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Tightrope champions Naramata Bench
Photo: Tightrope's Lyndsay and Graham O'RourkeWhile most British Columbia Syrahs now are grown in the South Okanagan or the Similkameen, the Tightrope Syrah is a reminder that this Rhône varietal was...
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Four Shadows: a rising star on Upper Bench Road
Photo: Winery proprietors Joka and Wilbert Borren With four wineries close to each other, Upper Bench Road on the eastern side of Penticton makes for a comfortable day of wine touring, with time to...
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Three memorable reds from Black Widow
Photo: Shannon, Dick (centre) and James Lancaster Dick Lancaster, one of the owners of Black Widow Winery on the Naramata Bench, and I were once members of the same winemaking club. While I eventually...
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Crowsnest Vineyards calls itself The Similkameen's original winery
Photo: Sascha and Anna Heinecke Crowsnest Vineyards is a rare example of a British Columbia winery where ownership has successfully transferred to the next generation. In 2018, Sascha and Anna...
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A first rosé from 1 Mill Road
Photo: Katie Truscott and Ben Bryant in 1 Mill Road cellar Under new ownership since last summer, 1 Mill Road Winery, the Naramata-based Pinot Noir boutique, has begun to expand its portfolio with the...
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Wesbert Winery has breathed life into a boutique Naramata property
Photo: Pieter Coetzer When they were shopping for an Okanagan winery, Dr. Wessel Joubert and his partner, Pieter Coetzer, drove past a closed winery on Naramata Road three times before deciding to buy...
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Syrah specialist Rust Winery surprises with a Gamay
Photo: Rust Winery with deliberately corroded exterior The current releases from Rust Wine Co. features the usual glorious selection of Syrahs; but there is also one unexpected wine – a 2022 Gamay. The...
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Okanagan Falls wineries strut their wines
Photo: Blasted Church vineyard overlooks Skaha Lake The wineries in the Okanagan Falls sub-appellation bill themselves as The Heart of the Wine Country. Hats off to whoever came up with that clever tag...
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Covert Farms releases its Grand Reserves
Photo: Gene Covert (courtesy Covert Farms) Covert Farms Family Estate is one of the South Okanagan’s longest-established and most successful farming enterprises. It was established in 1959 by...
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At Kitsch Wines, small is beautiful
Photo: Winemaker Ruth King (courtesy of Kitsch Winery) Trent and Ria Kitsch, who opened this Kelowna winery in 2016, have refocussed in the past year to produce wines only from grapes grown in the East...
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Blue Mountain releases single vineyard Chardonnays
Photo: Blue Mountain winemaker Matt Mavety In 2017 Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars began making premium Pinot Noirs from selected blocks in its vineyard. After five decades of wine growing, the...
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Church & State showcases the 2019 vintage.
Church & State winemaker Arnaud Thierry The 2019 vintage in the Okanagan is considered to have been a cool vintage with a comparatively small crop. But judging from the current Church & States...
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Sandhill releases its 2022 rosés
Sandhill winemaker Sydney Valentino In April, Sandhill Wines promoted Sydney Valentino to lead winemaker at the Kelowna winery, just in time to launch the 2022 rosé wines. Sandhill, known for single...
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CedarCreek's tale of two vintages
Photo: Winemaker Taylor Whelan The latest releases from CedarCreek Estate Winery offer a glimpse of the two most recent Okanagan vintages, at least from one producer. CedarCreek is one of the veteran...
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Mirabel takes on the world
Photo: Mirabel proprietors Dawn and Doug Reimer Think of Mirabel Vineyards as a slice of Burgundy, but in Kelowna. The steeply sloping vineyard has six acres of Pinot Noir, planted in 2006, and 1 ½...
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Poplar Grove adds a low-alcohol rosé
Photo: Winemaker Stefan Arnason Poplar Grove Estate Winery in Penticton has joined the producers of low-alcohol (and non-alcoholic) wines. This is a segment of the wine market that has been growing in...
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Maverick's new releases showcase the 2022 vintage
Photo: Winemaker Andrew Windsor (courtesy Maverick Estate Winery) Since taking over Maverick Estate Winery early in 2020, winemaker Andrew Windsor and winery president Jan Nelson have built effectively...
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Little Engine's no compromise wines
Photo: Proprietors Steven and Nicole French When a package of samples includes Pinot Noirs from a topflight producer, I invite a friend with exceptional knowledge of Pinot Noir to taste with me....
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Noble Ridge celebrates its 20th vintage this year
Photo: Proprietors Leslie and Jim D'Andrea (courtesy of Noble Ridge) Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery is celebrating its 20th vintage in 2023 with as many celebrations as can be packed into a busy...
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Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin: a vertical tasting
Photo: Osoyoos Larose general manager Michael Kuhlmann While I was hosting a recent vertical tasting of wines from the Osoyoos Larose winery, I heard of an episode illustrating how the winery’s low...
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