MORE OKANAGAN DESTINATIONS TO ADD TO YOUR ADVENTURE LIST
We continue our highlights from a challenging 2023, a year that will affect the quantity of wines coming to market in the months ahead. We already discussed the deep freeze and vine damage inflicted in December 2022 and how it may limit future production. You can add some of the lowest yields in years from the surviving vines in 2023. Another potential hit from this month's deep freeze across B.C. will aggravate the vineyards in the short term, adding uncertainty to the coming season's production levels.
The looming shortages typically suggest more wines will be sold on-site at the winery or through the wine club and rationed to restaurants and critical retailers afterward. This means personal visits or online buys will be necessary for those aiming to buy locally this year. Shortages also mean price hikes, but given the current astronomical level of B.C. wine prices, it is hard to believe there is room for higher prices. There is a fair bit of talk about surplus wine sitting in winery cellars, a victim of higher prices, so it's challenging to know the whole story.
Picking up from last week's tour, we move north to the narrow strip of the Naramata Bench along the eastern side of Okanagan Lake, touching Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park in the north and Penticton Creek within the city of Penticton in the south. The 40-plus wineries are generally diminutive, if not tiny, but many wines punch well above their weight. Another draw is the roughly 50 different grape varieties grown on the Bench, adding some much-needed variety to the retail scene.
It isn't easy to create a short list of wines from Naramata. Still, any of the following would suggest a stop on the Bench is a must:
Van Westen Vineyards V, Roche Tradition Pinot Gris, Martin's Lane Naramata Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir, Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay Stevens Block Old Main Road Vineyard, Lock and Worth Kerner, Three Sisters Winery Cabernet Franc, Tightrope Winery Syrah, Hillside Mosaic and Four Shadows Merlot.
Also: Terravista Fandango, Moraine Pinot Noir Sophia Estate, Little Engine Gold Chardonnay, Cedarcreek Platinum Naramata Bench Sauvignon Blanc, Boyd Classic Cuvée, Howling Bluff Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon, Bella Wines Gamay Noir Ancestrale Rosé Bella Estate Vineyard and Amulet Roussanne.
Across the lake, the wines of Summerland are in transition under their newly minted Okanagan Valley sub-gi. Haywire Winery, Lunnesence and Dirty Laundry have been longtime players in the region, inspiring others to join and up their game. Certainly, Lightning Rock and Solvero are excellent new additions to the scene, concentrating on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Haywire owners Chris Coletta and Steve Lornie have installed a crush pad at Garnet Valley Ranch as it prepares to make wine on-site, taking the upper Summerland district to a new level of wine growing.
On the way to West Kelowna, take in the Fitzpatrick experience, where the combination of affordable table wines and high-level sparkling wines are as unbeatable as the view and the dining. Mission Hill and Quails' Gate have set a standard for visiting and dining, but many others have joined the party. Mount Boucherie and Frind are hospitable stops with unique dining offerings and a wide range of well-made wines. A new West Kelowna name to look for is Terralux Estate Winery, which is set to open this summer for visits. The hiring of winemaker Jacq Kemp has catapulted this well-financed and structured company to make big waves in the coming days.
Across the lake in Kelowna, your choices are Cedar Creek, St. Hubertus and Oak Bay Vineyards, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Tantalus, Spearhead, and The View. Further north in Lake Country, O'rourke Peak Cellars, 50 Parallel and Arrowleaf make authentic cool-climate wines. Another deep freeze for Lake Country will be a setback, but in the meantime, I'm sure your visit will be welcomed with open arms.
Some of our favourites from last year that are still available appear in our weekend picks today.