Pénélope Roche.

The Okanagan wine industry has never lacked ambitious people, but few arrive with résumés quite like those of Pénélope and Dylan Roche. Before establishing Roche Wines on the Naramata Bench, Pénélope had studied viticulture and enology in Bordeaux, worked at Château d’Yquem and managed her family’s historic estate, Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion.

Dylan’s route was less traditional but equally impressive. A Vancouver native who discovered wine living in Burgundy, he studied winemaking in Beaune before working in New Zealand and several of Bordeaux’s most respected wineries.

Taken together, their experience spans some of the world’s most celebrated wine regions.

Looking at the tasting room from the vineyard.

Yet one of the reasons Roche Wines has emerged as one of British Columbia’s most compelling small producers is that the couple arrived in the Okanagan with a willingness to become students again.

“Everything is different,” says Pénélope. “The soils are different. The climate is different. The way we farm is different. We couldn’t just take what we knew from Bordeaux and apply it here.” That mindset has shaped Roche Wines from the beginning.

Today, the winery is best known for a portfolio that includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, rosé and Bordeaux-inspired blends built around Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wines share a common thread: balance, precision and an emphasis on site over winemaking intervention. They also reflect more than a decade of observation and adaptation in a region that continues to challenge even the most experienced growers.

The road to BC began in New Zealand. Pénélope arrived there after completing her studies in Bordeaux and working in Spain. Like many young winemakers, she wanted to gain experience in both hemispheres by working multiple harvests each year.

Dylan Roche [Source: Roche Wines]

Dylan followed a similarly international path after discovering wine while working for a travel tour company in Burgundy. By the time they met during harvest in 2005, both had already committed themselves to careers in wine.

Their relationship eventually brought Dylan to Bordeaux, where the couple spent the next several years building their professional lives. Pénélope assumed responsibility for Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion while Dylan worked in Pauillac and with Château Lynch-Bages.

Had circumstances unfolded differently, they might still be in France today.

The estate vineyard.

Instead, the sale of Pénélope’s family winery in 2010 forced them to reconsider what they wanted their future to look like. They explored opportunities in southern France, but neither could ignore the appeal of building something entirely their own. Dylan’s family had long-standing ties to the Okanagan through a cabin in Lake Country, and the region’s potential was becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.

Their move in 2011 required equal measures of confidence and optimism. “We packed everything into a container,” recalls Pénélope. “I was six months pregnant with our second child. We had no jobs and no house. Looking back, it sounds a little crazy.”

The first years were spent finding their footing. Dylan briefly worked outside the wine industry before reconnecting with local winegrowers and cellar work. Pénélope cared for their newborn while selling artisan chocolates throughout the valley, an experience that introduced her to winery owners, vineyard managers and many of the people helping shape the modern Okanagan wine industry.

The estate vineyard.

“There were definitely moments where we wondered what we had done,” she says with a laugh. “But there were also so many signs that kept happening that made us feel we were in the right place.”

One of those moments came in 2014 when they discovered a property on the Naramata Bench that had sat largely unnoticed behind rows of Christmas trees. Beside the trees was an existing vineyard and a site that immediately appealed to their instincts as growers.

The land also carried an interesting history. It was once associated with J.H. Munson, an early Okanagan pioneer whose belief in the area’s soils helped establish what is now recognized as one of the valley’s premier growing regions.

Inside the tasting room.

They purchased a portion of the property, replanted sections of the vineyard and began work on a winery that would eventually open in 2017. Like many small winery owners, they were building a business while simultaneously raising a family. There were construction projects, vineyard redevelopment, three young children and multiple moves before everything finally settled into place.

Through it all, their focus remained on understanding the site.

Perseverance is paying off.

The Okanagan offered opportunities that appealed to both of them, particularly the ability to farm organically in a dry climate. At the same time, the region demanded a different approach than anything they had previously experienced. Irrigation became a critical consideration. Vineyard decisions that would have been routine in Bordeaux suddenly required re-evaluation.

Even after more than a decade in British Columbia, Pénélope describes the process as ongoing. “After 15 years we’re still learning,” she says. “Not one year is ever the same.”

That lesson became particularly evident following the devastating cold event of 2024. Like many wineries across the Province, Roche Wines was forced to adapt. Fruit was sourced from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, including vineyards in the Dundee Hills, where longstanding friendships and shared winemaking philosophies gave the Roches confidence that the resulting wines would remain true to their style.

The “Tradition” collection [source: Roche Wines].

The experience reinforced another lesson they have learned over time: focus matters. A few years ago, the winery’s portfolio had expanded to nearly 18 wines. Today, the Roches are intentionally narrowing their range, concentrating on the varieties and styles that best reflect both their site and their strengths as winemakers.

That discipline extends to their release strategy as well. Some wines are held back until they are ready to drink, despite the financial realities that can make patience difficult for small wineries. “If we want people to know us for quality, we have to release wines when they’re ready,” says Pénélope.

A must-visit winery in the Okanagan.

It’s a philosophy that has served the winery well. Roche Wines has quietly become one of BC’s most reliable producers, crafting wines that consistently combine elegance with a strong sense of place. The achievement is particularly notable given the challenges the Okanagan wine industry has faced in recent years.

For Pénélope and Dylan Roche, however, success was never about replicating Bordeaux or Burgundy in British Columbia. It was about applying everything they had learned elsewhere while remaining open to the lessons offered by a completely different landscape. The resulting wines offer compelling evidence that the approach has worked.

Tasting notes

2025 Roche ‘Artist’ Zweigelt Rosé 

Our first time trying a Rosé of Zweigelt. Lifted and energetic from the first pour, its aromas lean toward strawberry, watermelon , and citrus, with a faint herbal edge that keeps things taut and lively. Wonderfully dry with less than a gram of residual sugar resulting in a very clean and refreshing Rosé. Very Good+ ($27)

2022 Roche ‘Tradition’ Chardonnay

2022 Roche ‘Tradition’ Chardonnay
A Chardonnay that strikes a beautiful balance between richness and freshness. Aromas of ripe pear, and lemon lead into a palate layered with apple, vanilla, and a hint of toasted almond. Bright acidity keeps everything focused, finishing with a lingering mineral lift. Excellent ($39)

2023 Roche Roussanne
We’re big fans of this variety but the spectrum is wide between those that are well made and those that aren’t. This definitely falls in the former with a captivating texture. Aromas of apricot, pear and honey. The palate is generous yet refined, revealing notes of stone fruit, citrus, and a hint of spice. A streak of acidity carries the wine to a long, elegant finish. Excellent

2024 Roche ‘Artist’ Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

A really expressive wine bursting with raspberry, red cherry, and hints of floral notes. Soft and silky on the palate, it carries a youthful energy, with gentle spice and savouriness that balances the vibrant fruit beautifully. Excellent ($34 *terrific value at this price point!)

The 2024 ‘Artist’ Pinot Noir Willamette Valley / 2024 ‘Tradition’ Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

2024 Roche ‘Tradition’ Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
A more serious expression of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, offering aromas of black cherry, cranberry, and earthy notes. The palate unfolds in layers of dark berry fruit, warm spice, and subtle savoury notes, framed by fine tannins and a graceful, long finish. Excellent+ ($42 *also excellent value at this price point)

2022 Roche Nuances

2022 Roche Nuances.

True to its name, this blend reveals itself gradually, inviting you back for another taste. Delicate floral notes mingle with orchard fruit, citrus peel, and subtle spice. The palate is layered and harmonious, balancing freshness and texture while showcasing a lovely complexity. Very Good+($36 *terrific value at this price point)

2021 Roche Syrah
Dark, expressive, and beautifully composed, this Syrah has aromas of blackberry, plum, and cracked pepper layered with hints of herbs. The palate is rich and concentrated without feeling heavy, delivering waves of dark fruit and savoury complexity that linger long after the last sip. A beautiful example of BC Syrah. Excellent ($64)

2019 Roche Château

2019 Roche Chateau.

A wine of depth and confidence, this Merlot-dominant (87%) wine opens with aromas of cassis, black cherry, cedar, and dried herbs. The palate is structured yet polished, offering concentrated dark fruit framed by notes of tobacco, baking spice, and fine oak. Mature and expressive, it finishes with remarkable persistence and elegance. Excellent+ ($60)

Roche Wines

60 Upper Bench Road South
Penticton, BC V2A 8T1
Canada

T: (236) 422-2722

E: info@rterroir.ca

Tasting room open daily 11am-5pm.