....CAB....Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery, Dirty Laundry

The third sip of many...

After turning off the highway, the topography changed immensely. The rolling hills seemed a little more arid and the winding road turned out to be tons of fun in a 4X4. We were on the quest to find the winery that was rumored to be located in an old brothel – run by an Asian gentleman during the gold rush – laundry on the bottom floor, ladies upstairs. It seems that clean clothes became all the rage. How could I not check that out!

As we started our ascent through Summerland, our curiosity was piqued by a sign for ‘fruit wine’ – Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery.  This place was not at all what I expected. There were lots of amazing jams, syrups and fruit leathers (Summerland Sweets) and then there was the wine. When they suggested fruit wine, I thought it would be like dessert wine. So wrong was I. Now they do have dessert wine, but they also have table wines that are made from pumpkin- yes pumpkin and raspberry, cranberry, blueberry, cherry and so on – and they weren’t too sweet. These table wines are awesome in martinis or in iced concoctions that come out of the Margaritaville machine! Just like that, I was squirreling a mixed case away in the back of the truck.

A short, but twisty drive away, we found Dirty Laundry  - an awesome name for a former laundry/brothel-come winery. The wrought iron gate was so cool and the view was a very different perspective of the area. The tasting room did not have a restaurant, but was picnic-friendly with cheese and Freybe meats for purchase. One can also purchase a bottle of wine and consume it on their patio - worked for me! The atmosphere was so laid back and lots of fun.(You get a Dirty Laundry branded clothes peg after you complete your tasting.) The wine that we tasted was a little young for my taste, but we did take home a bottle of Bordello that is still in the cellar perhaps it's rested long enough?  We have been back recently, and they have renovated their tasting and patio area - a sight to be seen - and seem to have expanded their vintages - (I need to try Hoar Frost Ice Wine next time through.) My treat with every Dirty Laundry visit? - my guilty pleasure - a brothel-inspired bottle topper…shouldn’t they all have fish net? A limited selection of wines are now available in Alberta.

By the time we were done, Naramata Bench was calling our name…subtle, yet oh so softy. 

Meatgoddess recommendations:

Sleeping Giant: Cranberry Wine and Pumpkin Wine - not available in Alberta to my knowledge

Dirty Laundry: Bordello, Gerwurztraminer – Woo Woo Vines, Hush, Kay-Syrah

Musical Pairings:

Dirty Laundry - Bordello: Taj Mahal  Scratch My Back