You’re invited as Kelowna winery toasts its 25th anniversary Sunday
When House of Rose Winery first opened on the Belgo Bench in Kelowna 25 years ago, it was the 17th winery in the Okanagan.
A quarter of a century later, it’s one of about 250 wineries in the Valley’s booming wine industry.
But what hasn’t changed is House of Rose’s friendly approach to wine.
It’s hard to believe that 25 years have passed since my father (Vern Rose) started this winery,” said Aura Rose, winemaker and co-owner with husband Wouter van der Hall.
“At that time, the wine business was a tiny part of tourism and the economy of this community. We’ve seen huge changes,” she said.
Vern Rose came to the winery business late in life, purchasing the property at 2270 Garner Rd. in 1983 when he was 55 and launching the winery in 1993 when he was 65.
He passed away recently and peacefully at home at the age of 90.
He was a character with a white beard who always wore a Tilly hat and was always ready to talk wine and share a glass.
To celebrate the winery’s history, and the future, House of Rose is throwing a silver anniversary party from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
There will be wine, of course, live music by The Niki Martinus Project, free caricatures by Monte Barwick, balloon designs by Jeff The Balloon Guy, art and cake.
“We want to celebrate this milestone with our community,” said van der Hall.
House of Rose specializes in fruit-forward wines with cheeky names.
Perhaps the most famous is Hot Flash, the medium-bodied red blend of Shiraz and Marechal Foch created to honour the menopausal woman.
The wine led to a Hollywood connection when actress Brooke Shields ordered two cases in 2012.
Shields, along with Daryl Hannah and Wanda Sykes, were finishing shooting a movie called The Hot Flashes about the adventures of a group of middleaged women.
Shields found out through an associate that there was a wine called Hot Flash, loved the name association and ordered the wine to serve at the wrap party in New Orleans and as gift bottles for fellow actresses and crew.
Hot Flash isn’t just a novelty though.
It’s a serious wine that won a gold medal at the Pacific Northwest Wine Competition.
Hot Flash’s sister wine is Cool Splash, the off-dry white blend of Riesling and Pinot Gris.
Grapes with Benefits is an offdry blend of Pinot Gris and Chardonnay with a dash of icewine.
Rose-EH is the pink result of combining some Chardonnay with Merlot.
Senior Moment is mostly a Syrah. Sweet Mystery is a blend of Pinot Noir and Marechal Foch.
We want to celebrate this milestone with our community.
Aura Rose