Wineries open in the winter

Planning on doing some off-season touring? Going to be in wine country and want to check out a couple of wineries on a free afternoon? While most of the smaller wineries are closed for the season, there are some wineries that offer tastings year-round. There might even be some action in the vineyards or on the crush pads if you happen to be there during icewine harvest.

Check the winery’s website for current hours of operation and seasonal times. Some of them are still open but might have reduced hours or have visits by appointment only. Don’t be afraid of wineries that are only open by appointment (maybe they should use another term, like ‘tasting date’ or ‘scheduled tasting’ – Dentists need appointments). They are more than willing to accommodate any times that you are going to be visiting.

Restaurants at the winery may or may not be open year-round as well so don’t assume that they will have all of their services running. Calling ahead is the best way for thins

With less people around, people in the wine shops usually have much more time to chat and aren’t in as much of a rush as they would be in the busy summer season. You can learn quite a lot about the winery and more intricate details about each wine when there isn’t a crush of people crowding the wine shop tasting bar.

Here is a list of 63 wineries that are open for business during the winter months. Always check with the winery directly to make sure that they will be open on the day that you are planning to visit.

Winery	Winter Hours
8th Generation Vineyard www.8thgenerationvineyard.com	Weekends 11am – 5pm / Jan – May1: by Appointment
Bonita’s Vineyard www.hijas-bonitas.com	Weekends by Appointment Only
Burrowing Owl Vineyards www.burrowingowlwine.ca	Sales only 10-4pm Weekends by appointment only
Calona Vineyards www.calonavineyards.ca	Daily 9am to 6pm
Camelot Vineyards www.camelotvineyards.ca	by Appointment Only
Cassini Cellars www.cassini.ca	by Appointment Only
Cedar Creek Estate Winery www.cedarcreek.bc.ca	Daily 11am – 5pm (No tours)
Cerelia Vineyard www.cerelia.ca	by Appointment Only
Chandra Estate Winery www.chandrawinery.ca	by Appointment Only
D’Angelo Estate Winery www.dangelowinery.com	Weekends by Appointment Only
Desert Hills Estate Winery www.deserthills.ca	Open Daily:11am – 4pm Closed after Christmas
Dirty Laundry Winery www.dirtylaundry.ca	Nov 1 to Dec 31 (Mon to Fri 11-4pm Sat & Sun 12 to 5pm) Jan to Apr (Mon-Fri 11-4pm)
Elephant Island Fruit Winery www.elephantislandwine.com	by Appointment Only
Fairview Cellars Estate Winery www.mypage.uniserve.ca	by Appointment Only
Forbidden Fruit Winery www.forbiddenfruitwines.com	by Appointment Only
Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery	Mon to Fri 10am to 5pm
Golden Beaver Winery www.goldenbeaverwinery.com	Wed – Sun 12pm to 5pm Closed Dec 7 to Jan 7
Gray Monk Estate Winery www.graymonk.com	Nov 1 to April 30 Daily:10am -5 pm Tour at 2 pm
Hainle Vineyards www.hainle.com	Nov 1 to Apr 14 Mon to Fri 11am to 5pm
Hester Creek Estate Winery www.hestercreek.com	Daily 10am to 4pm
Hollywood and Wine Vineyard	by Appointment Only
House of Rose www.houseofrose.ca	Daily 10am – 6pm
Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards www.inniskillin.com	Daily 10am to 4pm
Jackson-Triggs Vinters www.jacksontriggswinery.com	Daily 10am to 4pm
Kalala Organic Estate Winery www.kalalawines.ca	by Appointment Only
Kettle Valley Winery www.kettlevalleywinery.com	Sales by Appointment Only (no tastings)
La Stella Winery www.lastella.ca	Mon – Sat 11 – 5pm
Lang Vineyards www.langvineyards.com	Nov 2 to Dec 23 Daily: 11am – 4pm
Laughing Stock Vineyards www.laughingstock.ca	by Appointment Only
Le Vieux Pin www.levieuxpin.ca	by Appointment Only
Marichel Vineyard www.marichel.ca	by Appointment Only
Mission Hill Family Estate www.missionhillwinery.com	Daily 10 to5 pm
Mount Boucherie Estate Winery www.mtboucherie.bc.ca	Nov to May – Daily 11am to 5pm
Nichol Vineyard & Farm Winery www.nicholvineyard.com	Sales by Appointment Only
NK’MIP Cellars www.nkmipcellars.com	Daily 9am to 5pm
Oliver Twist Winery www.olivertwistwinery.com	by Appointment Only
Orofino Vineyards www.orofinovineyards.com	by Appointment Only
Poplar Grove Wine and Cheese	Weekends Nov / Dec
Quail’s Gate Estate Winery www.quailsgate.com	Mon – Sat 10am to 6pm Restaurant Open All Year
Quinta Ferreira Winery www.quintaferreira.com	by Appointment Only
Red Rooster Winery www.redroosterwinery.com	Daily 11am to 5pm
Road 13 Vineyards www.road13vineyards.com	Mon – Friday 11am to 3pm
Rolling Dale Winery www.rollingdale.ca	by Appointment Only
Rustic Roots Fruit Winery www.rusticrootswinery.com	by Appointment Only
See Ya Later Ranch www.hmvineyard.com	Daily 10am to 4:00pm
Seven Stones Winery www.sevenstones.ca	by Appointment Only
Silver Sage Winery www.silversagewinery.com	Thurs to Mon 11am – 5pm Closed Tues & Wed
Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery www.summerlandsweets.com	Mon– Fri 9am – 4pm Sat 10am – 5pm
Sonoran Estate Winery www.sonoranestate.com	by Appointment Only
St. Lazlo Vineyards	Daily 9 am – 7 pm
St. Hubertus Estate Winery www.st-hubertus.bc.ca	Nov to Jan 31 Daily 10am – 5pm Feb to May Tue – Sat 10am – 4pm
Stags Hollow Winery www.stagshollowwinery.com	by Appointment Only
Stoneboat Vineyards www.stoneboatvineyards.com	by Appointment Only
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery http://www.sumacridge.com	Daily 10am to 5pm (No tours until April)
Summerhill Pyramid Winery www.summerhill.bc.ca	Daily 9am – 7pm, Tours @ 12 pm & 2 pm
Tangled Vine Vineyard www.tangledvineswinery.com	by Appointment Only
Tantalus Vineyards www.tantalus.ca	Mon – Friday by Appointment Only
Therapy Vineyards www.therapyvineyards.com	Fri Sat Sun – 11am to 5pm or by Appointment
Thornhaven Estate Winery www.thornhaven.com	by Appointment Only
Tinhorn Creek Vineyard www.tinhorn.com	Daily 10am – 5pm Self Guided Tours
Township 7 Vineyard www.township7.com	By Appointment Only until February (Fri -Sun 12 to 5)
Van Westen Vineyards www.vanwestenvineyards.com	by Appointment Only
Wild Goose Vineyards www.wildgoosewinery.com	by Appointment Only
Working Horse Winerywww.workinghorsewinery.com	by Appointment Only

Hollywood and Wine Estate, Summerland B.C.

For oeneophiles,  living in the heart of B.C. wine country is a true blessing. Being so close to so many orchards, vineyards and wineries is a virtual candyland for me. With many options for tourists and locals alike, some don’t know where to start. Naramata now has some twenty plus wineries, and Oliver has even more. For those who have visited the Penticton benchlands and perhaps many south Okanagan wineries, try driving north fifteen minutes from Penticton and you will find the small town of Summerland. This little city now boasts ten wineries,  known as ‘Bottleneck Drive’. Most of these small estates are tucked up in behind the face of Giant’s Head Mountain, an extinct volcano.

The latest of these wineries I came to visit is known as Hollywood and Wine. Once a driver for Vancouver’s movie industry, Neil Massey and his wife Betty now own four and a half hectares in the Dale Meadow valley. Plantings on this piece of land (where there were once apples trees) include Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Zweigelt, Merlot and Leon Millot.  What intruiged me was the latter.

Leon Millot, a vigorous hybrid produces wines of medium weight, with bright berry flavours with soft supple tannins. This particular wine exudes red cherry and blackberry aromas that follow through on the palate. Sweet butterscotch joins the fruit for a soft, velvety finish. Great job for a fairly unknown varietal, and an easy red for those who those who prefer white. Try this with pizza, pasta or duck confit.

Hester Creek’s brand new digs

Hester Creek's grand opening

The grand opening of Hester Creek’s new wine shop and winery took place today in the sun, and then rain, and then sun again near the end.

Let me say just say this – if you visited Hester Creek before, even recently, it will be worth visiting again soon. The wine shop is spacious, the tasting bar is large and brightly lit and they’ve even paved the parking lot!

The tasting room was packed when I arrived, most likely due to the rain that had everyone claiming space inside rather than lounge outside or mill about on the patio. Unfortunately, the first thing that I could smell upon entering the wine shop was a good dose of Calvin Klein or similar blend of fragrance, which almost entirely masked the wonderful scents from the hors d’oeuvres created by Chef Heinz Schmid. (If you don’t already know the effects of wearing too much perfume in general, please don’t douse yourself in anything smelly before going to a wine-related event…)

After a Pinot Gris and some appies, I started to take in the sights. The large main room, with the curvascious tasting bar as a center piece, has many rooms and spaces adjacent to it that will be useful for functions. Off to the right is a private dining room with an entrance to a small, viewable barrel cellar. The dinning room also has its own private entrance and patio outside. The main room has a large, partially covered patio as well which will easily handle the summer (or wine festival) crowds that will do doubt be descending on Hester Creek in the future. There is a viewable demonstration kitchen just to the right of the tasting bar and probably a whole lot of different rooms that I didn’t get the chance to see on this occasion. Perhaps soon.

I’m glad to see that Hester Creek is on the up and up. It was only about six years ago when it would not have been possible to say that. I’m glad to see that this winery will be around for many more years to come. Cheers!

Hester Creek patio off the main room

Winery Quicky #1 – Cassini Cellars – Easy access

Cassini Cellars

Lots of wine here and the best thing is that it’s so easy to get there. It’s right on the highway and there’s tons of easy parking, especially for those of you traveling in RV’s or with a trailor. Their parking lot looks like it can accomodate at least 4 (probably more) full-sized RV’s or pickups with 5th wheel trailors without backing up or any crazy parking lot tricks. It’s on the west side of Highway 97 and is on the right as you head south from the town of Oliver.

The other great thing about this winery is that there are lots of different styles of wine here for every palate. Crisp pinot Grigio’s (called Mamma Mia) and big, dark, full-bodied reds (check out Maximus). All of that is surrounded by a beautiful large wine shop that makes you forget that the highway is only steps away.  

Cassini Cellars

32056 Hwy 97, Oliver, BC

info@cassini.ca

http://www.cassini.ca

Tugwell Creek Meadery – Sooke, B.C.

Taking a moment during a wet afternoon in our home of Penticton, I am reminded of a recent road trip to Vancouver Island. The days were warm and the evenings cool and damp; A different climate than our dry desert valley. In this southern island hamlet, you can feel the ocean’s briny breath….. There is a different focus for wine in the lower mainland and the gulf Islands, given the more tropical nature of its weather patterns. Early ripening hybrids and vinifera thrive in this coastal region, producing light, crisp, aromatic and fruit driven wines that are truly cool climate.

Not being as familiar with this area and it’s smaller boutique wineries, I was very excited to find out a winery specializing in honey meads was in the neighborhood of  our hosts’ hometown of Sooke! Tugwell Creek, which runs past our friend’s home, comes out near the meadery that bears its name. An art as ancient as grape wines, mead combines honey, spices and sometimes berries to create wines that are rustic, complex and intriguing. Romans believed mead had properties to strengthen, heal and lengthen life.

Tugwell Creek Harvest Melomel ’08.

Besides a blackcurrant as well as a sparkling dessert wine, we tasted a seasonal mead that is infused with logan, goose and marionberies, all grown on the farm.  The colour was a rich amber hue, reminiscent of a well extracted pinot gris. On the nose, strawberry fruit seems stewed with the marriage of honey. Almonds, nutmeg and orange rind, this wine has a very complex and mysterious aroma. A creamy palate of the same stewed fruit and spices remind me of autumn and winter delicacies such as pumpkin pie, christmas cake and candied fruits. Finishing off dry, this wine may very well be an excellent alternative for fish or fowl…. Think turkey dinner.

If you are interested in the meads from Tugwell Creek and where to find them, visit them on the web at www.tugwellcreekfarm.com

Twisted Tree Winery – Osoyoos

<Every now and then we get to visit wineries and we’d like to share some of that experience with you. There are tons of things written about (and virtual tours online from) the big wineries in the area (Mission Hill, Peller, Summerhill, Vincor) and so our focus will be on the smaller, artisanal wineries that might not be on everyone’s tour schedule, but we think are worth a visit on your next trip.  A large percentage of these wineries are located between Summerland/Naramata and Osoyoos. Hopefully, this will give you a hand in helping to decide which ones to visit on your next trip.>

The Twisted Tree Winery has always intrigued me for some reason. Ever since I learned (probably from a John Schreiner book) that they were planting all kinds of grape varieties that had never at that point been tried in the Okanagan – tempranillo, tannat, marsanne and roussanne and maybe more. The tannat got me especially because I’d really taken a liking to the wines from Madiran, France that use that grape (sometimes blended with cabernet franc) to make their wines.

The Twisted Tree winery is located on Route 3 heading east out of Osoyoos. The winery is on the left after the road turns for the first time just outside of town. (Heads up for y’all who are on motorcycles – they have a loose gravel parking lot.) The wine shop does not face the road and you have to drive around the whole building to park. The reason for this becomes apparent when you step into the wine shop and take in the gorgeous view of the valley behind the tasting bar. High ceilings and large windows give this wine shop a lot of space and more importantly, lots of light to appreciate the wine in the glass.  

Twisted Tree’s first vintage was 2005 with a modest collection of reds and whites. In 2007, the viognier-roussanne blend was introduced for the first time. The 2008 is out now and it was the first wine that Stephanie poured for me on my visit there this past August. If you are interested in a white wine with lots of peach, flowers, and honey aromas and flavours, and that transitions to lush tropical fruits on the beautifully long and lingering finish, then YOU MUST TRY THIS WINE!! It was a most beautiful wine that will surely sell quickly.

2007 is also the current inaugural vintage of their Tempranillo, a grape that I am seeking out these days after trying D’Angelo’s Tempranillo earlier in the summer. To me, this tempranillo had pleasant cocoa, earth, red fruit and floral aromas with more of the same on the palate and a medium finish. It was delish.

It was also an interesting comparison between the two growing regions of Naramata and Osoyoos. Assuming that D’Angelo’s tempranillo is grown in Naramata (there’s no real way of telling for sure where anyone grows anything in this valley at the moment), there are noticeable differences between the two wines. The Twisted Tree temp is darker and has more weight to it with more fruit and chocolate flavours while the D’Angelo is more earthy and complex. Different wine making styles? Different oak treatment? Different terroir? Probably all of the above. Very interesting though and something that I hope to investigate more with different varietals on a future podcast sometime.

My only beef about this wine is that it is priced a little aggressively - $28 (their most expensive bottle) for a varietal that most people don’t really know about seems a bit high to me (especially compared with D’Angelo’s at $15). Regardless, I bought mine and plan to enjoy it around Christmas. Cheers!

 

Twisted Tree Winery http://www.twistedtree.ca/

3628 Highway 3 East
Osoyoos, BC, V0H 1V6
T: 250.495.5161 | F: 250.495.5167