Third edition of Okanagan Wine Tour Guide

Bigger and right up-to-date, the third edition of John Schreiner's Okanagan Wine Tour Guide will be in book stores and wine shops in early May.

Published by Whitecap Books of North Vancouver, at $19.95, this handy pocket-sized book is now 300 pages and profiles 130 wineries. The second edition in 2007 was 264 pages and profiled 100 wineries.

The book has become, I believe, a popular and helpful adjunct to wine touring, with an excellent winery map. The crisp profiles average about 350 words each, just the right length for a quick read before heading into a winery. Yet the information packed into each profile - backgrounds on the winery principals and winemakers along with wine recommendations -is designed to enrich the touring experience.

The book is bigger to accommodate the additional wineries that have opened or are opening. Indeed, even since The Wineries of British Columbia (500 pages) came out a year ago, about 12 more wineries have emerged. Here are some of the new wineries to be found in the new guide book:

Ancient Hill Vineyards, located just east of the Kelowna airport, is operated by Richard and Jitske Kamphuys (pronounced compass), immigrants from Holland who moved here in 1992. They switched from apples to grapes a few years ago. Their attractive winery has been located in the historic neighborhood where some of the earliest Kelowna vineyards were planted.

Black Cloud Winery is a virtual winery operated by Township 7 winemaker Bradley Cooper and his wife, Audralee Daum. Their specialty is Pinot Noir.

Cerelia Vineyards & Estate Winery is a new Similkameen Valley winery. Its name is inspired by a Roman harvest festival and the winery follows through with Roman numerals for its vintage dates on bottles.

EauVivre Winery & Vineyards is another new winery in the burgeoning Similkameen Valley. I have always included this wine region in the Tour Guide. The number of wineries now has grown to the point that it will take a full day, and then some, to visit them all.

Hidden Chapel Winery, located on a Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard beside the highway north of Oliver, expects to open next year. It is named for the chapel in the trees behind the winery.

Intrigue Wines is an independent label from Roger Wong, one of the winemakers at Gray Monk Estate Winery. Roger (and partners) have vineyards near Oyama and plan to open a tasting room soon.

Krāzē Legz Vineyard and Winery, which is just completing a tasting room, is the first winery in Kaleden.

Meadow Vista Honey Wines is a virtual winery in West Kelowna. Its honey wines include what is believed to be British Columbia's first sparkling honey wine.

Misconduct Wine Company is a virtual winery selling its wines through its agent in Penticton. The labels take off from tales of 1920s gangsters.

OVINO Winery is opening this summer not far from Salmon Arm, on owner John Koopmans former diary farm.

Painted Rock Estate Winery, a super-premium winery located on Eastside Road near Blasted Church, opens its tasting room this spring. It has been in earlier books but there was no tasting room information available.

Rustico Farm & Cellars, south of Oliver, has been in previous books as a concept winery. Now it is open with an eccentric tasting room.

Serendipity Winery is the newest winery at Naramata. Owner Judy Kingston was one of Canada's first computer lawyers before deciding to change careers a few years ago.

Synergy Winery & Vineyards is yet another virtual winery. It is being launched by three Penticton businessmen. As an example of how quickly things change in the wine industry, this project has already been renamed Perseus Winery & Vineyards. A tasting room is planned.

Volcanic Hills Vineyard & Cellars is a large winery being opened by Sarwan Gidda, one of the founders of Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery who decided to go on out on his own.

Young & Wyse Collection Wines changed its name from Black Sheep Winery after last year's book came out. Located at Osoyoos just north of the border, this winery opens its tasting room this spring.

In addition to these wineries, the new Tour Guide catches up with other changes on name or in winemaker. For the first time, I have also included the wineries of the Kootenays - two open and one due to open next year.