Kayla Bordignon Shares the Best of British Columbia’s Wine Country
B.C. wine enthusiast and creator of the Okanagan Wine Passport, Kayla Bordignon, is passionate about exploring the best of British Columbia’s wine country and sharing her findings with the world.
It all started on rainy day in during a family vacation in Osoyoos. To pass the time, Kayla and her Father went wine tasting at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. Kayla was 19 at the time, and this was her first interaction with wine, yet she recalls having an unforgettable experience. Following the tasting, Kayla and her Father purchased a bottle of her favourite wine from the tasting, which at the time was the Gewürztraminer.
They paired the Gewürztraminer with a baguette and cheese and enjoyed the view of the valley from Tinhorn’s picnic area. Ever since that day, Kayla has always been eager to visit new wineries and try more wines. She would share her discoveries on her social media accounts, and after constantly being asked for wine recommendations and itineraries, she eventually started a blog called uncorkBC.
“My love and passion for wine came from learning about the stories behind the label,” Kayla explained.
In other words, Kayla cherishes the times she has connected with people in the industry by learning about details such as founder stories, specifics of the first-ever vintage, and so on. From the great hospitality to the unique experiences, Kayla says that she “fell in love with the people in the B.C. wine industry.”
When it comes to wine tasting, Kayla is a professional. She recommends visiting 3 to 4 wineries in a day and giving yourself about 45 minutes to an hour at each location in order to get the full experience. This is especially important during the pandemic, as many wineries have had to adjust to various protocols. With that being said, she urges visitors to be patient and book their tasting experiences ahead of time.
During an ideal wine tasting day, Kayla prefers to start off with some bubbles. She arrives at her first location around 11 am to enjoy a tasting that features a sparking option. She will then head to her next stop, and later take a lunch break around 1 pm. Lunch will always go in one of two ways, she either enjoys some delicious dishes from a winery restaurant, or she will pack a homemade charcuterie board, that she will eat at a winery’s picnic space. The rest of the day will include stopping at two more wineries before she heads home to admire her bottle purchases.
This year, Kayla launched the Okanagan Wine Passport, which is an exclusive ticket to explore the best of the Okanagan valley this season. This incredible program includes complimentary tastings and discounts from 35 wineries located in Lake Country, Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos.
With over $350.00 of tasting value packed into a $55.00 program, the Okanagan Wine Passport will make you a V.I.P. taster this season. All 35 of the wineries were hand-selected in order to create a diverse collection of locations to ensure that there is something for everyone.
Although British Columbia has many amazing wines to choose from here are a few of Kayla’s recommendations for the summer!
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