With its crisp acidity and excellent taste, Chenin Blanc from Road 13 Vineyards near Oliver, British Columbia, is a refreshing way to start the day.
“It goes well with running… And breakfast!” “Quipped the man handing out white wine samples to 1,100 runners on a Saturday morning in late May.
I don’t usually drink this early in the day. However, I was “racing” in the 15th annual Half Corked Marathon, an event organized by Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country; it is held every spring in the Okanagan Valley in the middle of British Columbia’s wine-growing region. Starting at 7:30 a.m., groups of runners begin jogging between rows of vines, stopping at 13 wine stops at regular intervals along the 20-kilometer (12.5-mile) route along vineyards, country roads, and a trail along the Okanagan River.
This year, recreational athletes and wine lovers across Canada descended on the South Okanagan, Washington, Nevada, and the District of Columbia in the United States, Even as far away as Singapore. Since the race is more about drinking than winning, most of the teams’ outfits echo the theme of this year’s half marathon, “Back to the Future.”
My running mate and I — dressed like “Star Trek” military officers — quickly outnumbered two couples in lederhosen with wine glasses, four mad scientists drinking from beakers, and members of Marty McFly’s band; they shuffled along under the pressure of their guitars and denim vests. With superheroes sipping rose-colored smoothies and men in hula skirts preparing mimosa cocktails, I realized I should spend more time training my liver than my legs to prepare for this fight.
“The first person to cross the finish line may have misunderstood the event’s purpose,” warned Moss Scherkogel, wine ambassador and host of Half Cork at Rust Wine’s starting line.
Far from being a serious sport, the untimed race showcases the landscapes and wines of the South Okanagan – almost 40 wineries dot the landscape from Osoyoos in the south to Lake Vassus in the north. I sipped in the shadow of a circular mountain range next to shimmering sloping vineyards overlooking Osoyoos Lake. I sampled some fine wines made in a sunny (and hot) northern climate. Dry red from Kismet Estate Winery, Pinot Gris patio pleasant from Nostalgia Wines, and crisp Pinot white from native-owned Nk ‘mip Cellars Blanc) impressed me.
The event’s laid-back tasting atmosphere speaks to the approachable and no-frills nature of Valley Wine Tours – you can still enter many of the valley’s wineries without a reservation, and tasting fees rarely exceed C $10 ($7.50) per person. On the day of the race, Navi Gill, owner of Gold Hill Winery, and John Ferreira, owner of Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery, handed out small glasses at their respective winery sites; the participants were cheered on while Kismet Sample Station attendants dressed up to get into the mood.
Maybe the booze or the shuttle took the partygoers up the 3-kilometer (1.9 miles) hill, but I couldn’t believe it when we crossed the finish line three hours after we started.
“I think alcoholism is a major factor,” concluded my running mate, Carla Mont. “Everyone feels good when they’re done.”
Yes, this so-called runner’s high, aided by daytime drinking, lasted all afternoon. Like many repeat half-marathon runners, I will return next year but walk for the wine.
