Desert Living - Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort
The warm evening breeze that greets us as we step out of the car makes us feel as though we’ve been transported to the luxe desert hideaway of Palm Springs. We are somewhere more remote, in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada’s hottest town, in the country’s only desert.
Lush vegetation abounds along the winding curves of the road set between perfectly manicured vines leading up to Spirit Ridge. The resort’s stunning landscape reveals villas, the Sonora Desert Spa, local favourite Nk'Mip Wine Cellars; and Passa Tempo,a restaurant overlooking Lake Osoyoos’ deep blue expanse and its panoramic setting amid surrounding mountains.
At the resort’s reception “desk”, more a long, inviting coffee table with laptops than anything else, we sit on cozy, leather-bound ottoman chairs, all of which add to a warm and welcoming feel. Within moments of our arrival, we are at ease and ready to enjoy what soon proves to be one of the most harmonious, relaxing and rejuvenating weekends we’ve had in a while.
The next morning, after some organic coffee and house-made yogurt and granola on the Passa Tempo patio, we are treated to a VIP cellar tour and flight tasting at Nk’Mip Cellars. North America’s first aboriginal owned and operated winery, Guest Services Manager, Dan Yoja, presents us with everything from Rieslings and un-oaked Chardonnay, to single varietal Syrahs and the Meritage blends for which the Okanagan Valley wineries are internationally renowned.
Post wine-tasting, it’s time for some relaxation. I make my way to the Sonora Desert Spa next door. The friendly receptionist invites me in, making me feel as though I’m the only client being catered to that day. There is no rushing, and I am encouraged to take my time and enjoy all the amenities the spa has to offer. The sunroom and adjacent patio make for the perfect environment in which to relax and unwind, and I lay back in my Egyptian cotton robe, sipping on a refreshing glass of lemon mineral water and take everything in. With all the magazines one could imagine, I tuck into the latest edition of Wine Spectator (when in Rome) and await my treatment with great anticipation.
I am led by my esthetician to the treatment room, and feel transported to a tropical sanctuary with a soothing musical soundtrack of waves lapping against an ocean shore. So begins my “Desert Bliss Body Polish”. For over an hour and a half, I am treated to an all-over dry brush body exfoliation – there’s just the right balance of gentle scrubbing and deliberate skin cleansing -followed by a Swedish relaxation massage. My esthetician, Sarah, is ever-so careful with her use of lavender-scented essential oil, gently applying it to my arms and legs, back and neck, all the while being mindful of keeping my hair salon-fresh and essential-oil-free.
My blissful session is drawing to a close and I float out of the treatment room in a dreamy haze. That dream-like state continues when I am offered a glass of local Nk'Mip Cellar wine, (where I’d been tasting wines not two hours previous).
I accept, and am impressed to discover that when questioned, not only can my esthetician tell me the varietal of grape (merlot), but she can also list off the vintage (2005). Major bonus points! All that remains is to lay my claim to the sunroom where I lounge on the secluded terrace amidst the shade and calming summer breeze.
After a quick catnap, I am intent to continue the weekend’s theme of lazing and relaxation, so with a crisp Pinot Blanc in hand, I idle by the pool and soak up the warmth of the mid-afternoon heat. There is certainly nothing to be stressed about with an afternoon of wine tasting, vineyard tours and fine dining ahead of us.
The next morning, I rise at first light, not wanting to waste a single second of the day in bed. I strap on my Brooks and with a smile across my face, run through an oasis of orchards and along the glass-still lake. The morning breezes beckon, and I am thrilled to discover that I am the only one out on the desert roads that morning, a delightful contrast to crowded city running to which I had grown so accustomed.
It is the perfect ending to a getaway weekend of pure pampering and leisure.
Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa
Katherine van der Grach, Spas of America
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