In the , conversations inevitably return to the one subject everyone here, or any visitor who has ever been here, is eager to wax on about: the farmland.

It is abundant, picturesque, inviting, and vital. Approximately 200 kilometres long and 20 kilometres wide, the valley is responsible for producing most of the fruits grown in .

More and more, the region鈥檚 agricultural activities are focused on the planting and harvesting of a single species, Vitis vinifera, the vines that blossom each year with grapes.

All kinds of grapes. You know the names: Pinot noir, Merlot, Gamay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, and so many more.

They鈥檙e pruned and picked, sorted, crushed into juice, flowed into barrels or concrete tanks, and stored. When they inevitably emerge from the bottles into which they鈥檙e transferred, the grapes have morphed into the product that has turned the Okanagan Valley into a global phenomenon.

The best wines in Canada 鈥� some regarded among the best in the world 鈥� are created in the valley and the most sought-after grapes, according to most experts in the industry, are created in the southern part of the region, within the borders of Oliver and , two small towns with an entrepreneurial spirit and intense viticulture scene.

The grape-growing land of the South Okanagan resides in the traditional territory of the , which is a community of about 540 members within the Okanagan Nation, and their agricultural practices and spirituality tied to the land have been important in cultivating the crops that have led to such success for many in the region.

The OIB grows most of its grapes on vineyards located in Oliver, home to the prime grapeland in the province, and sells some of the product to winemakers throughout the Okanagan Valley.

It keeps enough grapes to satisfy its own viticulture operation, , noted for being North America鈥檚 first Aboriginal-owned and -operated winery. In 2016, it was named the Intervin Canadian Winery of the Year and in 2018 it earned gold in France鈥檚 Chardonnay du Monde competition, which judged 679 white wines from 39 countries.

鈥淎 lot of it comes from experience. We have three winemakers who鈥檝e been working together for 14 years and we know the land, we know the conditions, we know what we鈥檙e trying to achieve 鈥� sometimes even before we begin the winemaking process,鈥� winemaker Justin Hall says of NK鈥橫ip Cellars鈥� success.

鈥淏ecause the Osoyoos Indian Band has so much territory in this area and the vineyards have in my opinion the best grapes in the valley, we鈥檙e able to work with truly stellar products, and that leads to consistently excellent results.鈥�

Of the 32,000 acres that are on OIB鈥檚 traditional land, about one-third is used for growing grapes. The band first planted vines of its own in 1968, taking advantage of the desert conditions in Oliver and Osoyoos that are ideally suited for Vitis vinifera.

After decades of selling grapes to other wineries, the OIB, under the leadership of Chief Clarence Louie, initiated its own wide-scale operations, revamping and greatly expanding the band鈥檚 winery that had been put in place in 1979 on just one acre of territory.

Randy Picton, who is not of Indigenous origin, has been the lead winemaker at NK鈥橫ip Cellars since 2002. Aaron Crey, a member of the St贸:l艒 Nation, which is based near Chilliwack, is the third member of the winemaking team and supervisor of operations.

At the outset, the production was overseen by Picton, Sam Baptiste, a viticulturist and former OIB chief, and Canadian wine pioneer Don Triggs, whose Jackson-Triggs winery launched in Ontario and was a forerunner for winemakers in the nation.

Jackson-Triggs, Inniskilin and NK鈥橫ip Cellars are now among the brands that are part of , a leader producer and marketer of wines in Canada.Arterra owns 49 per cent of NK鈥橫ip Cellars and that partnership has helped to grow the brand鈥檚 reach while maintaining the vision of Louie and the OIB.

鈥淭he Osoyoos Indian Band is traditional in a lot of ways and one of our directions is that we are keepers of the land,鈥� said Baptiste, who manages the vineyard鈥檚 operations in Oliver.

鈥淲e try to use a minimalist approach when we are working on the land. In our operation we use very little herbicides and pesticides. In the long term, they can cause a lot of problems and be very harmful, so we keep our use of them to a minimum.鈥�

He was among the workers who planted the first grapevines 50 years ago, when he was in high school.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like smoking salmon or gathering berries for us. We鈥檙e farmers. In the early 1900s, we were mostly cattle and horse farmers, but my great-great-grandpa, he did have a tobacco plantation, and we鈥檝e been doing that kind of work, of tending to this land, for a long time.鈥�

NK鈥橫ip Cellars is among the tourism initiatives that have led to prosperity for the OIB community, and others in Oliver and Osoyoos, too.

The winery鈥檚 tours, which include an offer to taste NK鈥橫ip鈥檚 award-winning wines and explore Indigenous culture, take place on the grounds of , a property on OIB land that was recently leased to Hyatt Hotels.

Hall is among the OIB members employed through these tourism-related projects. In fact, the OIB businesses have created nearly twice as many jobs as there are OIB members.

The efforts of the OIB in providing economic opportunity for its members and others while also fostering healthy grape-growing practices has earned appreciation beyond the acclaim NK鈥橫ip鈥檚 wines perennially receive.

OIB鈥檚 fastidious care for the land contributes to the respect it has found from its neighbours.

鈥淭he work the Osoyoos Indian Band has done 鈥� not only to put this region on the map, but to also focus on the proper stewardship of the land, how it can be used, how it can be effectively and sustainably maintained 鈥� is massively important,鈥� says Joe Luckhurst, general manager of , which in 2017 was named the B.C. Winery of the Year from the Wine Align National Wine Awards.

鈥淢y goal with this vineyard is to make sure we have a healthy farm so that my daughter, who is two right now, will be able to take over this farm when she is old enough and hopefully her kids can do the same thing later on. Certainly, the Indian Band has taken steps in creating programs that we can all benefit from.鈥�

WIN A PRIVATE LONGTABLE DINNER WITH CELEBRITY CHEF RICH FRANCIS

You and three friends have a chance to experience Canada鈥檚 premier Indigenous chef, Rich Francis, as he brings his culinary talents to Spirit Ridge and the Nk鈥橫ip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos on June 9, 2018, for an outdoor longtable dinner like no other.

Dine under the stars next to teepees and traditional pit houses, and feel the warmth of legendary Osoyoos Indian Band hospitality. Chef Rich Francis promises to inspire with Indigenous flavours and modern twists.

Winners and their party are put up for the night in a suite courtesy of Spirit Ridge. Three prizes to be won. Don鈥檛 miss your chance to be part of this phenomenal and unique dining experience with this Top Chef Canada finalist.

MORE ABOUT NK鈥橫IP CELLARS

Location: 1400 Rancher Creek Road, Osoyoos, B.C. (see map below)

Website:

Phone: 250-495-2985

: The Perfect Union wine-and-cheese tasting costs $25 per person and is an excellent way to learn about NK鈥橫ip鈥檚 wines and the local cheeses available in the valley. Also, there are standard tastings that include a sample of five wines for $5 or a sample of Riesling Icewine for $3 (standard tasting fees are waived with the purchase of a bottle).

: Visitors can learn about the full scope of the winemaking process, sample six of NK鈥橫ip鈥檚 wines, including the Riesling Icewine, and tour the winery鈥檚 facilities for $15 per adult.

Story by Adrian Brijbassi, Vacay.ca managing editor

This is the first of an expanded content series focusing on travel to Osoyoos and the South Okanagan. It was created in partnership with the Osoyoos Indian Band, Destination Osoyoos, Arterra Wines Canada and NK鈥橫ip Cellars, and the Oliver-Osoyoos Wine Association.