Kelowna's Juicy Tips

I’ll bet you never thought about wineries in terms of characters. But you’ll find that when you visit Kelowna’s wineries, each offers such a distinct experience and personality – as varied as the people who own and run them.

Photo by Suzanne Gebert, St. Hubertus Vineyards, “September” sitting on vineyard post.

Some are grand and impressive, others quaint and charming. Some have zany stories while others are a little more shy. If this sounds crazy, wait until I start telling you that this Riesling would be Meryl Streep if it were a person (one of my favourite wine touring games to play!). Seriously though, you’d be amazed at the range of characters in Kelowna. Here are just a few examples of what I mean.

Jovial Gray Monk - If I had to sketch the feeling I get when I taste wine at Gray Monk or dine on their patio with that expansive lake view, I’d surely give the character rounded shiny cheeks. That character would be totally sated with rustic European country food and aromatic Germanic wines. Maybe I’d even add a jovial Mama pinching those wholesome cheeks, saying “Eat! Eat!”

Silent Jim-the-Pool-Shark Calona Wines – You know the type: he’s quietly chewing on a toothpick, eyeing the pool table, cue in hand. When he finally gets into position, he sinks every last ball on the table, then unapologetically turns back to his Scotch (well, okay, Syrah). I say this because Calona’s founders had to have had major Chutzpah to open a winery during the Great Depression in 1932. There’s history here, just like the pool shark with the weathered face. And, there’s major winemaking know-how!

Fun-loving St. Hubertus – Just like the Swiss brothers who run the winery, picture a sparkle in an eye creased with laugh-lines.  Or perhaps this is that kid at camp who is always up for a practical joke and an adventure.  If you don’t think they are having fun, then I dare you to go and taste their new Rosé Frizzante and tell me that’s not cheekiness in a bottle.

Eclectic Summerhill Pyramid Winery – You won’t find pre-packaged food for the masses here – the organic winery with its Sunset Bistro serves only 100% organic and wild fare. The  Pyramid cellar is said to clarify liquids with its Sacred Geometry (yes, my hands tingle inside its walls). The result? A delicious spectrum of wines and bubblies!

Statesman CedarCreek – Elegant and stately, this winery makes its impression immediately as you drive through its wraught-iron gate. You know you’re in the presence of a persona who doesn’t mince words and who appreciates finer things in life.

Perfectionist Tantalus – We all have those friends – you know, the one whose home is so tidy and clean that you could eat off their hardwood floor. They seem to excel at everything and they take care of every last detail. Their handwriting is flawless, their presentation always sharp. You can’t help but admire them, because they were just born put-together. That’s Tantalus. This fall they’ll open the first LEED-certified winery in BC. Was every detail carefully considered? You bet!

Nurturing Quails’ Gate – Some personalities are just oriented to taking care of people. Take Quails’ Gate: they don’t open a wine shop, they open a “hospitality centre”. They put misters on their patio (in case you get too hot). Their spitoons are self-flushing (very cool). And in case the restaurant is full, they provide a pic-nic area and light bites so that you don’t go hungry. You get the sense when you’re there that staff are family. You want to be nurtured? Bring home some of their buttery Chardonnay, chill it a bit, and let the nurturing begin!

Monastic Mission Hill – A curious mix of anticipation and calm comes over you as you drive through this walled-entrance. Enormous bronze bells chime from their tower. Heavy doors give onto tall-ceilinged rooms lit by rays of light that shine through slits of windows up high. Stunning artwork and the mystique of thousand-year-old artefacts are on display. The overall impression can only be described as an astounding Vision (capital V). My newfound spiritual experience in a bottle: Quatrain. Mmmm.

Those are just some of the wineries you can meet in Kelowna. Here’s a schedule of everyone’s hours of operation so that you can go and decide on their personas for yourself. As I post more to the blog I will include wineries that I’ve missed, but this is a start. Can’t you just see all these personalities together in a, um, wine bar? Who would you sit down next to?

View Wineries in Kelowna in a larger map