For one night only. I arrived in Vancouver yesterday afternoon, just in time to watch the second half of England v Uruguay at a bar in the airport with my host David Scholefield, who I am driving down to the Okanagan with this morning. It wasn’t the right result.

Then, after checking in to the new and wonderfully modern Blu hotel, it was time to begin a multi-stage evening. We began at Homer St Cafe and Bar, where we raided the really eclectic, naturally oriented wine list that sommelier Alex Thornley has put together. Alex is an ex-pat brit (Yorkshire) who has been out here for a while.

This wine list raid included the Bartier Bros Semillon 2012 from BC, which was pure and precise, and also two lovely Gamays: the Terres Dorees L’Anicen 2012 and the Christophe Pacalet Fleurie 2010.

Then it was off to Vij’s, a brilliant Indian restaurant. The food here was pretty epic, and we enjoyed some nice wines, including Tantalus Old Vines Riesling 2011 from the Okanagan, and the Bartier Schofield Gamay Rose 2011, also from the Okanagan.

Penultimate stop of the evening was PiDGiN where we drank some wine, after beginning with a Negroni. Alsace was quite a focus, and I remember some Trimbach and Weinbach action, although I wasn’t taking notes. I did take a note on a really super Okanagan Rose: the Haywire Switchback 2012, which was made in concrete eggs. It was textured and detailed, and quite delicious.

By 1 am I was feeling a bit sleepy, with the jet lag and all. But we had a final stop at a bar for some beer. There wasn’t a lot open in town by this stage. Now I need to pack and leave for the Okanagan.