When Major Hugh Fraser returned to Canada in 1919 from fighting in the First World War, he brought with him a wife from London, England.
Near the town of Okanagan Falls, the major acquired some dusty, desert brush high above the valley to set up a new home.
Unimpressed by the raw landscape, legend has it that the major returned from walking his many dogs one day to find a three-word note in the frying pan, which read: "See ya later."
With that, she was gone and, hence forth, the See Ya Later ranch was born as the major poured his heart into his love of dogs and the grape, planting the vines that now produce some of Canada's favourite wines.
Today, surveying all of the major's "kingdom" of glorious, rolling and ripe vineyards, his wife made a bad call.
The humour of the story and the major's passion for his four-legged friends is not lost on the current ranch owners on Hawthorne Mountain.
As we toured the ranch, manager Preston Radford explained how several of See Ya Later's signature wines are named in honour of the major's favourite dogs.
Standing over the ranch's "Pet Cemetery," glass of something sparkling in hand, the graves of Jimmy My Pal (an SPCA fundraising blend of pinot gris and chardonnay), Ping (54% merlot, 44% cabernet sauvignon) and Rover (95 % shiraz) are testament to the major's best friends.
There's also a shaded "Barking Lot" and water station outside the original stonehouse that now serves as the visitor centre.
Suffice to say, the major's adoration of his pets is survived to this day and all dogs are welcome on and off-leash.
With such a rich and colourful past, it's difficult not to taste the history and character when sampling See Ya Later's very enjoyable and easy-to-drink wines.
And after your tour, be sure to rest up among the vines with a glass of chilled Jimmy My Paltry and a pulled pork sandwich, slow-roasted for 16 hours by Radford himself.
IF YOU GO:
See Ya Later Ranch and Winery, 2575 Green Lake Road, Okanagan Falls; Tours run most of the day.
www.sylranch. com.
