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Some quick thoughts after a week of travelling in B.C. wine country, from Summerland to Osoyoos
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Today, some quick thoughts after a week of travelling in B.C. wine country, from Summerland to Osoyoos, beginning at Haywire Winery with owner Christine Coletta’s latest venture. It features her 6,000-case wine brand, Narrative, and its new home base as one of the anchor tenants at Summerland’s new Food Hub.
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Scheduled to open in July, the Food Hub, located on Highway 97 at Jones Flat Road, will be a place where local farmers come together to process and package goods. Those goods will be showcased in a retail area shared with other vendors, including Crowsnest Bakery and Deli, an ice cream vendor, a coffee shop, and Narrative Wines.
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Nearby at Dirty Laundry, they have decided to put some of their highly popular Hush Rose in cute pink clusters of 4×200 mL cans for $27.96. Should you plan to visit Dirty Laundry and linger on their spectacular patio for a slice of pizza, make sure you have a reservation.
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West Coast Table
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On the upper side of Summerland, Lightning Rock owner Ron Kubek is still fighting the good fight with all levels of government to open up inter-provincial free trade in wine. Sales locally have been brisk, and Pet Nat fans will want to grab a bottle of the just-released Lightning Rock 2025 Pét Nat Gamay Trestle Beach Vineyard Sparkling Rose. It’s fresh, clean, and ready to drink.
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On the Naramata Bench, winemaker Nadine Kinvig is producing impressive wines off the Okanagan beaten track at Terravista Vineyards. She is the only producer of the well-known Spanish grape Verdejo in Canada, but given its success, I’m guessing others will follow soon. It’s a tiny winery, and any visit is intimate. But with the recent arrival of longtime Penticton resident Lisa Baxter, guest experience and manager at Blasted Church, Black Hills, and, before that, co-owner of the Front Street Brasserie, the visitor experience is set to take a big jump this summer.
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Equally busy is Upper Bench Winery and Creamery, the only Canadian facility making both wine and cheese onsite. Owners Gavin and Shana Miller invite visitors to take part in their wine and house-made cheese tastings, shop and linger at The Oven, their patio pizza spot, which serves items like wood-fired pizza and baked cheeses. You won’t be disappointed.
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Speaking of patios, Joshua Kim, direct-to-consumer manager at Bench 1775 Winery, oversees one of the world’s best, especially when you factor in its spectacular 180-degree view high above Okanagan Lake. Kim’s Korean background has influenced the small plates menu at Bench Patio Bistro. The seasonal menu just released features Korean barbecue beef tacos, dim sum, whipped feta, and a cheese and charcuterie board, Korean barbecue oil pasta, arugula salad, edamame, and chocolate or matcha mousse pudding. The food offerings are as unique as the view.
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At the entrance to the Naramata Bench, I caught up with Matthew Mikulic, winemaker and co-owner of Three Sisters Winery, excited to celebrate the winery’s 10th anniversary. The winery has new labels and a vineyard farming program that has hit 300 acres.
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The Drink Pink Rose Party is set for June 20 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the winery. You are invited to think pink, wear pink, and drink pink. Our pick is the juicy, fresh 2025 Bench Series Rosé. You might also consider attending the Summer Fête on Saturday, July 11, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and soaking up the Three Sisters vibe, featuring refreshing sangrias, chilled wines, and good times on the patio. At Three Sisters, it’s tastings at the bar, bottles on the picnic patio, and a warm, family- and dog-friendly scene with games and lake views.
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Our tour continues next week.
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Weekend wine picks
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Hester Creek Old Vine Pinot Blanc 2025, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley
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$22.99 I 90/100
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UPC: 626037001126
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Hester Creek Old Vine Pinot Blanc 2025, Okanagan Valley, BC 89 | Approx. $22–$24
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The 2025 vintage has added precision and energy to this old-vine pinot blanc, a variety that is still struggling to break into the mainstream of B.C. white wine. Fresh pear, citrus and Golden Delicious apples mark the nose and carry through the flavour palate. There’s more acidity here, with a refined, creamy texture that takes us into the chardonnay area. Think summer chicken dishes or a simple cream cheese spread. Fine value.
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Roche Pinot Noir Artist Willamette Valley 2024, Willamette Valley, Oregon
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$26.90 I 91/100
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UPC: 724901649082
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This is an elegant replacement pinot noir, a collaboration between the Naramata-based Roche family and longtime friends who grow grapes in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The colour is medium pale, with darker threads of blue/black fruit, subtle oak spice, and light, silky tannins. The tannins are refined, and the palate is silky, favouring elegance over power. The finish is lively and distinctly Oregon savoury, with enough uniqueness to merit a place in the Artist Release. Food pairings include game birds with sage stuffing or Morel mushroom ravioli.
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Haywire Pinot Gris King Family Vineyard 2025, Okanagan Valley
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$28.99 I 90/100
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UPC: 626990185680
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The Haywire style is well established, clean, spare and fresh, with ripe pear, melon and spice, sprinkled with Okanagan desert scrub. This is ready to drink and would be a fun wine to serve with spicy tuna sushi rolls. King Family Vineyard sits on the Naramata Bench just north of Munson Mountain. The grapes are whole-cluster pressed into concrete tanks to ferment on natural yeast, then aged on their lees.
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Terravista Vineyards Verdejo 2025, Okanagan Valley
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$31.00 I 89/100
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UPC: 00626990449232
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The 2025 leans into freshness and aromatic lift, making the most of B.C.’s bright acidity. Expect lively notes of lime zest, green apple, and white peach, with a subtle herbal streak that speaks to the variety. The palate is crisp and saline, with lime, green apple, and peach notes, and a slightly bitter almond finish that adds structure and food appeal. A smart, modern take on Verdejo that is seafood-friendly and overdelivers for everyday drinking.
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Lightning Rock Pét Nat Gamay Trestle Beach Vineyard 2025, Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley
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$32 I 90/100
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UPC: 696852077354
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Another well-made Pét’Nat from Lightning Rock’s Trestle Beach Vineyard, this time made with Gamay to create a gentle sparkling rosé with a light coral-pink hue. The nose offers cherry blossoms and nectarine skins, while on the palate, fresh red fruit floods the mouth. The grapes underwent gentle extraction through foot treading, with brief skin contact before a light press. Fermentation follows the single or ancestral method, taking place in the bottle on its lees for five months. This is a fun, delicate bubble for summer sipping on the patio, pairing with a range of foods off the barbecue.
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B.C. wine of the week
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Storm Haven Riesling Gibson Block 3, 2023, Okanagan Falls
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$45 I 94/100
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UPC: 626990114529
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The latest release from Gibson’s Block on the Storm Haven label showcases the best of what this Synchromesh home site in Okanagan Falls produces. The magic lies in the decomposed granite and sandy gravels, which yield what I would call the best Mosel-style wine made outside the famous German wine region. Fragrant and awash in peaches, tangerine, lime rind, and honeysuckle, the sweet mid-palate turns juicy amid heightened acidity throughout. At only 7.8 per cent alcohol, this is an authentic low-alcohol offering full of energy and flavour. Riesling aficionados will love this wine.
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Value wine of the week
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Taylor Fladgate Fine White Port N/V, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal
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$20.99 I 88/100
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UPC: 5013626111239
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White Port in the summer? It is sorely undervalued in North America, but this blend of unpronounceable grapes: Arinto, Boal, Codega, Esgana Cão, Folgasão, Gouveio, Viosinho and Rabigato, all aged separately for about 36 months in oak vats, is worth embracing. Taylor’s pioneered the dry white aperitif port more than 60 years ago under the Chip Dry label, first blended in 1934. The Special White Port is a much fresher, sweeter version. The trick is to serve it the Portuguese way. Pour it into a tumbler or a wine glass over plenty of ice, then add a splash of tonic water and a slice of lemon. It is the perfect pre-dinner treat.
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Calendar items
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Bard in the Valley presents Henry IV from June 25 to July 12, at Township 7 Winery in South Langley. The year is 1400, and England is in turmoil. King Henry IV has a guilty conscience, a kingdom torn by rebellion, and a son who would rather hang out with the legendary troublemaker Falstaff than act like royalty. With the kingdom and family ties falling apart, Prince Hal must decide if will he step up and become the king history remembers, or remain carefree. Will the rebels, led by the mighty Hotspur, prevail and overthrow King Henry? It’s a wild journey to find the answers, with laughter and tears in equal measure. Note: This adaptation combines Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2. All tickets are non-refundable, and performances are rain or shine. The vineyard opens one hour before showtime. Wine and snacks are available for sale. Tickets are $35 per person, plus fees and tax, at Buy tickets – Bard in the Valley; wine club members receive preferred pricing.
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The Sunday Music Series lineup is out at Meyer Family Vineyards in Okanagan Falls. You can relax on comfortable patio furniture in the cabana while being serenaded by some of the Okanagan’s best musical talent, while enjoying wine by the glass and gourmet snacks from noon to 3 p.m. The talent list is July 5 – Nevaeh Dyson, July 12 – Kristi Neumann, July 19 – Mandy Cole, July 26 – Lewis Cardinal, August 1 – Brent Tyler, Aug. 2 – Olivia Goncalves, Aug. 9 – Yanti, Aug. 16 – Lachlan Gan, Aug. 23 – Lewis Cardinal, Aug. 30 – Nevaeh Dyson, Sept. 5 – Yanti, and Sept. 6 – Mandy Cole.
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