British Columbia's Naramata Bench    

naramata

Naramata is bounded by lakeshore, clay bluffs, vineyards, orchards and wilderness.
Tree lined streets , artisan shops, Museum , quaint Country stores and nature trails.
The Naramata Bench has optimal growing conditions, due to the proximity of Okanagan Lake
which provides for a long growing season.

Black Widow Winery


1630 Naramata Road
Penticton BC V2A 8T7

T: 250.487.2347



Black Widow Winery


Dick Lancaster has been a noted amature winemaker for over 30 years. In 2000 Dick and his wife Shona came across this beautiful seven acres property. It was already producing vines and witha panoramic view of Naramata Bench and the lake, it was too good to turn down. Taking on grape growing and commercial wine making was a natural progression, satisfying a long time pashion.

The name represents the Black Widow spiders which are quite common on the property, and serve as a reminder that the growing grapes in a desert region. 

A gravity flow winery was constructed to produce Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Schönburger
Merlot . All wines are produced from their own vineyard

Winemaker:  Dick Lancaster
Philosophy . Grow really ripe fruit on our own property, making wine of intense flavour, bouquet,  and  character.

signature wines : Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon - 100% oak aged (predominantly French) for at least 21 months.   Pinot Gris, harvested late, cold soaked,  and partially barrel fermented

 

website

Tastings/


D'Angelo Estate Winery


947 Lochore Road
Penticton , BC V2A 8V1
Phone: (250) 493-1364
Fax : (250) 493-1309

D'Angelo Estates


Currently under construction, the D"Angelo Family has a rich history in Canada's wine industry; currently operating a winery in Ontario. The Okanagan winery will have 27 acres with 5 now planted including Pinot Noir, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot . There will also be a B&B and a restaurant. D'Angelo will operate as a family business with daughter Stephanie and son Christopher helping

Sal D'Angelo was named Ontario's' Grape King in 1999. Illness forced Sal to move to the dryer claim of the Okanagan. After vacationing for many years in the Penticton area in 2002 he purchased 27 acres, where he built a gravity flow winery.

As a winemaker Sal specializes in red wines and icewines . Merlot will a priority along with a Spanish vine called Tempranillo. Sal also likes Viognier and Gewürztraminer.

D"angelo will operate as a family business with daughter Stephanie and son Christopher helping.

The B&B is now open

 

website

restaurant / Vineyard View B&B


Elephant Island Orchard Winery


2730 Aikens Loop
RR1 S5 C18
Naramata, BC, Canada
V0H 1N0

Phone: 250-496-5522
Fax: 250-496-5521
email: info@elephantislandwine.com

elephant logo


Located in Naramata on Okanagan Lake's east shore among the fruit farms. Crafting fine fruit wines has been a tradition in the Wisnicki family for more than four generations. Coupling this rich history with the international training and experience of consulting oeanologist, Christine Leroux, Proprietors, Miranda and Del Halliday named their winery after Elephant Island paying tribute to Miranda's Grand Parents ( Wisnicki ) who built their retirement home on the Island.

Wine-maker Christine Leroux who trained at the L'Institut D'Oenologie de Bordeaux, in Bordeaux, France.

Website
 

Foxtrot

2333 Gammond Road
Naramata, B.C.
V2A 8T6 Canada

Foxtrot


A winery with a most spectacular view owned by Torsten Allander  The winery
specializes in ultra-premium Pinot Noir

Winemaker: Gustav Allander
Winemaking Philosophy:

 

Website
 

Hillside Estate Winery

1350 Naramata Road
Penticton, B.C. V2A 8T6
Canada
Local: 250-493-6274
Toll Free: 888-923-9463
Fax 250-493-6294

info@hillsideestate.com

hillside winery


Hillside Estate was started in 1984 when Vera and Bohumir Klockockas began replacing the fruit trees in the orchard they had purchased in 1979 on Naramata Road, just north of the city of Penticton, B.C. The couple had decided the site would be ideal for a vineyard because of the gravelly topsoil on a slope which faced west, catching the direct rays of the sun and reflections off nearby Lake Okanagan.
Today the winery has new owners and a new building. Eric von Krosigk recently joined the Hillside team in the role of winemaker. Hillside is the only BC winery producing Muscat Ottonel, a truly unique and unusual aromatic white wine .

The winery is owned by Bill Carpenter.

The Barrel Room Bistro offers delightful lunches and dinners, featuring a second story patio with an amazing view of Okanagan Lake and surrounding orchards and vineyards.

Winemaker: Kelly Symonds
Winemaking Philosophy: We have made a commitment to producing quality wines with only the best Okanagan Valley grapes.

 

Website
Barrel Room Bistro / Icewine

Howling Bluff  Winery

1086 Three Mile rd
Penticton, B.C.
V2A 8T6 Canada


250.490.3640


info@howlingbluff.ca

howling Bluff

Owner Luke Smith spent six month searching for the right location He had been dreaming of owning a winery for twenty years. He found his vineyard in the Naramata
and called his 20 acre vineyard Summa Quies Vineyard. The winery he named Howling Bluff a name which came when he stood in his vineyard on a windy day listening to the dogs barking.

The vineyard was first planted in 2003 with additional plantings in
2004/2005/2006/2007/2008 and first wine making facility built in 2007.
The  winery direction  is to produce 2000-3000 cases of estate wine, three wines, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Pinot Noir and Sin Cera our Merlot/Cab franc/Cab sav/Malbec/Petite Verdot blend

signature wines: Sin Cera, Pinot Noir

The winery strives to make the best possiable wines using 100% estate grown grapes.

Winemaker: Garron Elms
Winemaking Philosophy: Grow the best grapes to make the best wine possible

 

Website / tastings by Appointment
Inn at Howling Bluff


Joie Winery


2825 Naramata Road
Site 5 Comp 4
Naramata, British Columbia
Canada V0H 1N0


Tel: 1-866-422-5643
Fax: 1-866-834-4008
Heidi-Michael@joie.ca

joie winery


Heidi Noble and Michael Dinn are the owners of this new winery Both have extensive backgrounds as Sommelier and wine related business. Joie's farm began as a cooking school but the relationship between wine and food could not be ignored. For Heidi it was the desire to feed people, placing an emphasis on teaching them about where their food comes from. For Michael it was the love of wine and the desire to one day have a winery.


website

 



Kettle Valley Winery


2988 Hayman Road
Naramata, BC
250-496-5898
kettlevalleywinery@telus.net

kettle valley


In 1996 Bob Ferguson and Tim Watts opened their winery. The winery being named after the old railway that used to run along the eastern shore. They started operations in a three car garage focusing more on the quality of the wine than expansion. They own several vineyards on the bench equaling 20 acres.
In his book British Columbia Wine country author John Schreiner states Kettle Valley makes some of the boldest and longest lived wines on Naramata Bench. Ferguson describes their wines as big, robust and full bodied .
Old Main Red is one of their signature wines; a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon,Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

website


   

La Frenz


740 Naramata Road
Penticton, BC

250-492-6690
lafrenz@shaw.ca

owners Jeff and Niva Martin


The winery opened in 2002 by Jeff and Niva Martin. Jeff worked as the winemaker at Quails' Gate for five years before starting his own winery. He has a degree in Eonology/ Wine Science, from Charles Stuart University , Australia resulting in
30 years of winemaking and viticulture experience in both North and Southern hemispheres

the Martins named the winery after Jeff's Grandfather. His ten acre vineyard on the benchincludes Shiraz, Merlot, Viognier and Schonburger. A second vineyard also ten acresis located on the Golden Mile by Oliver.   A second vineyard on the Bench will be planted in 2008.

The wineries direction is to remain small and focus on continuing to craft steller wines.
Two of their wines were selected for Queen Elizabeth's Gala dinner during her visit in May 2005. Their 2005 Merlot was selected as wine of the show at he Northwest wine summit, Portland 2007. A first for Canadian wine

signature wines: Shiraz , Semillon, Viognier. Liqueur Muscat , Tawny Port.

Winemaker: Jeff Martin
Philosophy: to over deliver in the glass

   website

 visits by appointment only :



Lake Breeze Vineyard


930 Sammet Road,
Naramata, B.C.
VOH INO Phone:
250-496-5659.
lakebreeze@telus.net

lakebrreze


Located on the eastern hillsides overlooking Okanagan Lake. Historically an orchard, the first European vinifera were planted in 1985. Lake Breeze Vineyards is proud to be the first winery in Canada to grow and produce Pinotage, the native South African variety. Pinotage was developed in South Africa in the 1920s and is a cross between pinot noir and cinsaut (often referred to as hermitage). The winery is grouped owned . Gary Reynolds is the operating partner .
Unique to Lake Breeze is Delice; a blend of Schonberger and Morio Muscat.

A licensed patio offers light lunches.

Winemaker: Garron Elmes
Philosophy: We believe in taking the natural fruit flavours of the grape and transferring them to the bottle with minimum amount of manipulation. Through careful and meticulous vineyard management we receive fruit of the highest quality from which our wines make themselves.

Website
licensed patio seasonal

Lang Vineyards


2493 Gammon Road, RR1, S11, C55,
Naramata, B.C., VOH INO
Canada.
Phone: 250-496-5987

info@holmanlang.com

lang winery


Overlooking Okanagan Lake, Lang Vineyard has a magnificent view of the valley. Winemaker Guenther Lang: We must produce the highest quality wine possible, losing quantity if necessary, in order to achieve quality. Wine tastings are by appointment only.
Guenther and Kristina Lang moved to the Okanagan from Germany in 1980, and began the hard work of replanting the vineyard. They have the distinction of being the first farm winery in Canada.*

Lang makes a White Maple Wine - a blend of classic vinifera varietals, including Pinot Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Riesling. Produced in stainless steel, the wine is blended with premium quality syrup from the maple trees of eastern Canada.

The winery was purchased in Nov 2005 by Holman Farms

Winemaker: Bernhard Schirrmeister
Winemaking Philosophy: We strive for the highest quality grapes possible by controlling every step ...especially thinning. We harvest as late as possible to achieve a high degree of ripeness.

Website

Icewines


Laughing Stock Vineyards

1548 Naramata Road
Penticton, BC, Canada
V2A 8T7

Phone: 250.493.VINO
fax# :250-492-2363
info@laughingstock.ca


Located on a 5 acre parcel in Naramata Laughing Stock is the long term dream of David and Cynthia Enns. Considering their background in the investment industry, this move from Vancouver to the Okanagan to open a winery has resulted in their trading in financial stocks for grape stocks.  In the eyes of their peer group, this venture could be interpreted as a whimsical, romantic, and well, ... foolish investment. A financial decision that could make Cynthia and David the outright laughing stock in the eyes of their workmates in the financial industry. David often humorously refers to having made a Vow of Poverty when he decided to build a winery.

Laughing Stock is a name that will raise an eyebrow or two in the Okanagan Valley. It counters the traditional approach to wine marketing - largely based on elegance, refinement, stature, heritage etc. It also magnifies the vulnerability that Cynthia and David must bear. Every morning, they wake up motivated NOT to do anything that would validate their winery name. With a name like Laughing Stock, they have no choice but to produce exceptional wines.

The Enns' purchase included some vineyard planted to Merlot and they have since planted additional acreage, Bordeaux varietals such as Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot & Malbec. The first crush was completed in 2003 and they will be releasing a premium red blend in fall 2005 after 18 months of barrel aging. 

Winemaker: David Enns
Winemaking philosophy: Winemaking will follow Bordeaux directives of creating a blend of up to 5 of the Bordeaux varieties for our flagship red wine.  Extended barrel aging with a combination of new and used french oak will create the depth and complexity that comes from patient winemaking. 



website
 

Marichel Vineyards and Winery

Naramata Bench

na




This small winery on Naramata bench ~500 cases per year
Requests for information were respectfully declined by the winery

 

Owned by Richard and Elizabeth Roskell

website
 

Mistral Estate Winery

250 Upper Bench Road
Penticton, BC V2A 8T1

Phone: (250) 770-1733
Fax: (250) 770-1734

info@holmanlang.com


Mistral Estate Winery is located a short distance north of Penticton amidst the rolling benchlands of the Naramata Bench. It's the newest winery belonging to Keith and Lynn Holman. Benchland Vineyards and Spiller Estate Winery are also theirs.


Winemaker: Bernhard Schirrmeister is responsible for all three wineries

Winemaking Philosophy: By capturing the essences of the Okanagan - its sun, soil and ambience - in carefully nurtured varietal grapes and extracting that essence through superb winemaking craftsmanship, we will produce wines that won't just meet expectations, they will exceed them.

website



Montagu Cellars Winery

# 29 1350 West 6 th Avenue Vancouver BC V6H 1A7

T: 604.837.0086

 

na


The vineyards are in Naramata the offices in Vancouver. Its a small winery producing only three barrels of Merlot and one of Chardonnay each vintage. Proprietor Tom Doughty has sold his wines even before they are bottled.

Winemaker: Tom Doughty

website
no tasting room


Nichol Vineyards & Estate Winery

1285 Smethurst Road
Naramata , British Columbia

P 250.496.5962
F 250.496.4275 nicholvineyard@shaw.ca

photo by Chris Cornett


Nestled below the granite cliffs of the historic Kettle Valley Railway overlooking the sweeping majesty of Okanagan Lake . Nichol Vineyard has been creating hand-crafted specialty wines from estate-grown Okanagan grapes since 1993.
The winery is owned by Ross Hackworth.

Signature wine Syrah. They took a risk by planting Syrah and St. Laurent. It was a good risk; the Syrah has won them numerous awards.

Winemaker: Ross Hackworth
Winemaking Philosophy: The gentle handling of the wine from must through to bottling is paramount. An approach that is best done manually when possible. This style is labor intensive, but one that better allows the winemaker to assist the wine in expressing its natural traits and seasonal characteristics. Ross also believes in giving his wines an extra year to age.

 

website
Events


Poplar Grove

1060 Poplar Grove Road
Penticton B.C.
Canada V2A-8T6
Phone: 250-492-2352.
Fax: 250-492-9162.

poplar estate


Ian and Gitta Sutherland bought 12 acres on Okanagan Lake. In 1993 the apple trees were replaced by a vineyard using merlot and cabernet franc clones from Bordeaux. The winery opened in 1997 with '95 merlot and '95 cab franc. Owners Ian and Gitta Sutherland won a Gold medal in 1997 for their very first release. This family run winery works on a very limited scale.

Website
Poplar Grove Cheese / cottage

Red Rooster

Naramata Road
Naramata B.C. V2A 8T5
Phone: 250-492-2424. info@redroosterwinery


Located on the scenic Naramata Bench Road , where breathtaking lake and mountain views surround the vineyard. The winery was originally started by a couple who immigrated from Switzerland. Today Red Rooster owned and operated by Andrés Wines who recently purchased Calona wines .

The winery produces Gerùrztraminer, Pinot Gris Riesling and Merlot.

Winemaker: Richard Kanazawa
Winemaking Philosophy: "Quality before quantity"

Website
art shows/

Soaring Estate Winery

1751 Naramata Road
Penticton, BC V2A 8T8

250-490-5965 ext 108
info@holmanlang.com

soaring eagle


Soaring Eagle wines are produced from hand selected bunches of grapes grown on the Naramata Bench. This is truly 'Single Vineyard—Low Yields' production ensuring that the best possible quality ends up in the bottle. Soaring Eagle resides in one of the most picturesque locations on the Naramata Bench and will quickly become known for the rare scenic beauty of its surroundings.

Winemaker, Bernhard Schirrmeister has created a riper, fuller style of wine using later harvesting, lees contact and now barrel aging to enhance but not to interfere with what nature provides.

Winemaker: Bernhard Schirrmeister

a Holman Lang Winery

Website


Spiller Estate Fruit Winery

475 Upper Bench Road N
Penticton V2A 8T4
250-490-4162

info@holmanlang.com

bb

 

A fruit winery developed by Lynn and Keith Holman now in its third season. On the property is a heritage home of an early pioneer named Elbert Spiller, which is now a charming B&B. The Holmans have a strong family history as fruit growers

signature wines : Pear, and Cherry Dessert 

Winemaker: Laurent Lafuente

website
B&B /

Stonehill Estate Winery

170 Upper Bench Road S
Penticton, BC V2A 8T1
250-770-1733

info@holmanlang.com


Keith and Lynn Holman, the owners of Stonehill Estate Winery welcome you to the second winery on the Naramata Wine Route . The red-roofed building, with its profusion of colourful garden beds and hanging baskets, sits just below 9 acres of premium vineyard, including the first planting in BC of Zweigelt in 1997.

 

Stonehill offers a portfolio of well-known varietals such as Pinot Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Port-styled wines and of course their famous Zweigelt.

Winemaker: Bernhard Schirrmeister

 

Website

Township 7


1450 McMillian Ave
Penticton, BC V2A 8T4
250-770-1743


The winery was sold to Mike Raffan in June 2006

This is Township 7's second location. They opened their original location(2001) in Langley's Township7 . Since the wineries was so successful they felt it would be wrong to change the name on the Naramata location.

Two of the seven acres on the property were planted to grapes in the spring of 2004, with more plantings planned for 2005.  The retail wine shop housed in the newly built winery opened in August, 2004

Besides the vineyards in Langley and on the Naramata Bench, grapes for Township 7 Vineyards and Winery wines are grown in the Oliver area of British Columbia, a great location for growing grapes for the more full-bodied Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignons, Syrahs and Chardonnay's that Township 7 produces.

Winemaker: Brad Cooper
Website

Therapy Vineyards


940 Debeck Road
Naramata, British Columbia,

Phone: 250.496.5217


A recently open winery owned by Naramata Development Corporation a general partner of Naramalta Winery Limited Partnership the name of the winery is based upon Our location is therapeutic, our guesthouse is therapeutic and our wine is therapeutic at the end of a long day. John McBean a calgary business man leads a group of fifty partners to launch a winery that combines great scenery along with great wines

Winemaker and General manger Marcus Ansems comes from a winemaking family (Mt Langi Ghiran in Australia), He has a degree majoring in Winemaking from Adelaide University Marcus has worked in Australia. South Africa, Italy, France, and Canada (both Niagara/Okanagan).

The winery has an 8 bedroom Five Star guest house

signature wines : Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir

The winery future plans are to grow slowly and produce high-end ultra premium wines with special emphasis on Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and unique blends.

Winemaker: Marcus Ansems
Winemaking Philosophy: winemaking philosophy . – Let the vineyard site come through in the wines, manipulate aromatic varieties as little as possible, use only the best quality oak, mouth feel is more important than tannin in red wines.


website
guesthouse

Van Westen Vineyards


RR#1 850 Boothe Road
Naramata, British Columbia, Canada
V0H 1N0
Phone: 250.496.0067


The Van Westen Family has been involved in farming the Naramata Bench for the last fifty years. Robert Van West has taken it one step farther by opening his winery.

The property sits on an Eastern slope allowing for long hours of warm sunlight thus providing an excellent growing season.

Signature wines are Vino Grigio, Vavacious and Volptuous.

Currently their are no facilitiesfor visitors.

Winemaker: Robert Van Westen
Winemaking Philosophy: To grow, produce and bottle fruit grown by van westen vineyards, solely from our land on the naramata bench. From grapes to glass


website
 


Holman Lang Wineries



Naramata, British Columbia, Canada
V0H 1N0


The Holman Lang wineries is a group of five cottage wineries  located on the Naramata bench of British Columbia wine country. They include Soaring Eagle, Lang Vineyards, Spiller Estates Stonehill Estates and Mistral Wineries each offer five distinct styles of winemaking.

Owner Keith Holman.

Winemaker: Bernhard Schirrmeister, Laurent La Fuente
Winemaking Philosophy: Finest quality wines commitment to compete with the worlds best


website
 


 

 

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