophy – Produce VQA quality wines and to remain a family winery producing limited quantities of fine wines •  Signature wine – Garden Gold blended white wine
website	wine shop,gifts,local products