Dennis Begin
Wineries along Lake Okanagan north of Summerland
Words by Dennis Begin
When you buy a bottle of wine you might see a label for ‘BC VQA’, which ensures that the wine was produced in British Columbia. VQA stands for 'Vintner’s Quality Alliance’ - a regulatory system which guarantees the high quality and authenticity of origin for Canadian wines made under that system in both BC and Ontario.
The wine industry or ‘viticulture’ is highly regulated by the British Columbia Wine Authority (BCWA). As an independent regulatory body, appointed by the Province of British Columbia, the BCWA enforces the official wine rules, called the ‘Wines Marked Quality Regulations’ or simply ‘The Regulations.'
VQA also refers to an ‘appellation of origin system’, referring to the five producing wine areas of the province known as ‘Designated Appellations.’ They include Vancouver Island, Gulf Island, Fraser Valley, Okanagan Valley, and Similkameen Valley. To have a VQA rating, quality standards must be met, and all grapes must be 100 percent grown within the province.
The next step is a taste and smell assessment of the wine by an independent panel. Every bottle of wine must also include first, the name of the winery, second, the vintage (age), third, the name of the wine and varietal (grapes) and fourth, the assurance of quality as well as the area where the grapes are grown. Of the 176 wineries in the Okanagan Valley, 95 percent of all wines are produced under the BC VQA Regulations.
The Okanagan Valley produces a wide range of varietals, including five dominating red wines, merlot, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and syrah, and five top whites, pinot gris, chardonnay, gewürztraminer, riesling, and sauvignon blanc. When tasting BC wines, learn to look at the wine, smell the wine, taste the wine and feel the taste on your tongue. Spitting or not spitting a wine sample is up to the individual.
Bottleneck Drive and Wineries
Summerland wines meet all the provincial standards. There are 19 wineries and four cider brewing companies in the Summerland area marketed as ‘Bottleneck Drive.’ This area extends approximately 16 km (10 mi) from the Dirty Laundry Winery in the south to the Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards in the north. See bottleneckdrive.com
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards
Situated on the old Greta Ranch near Peachland, visible from Highway #97, this 40-acre winery is perched on bench land overlooking Okanagan Lake. Not only is it known for its spectacular view, but also its white and sparkling wines. The wines include chardonnay, ehrenfelser, gewürztraminer, pinot noir, and meritage. The winery is also home to the Honorable Ross Fitzpatrick, a former Canadian Senator from 1998 to 2008. They even have a landing pad for helicopters, so feel free to drop in. See info@fitzwine.com.
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Dennis Begin
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards
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Dennis Begin
Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards
Evolve Cellars
This winery opened in May 2015 and also overlooks Okanagan Lake. Do not let the winding narrow road off the highway discourage you. The view of Okanagan Lake is only interrupted by a futuristic designed home to the north. The winery produces 15 different wines from pinot blanc to cabernet merlot. Their riesling won the 2016 BC Wine of the Year, as well as the Silver Medal in the B.C. Best of Varietal (variety of grapes), at the 2018 Okanagan Wine Festival.
The winery also offers two wine clubs, the Evolve Cellars and Club Encore. As members of these clubs, your selected wines will be delivered directly to your home. See info@evolvecellars.com
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Evolve Cellars Wine and view of Lake Okanagan
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Dennis Begin
Evolve Cellars Wine and view of Lake Okanagan
Heaven’s Gate Estate Winery
Just the name seems to call for serenity and heavenly experience, which is the owner’s objective. This winery is family-owned and operated by Diane and Andy Sanglepp. Opened for business in August 2010, Heaven’s Gate produces 12 wines, including gewürztraminer, sauvignon blanc and pinot gris. Their merlot malbec is also a BC Best of Varietal Award Winner. People are encouraged to bring a picnic, buy a bottle of wine, and enjoy the patio with a view of Lake Okanagan. See info@heavensgatewinery.com
Dennis Begin
Heaven's Gate Estate Winery
Lunessence Winery and Vineyard
Lunessence means ‘Essence of the Moon.’ This winery is a small boutique winery, that opened for business in 2015. It is known for its unique approach to growing grapes by playing classical music in the vineyard, believing that music enhances the growing process. Their slogan is “Harmony from Vine to Wine.” The wines produced include sauvignon blanc, muscat, merlot, and cabinet sauvignon. In 2014, Lunessence won the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence with its Riesling Ice Wines. See info@lunessencewinery.com
Dennis Begin
Lunessence Winery and Vineyard
Giant Head Estate Winery
Giant Head is an extinct volcano that overlooks Summerland and from the south face, resembles a human face. There are numerous wineries near the base of this rocky mountain. Giant Head is owned by John Glavin and Jinny Lee. They specialize in pinot noir, gewürztraminer, merlot, riesling, sparkling rose, and sparkling blanc de noir. The merlot is one of my favorites. See info@giantheadwinery.com
The wine industry is a 2.8-billion-dollar business contributing to the provincial economy. With 929 vineyards and 341 wineries, British Columbia is on the global wine map.
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Dennis Begin
Giant Head Estate Winery and Giant Head
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Dennis Begin
Giant Head Estate Winery and Giant Head