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mixture of new modern finishes with a rustic touch and a fantastic tribute to the region's homesteading, grape-growing and winemaking traditions." From big, bright reds to crisp, fruit-forward whites, there's something for everyone to enjoy in the space's distinctive setting. e winery also features an expanded collection of reserve wines and seasonal offerings that cannot be found in stores. e tasting room features indoor and outdoor seating areas, a tasting bar and a working barrel room for Reserve wine tastings. ere's an exhibition of reclaimed wood, sourced from barns throughout the region, displayed with the stories of the families who built them, as well as a horse motif throughout. Complimentary wine tastings are available daily. 14 Hands also offers a packed calendar of events ranging from culinary adventures to seasonal wine release parties. from the Columbia River and feast on the rich grasses along the riverbank, then retreat into the hills to cool off at night. eir unbridled tenaciousness is alive in 14 Hands wines, borne of determined grapevines that thrive in the hills' loamy sand and gravel soils. A trip to the 14 Hands Winery Tasting Room is a must for horse-loving wine aficionados. "e ambiance of the 14 Hands Tasting Room absolutely reflects the spirit of the wine," said 14 Hands spokesperson Renae Kochel. "It is a Top drink pick: Like a schoolmaster that's as good-looking as it is stoic, 14 Hands Merlot is a wine you can take anywhere without fear that it's going to embarrass you in front of all your friends. From horse shows to barn parties, it might not win the hack—we'll leave that to some swanky bottle of vintage Bordeaux that seems too sacred to actually uncork—but it's a dependable daily table wine guaranteed to give you a lovely, steady, stylish trip around the course. The 14 Hands Merlot is a classic made more expressive by aromas of dark, sexy fruits: blackberries, plums and black cherries. It's soft and plush, with some cozy mocha undertones and a touch of leather and spice on the nose, and the tannins are firm but not overbearing. Leather, tannins—sounds right up an equestrian's sensory palate, indeed! Learn more: 14hands.com top carriages in British Columbia; most carriages built in Victoria at the turn of the century were soft top. e most famous of Eldridge's carriages, the Lady Dufferin, was built in 1910 and is on display at the Red Coach Inn in 100 Mile House, British Columbia. e building is entering its 30th year as Christie's Carriage House Pub under the ownership of Brock Carbery and Gord Hahn, who are likely to greet guests at the door. "Christie's Pub is the epitome of cozy charm and ambience, with its dark wood, perfect lighting, comfortable bar area and warm and inviting table seating sections and booths," Gavas said. "Patrons really don't like to leave." A diverse pub-grub menu features a Canada-meets-England flair: think fish and chips (Pacific line-caught halibut fillets in beer batter with coleslaw and tartar), steak and mushroom pot pie (Guinness-marinated steak chunks, seasonal veggies and mushrooms in a rich beef gravy topped with a puff pastry) and, of course, poutine. It's all made fresh daily in-house, starring a variety of meats fresh from the rooftop smoker. And then, of course, there are the beers. "e Pub has also been dubbed 'the original taphouse' of Vancouver Isle and the lower mainland," Gavas said. "In 1989 we decided to be bold and expand the draft line from four Molson's products to 40 taps from different cottage breweries from Victoria and the rest of B.C. is was unheard of at the time but very well-received." Today the bulk of Christie's drafts hail from the greater Victoria area. "But it should be noted that Christie's Pub was the first mega multi-tap watering hole in B.C.," Gavas said. Top drink pick: From lagers and IPAs to stouts and seasons, Christie's dizzying array of draft beers is borderline overwhelming—in the best sense! Short of closing your eyes and spinning the drink menu wheel, so to speak, you've just got to follow your heart. Surrounded by Christie's turn-of- the-century charm, our heart craves a proper English-style ale brewed just a hop, skip and jump away in British Columbia. Piper's Pale Ale from Vancouver Island Brewing fits the bill; it's complex and biscuity, the sort of beer that makes you feel like donning jodhpurs and a jaunty cap. Russell Brewing Company's Blood Alley Bitter is another Anglophile- inspired brew. Named after a notorious cobblestone laneway in Vancouver's Gastown district, its rich, roasted malts hail from the United Kingdom but meet their match in floral U.S. varieties. Don't be surprised if, by the bottom of a pint or two, you find yourself saying "horse box" instead of trailer and "yard" instead of barn. Learn more: christiespub. squarespace.com PHOTOS COURTESY OF 14 HANDS WINERY C H R O N O F H O R S E . C O M M AY/J U N E 2 017 111 PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTIE'S CARRIAGE HOUSE PUB

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