A glass of Adega set against its sloped estate vineyard.

In the sun-soaked southern reaches of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, where the vines bask under one of Canada’s warmest microclimates and the views stretch from sloping vineyards to shimmering Lake Osoyoos, Adega on 45th Estate Winery is undergoing an exciting transformation.

Rooted in a story that begins in 1966, when a Portuguese family purchased the land and planted orchards, Adega (Portuguese for “cellar”) has always been about connection to place. When the second generation turned the orchard into a vineyard in 2009, the original plan was to grow grapes for others. But as is often the case in wine, vision meets passion.

The family saw the potential in their land and began crafting wines exclusively from their own fruit, building a loyal following with varieties like Merlot, Malbec, and a notably popular Cabernet Franc.

Christa-Lee McWatters.

Fast forward to 2025, and a new team has stepped into the cellar. One with deep industry roots, decades of experience, and a clear vision for where this already successful winery can go next.

At the helm is Christa-Lee McWatters, whose last name is practically synonymous with BC wine. The daughter of the late Harry McWatters, one of the region’s most influential pioneers, Christa-Lee grew up in the vines, made her first wine at age nine, and has spent her life shaping and elevating the Okanagan wine scene through leadership roles at Sumac Ridge, TIME Winery, and the BC Wine Institute.

“I love what they’ve done here,” she says of Adega. “It’s a spectacular site, and the family has been so humble and hardworking. There’s just so much upside.”

An established estate vineyard.

Rather than sweeping changes, the approach is deliberately considered: build on the solid foundation left by the founders, fine-tune the offerings, and let the land and legacy shine.

The estate vineyard covers 19 acres of prime south Okanagan terrain, complemented by another 10 acres across town managed by the founding family’s sister and her husband. That makes for 28 acres of estate-grown fruit and every wine the winery has ever made has come from its own vines.

And that fruit is in expert hands. Karen Yeung, a respected force in BC viticulture and winemaking for over 25 years, is now leading the charge in the cellar. Yeung spent years with Peller Estates, where she managed Red Rooster Winery and, later, oversaw all viticulture for Peller’s Okanagan portfolio—over 1,000 acres of vineyards!

Karen and Korol working in the vineyard.

After stepping back from her role at Peller last year, she got a call from Christa-Lee in January who said, “I’m working on something that sounds almost too good to be true. Want to come along for the ride?” Karen replied with an enthusiastic ‘yes’.

Yeung is joined in the cellar by Korol Kuklo, formerly of Tinhorn Creek, where she spent 23 years as assistant winemaker. Together, the all-female production team brings a combined 50+ years of experience though Christa-Lee is quick to point out that hiring women wasn’t the goal, “We went after the best people, which just happens to be a great team of women.”

Adega Tasting Room.

With a strong team in place, the winery is looking ahead without losing what makes it special.

The tasting room still greets guests with the warm hospitality that has built long-standing customer loyalty, and longtime staff like Tasting Room Manager Karen Valckx, who’s been with Adega for eight years, offer continuity and familiarity.

That said, evolution is underway.

A reimagined patio with new furniture, shade sails, and expanded seating from 28 to 68 is being unveiled.

The view from the patio.

Plans for a sparkling wine program is on the horizon, supported by sourced Chardonnay and driven by the personal passion both Christa-Lee and Karen share for bubbles. A wine club has been launched, a new label design is coming (nothing drastic, just modern refinements), and a wine cocktail program is launching this summer aimed at making wine feel more approachable and fun for a younger generation.

Expect a more focused wine portfolio.

There’s even potential for expanded licensing, events, and winter experiences. “We’re seeing growth early in the season already,” says Christa-Lee. “Tourism is strong, and people are rediscovering the region, whether they’re locals staying closer to home, Americans taking advantage of the dollar, or Europeans looking for something new.”

And then there’s the fruit. Beyond the flagship Cabernet Franc, the vineyard produces Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and even a little Orange Muscat. From the additional property: Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Syrah, and more Cabernet Franc.

While the current portfolio is broad, too broad, some might argue, the new team is working to pare down offerings for greater focus, aiming to highlight the strengths of the site with more precision.

The beautiful sloping estate vineyard.

In a wine region where new ventures and high-profile investments are constantly cropping up, Adega on 45th stands out by doubling down on what’s already working and applying just the right touch of strategic refresh. No drastic overhauls, no flashy rebranding, just a careful refinement of something already beloved.

“I wasn’t looking for a new project when this came up,” Christa-Lee admits. “But I love this industry. It’s literally been my whole life. And I looked around at Adega and thought: this place is special. It deserves to shine even brighter.”

And it will. With a spectacular vineyard, seasoned leadership, and a renewed sense of purpose, Adega on 45th is poised to become one of the most compelling stories in the Okanagan.

Tasting Notes

2024 Adega Rosé

2024 Adega 2024 Adega Rosé.

Bright orange in colour, this rosé is a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. A mix we seldom see in a rosé, but this really works. Flavours of raspberry and earth have a really nice substrate of minerality. Medium acid and quite a lot of body; this separates this wine from a lots of rosés and makes for a wonderful partner to seafood dinners. Subtle notes of dried herbs add to the complexity of the wine. Excellent ($25)

2022 Adega Viognier

Viognier is a personal favourite and we wish we saw more in this style. This wine has a nice fleshiness to it; texture and body enough for a seductive mouthfeel but countered by enough acidity to keep it from getting flabby. The flavours bring to mind the surrounding Okanagan orchards with a mix of nectarine and apricot and some citrus on the finish. Some intriguing floral hints on the nose. Very Good+ ($25)

2024 Adega Riesling

2024 Adega Riesling.

This is a refreshing Riesling showing notes of apple and lemon peel. Medium body with medium+ acidity this is provides a juicy frame to deliver the classic notes of the varietal. There is just a hint of residual sugar but we didn’t notice it as the sugar provided body without sweetness. Very Good+ ($27)

2021 Adega Cabernet Franc

The Okanagan just keeps getting better and better with this variety. The good Cab Francs all seem to come from the south end of the valley where the heat accumulation is highest. This is a big take on the variety with a deep red/purple colour showing notes of currants, black cherry and dried herbs. The finish has grippy tannins and cracked pepper. Built for ageing and for the dinner table. Excellent ($34)

2019 Adega Malbec

2019 Adega Malbec.

Dark red in colour, this shows flavours of plum and black cherry with some floral hints bring intrigue to the aroma. The body and tannin are both medium+. There is a nice rusticity here which is aided by the chewy tannins and speaks to this wines serious pedigree. Very Good+ ($33)

2020 Adega Syrah

This is a delicious Syrah that shows all of the typicity of the grape. Very dark in colour and a big profile that is dominated by blackberry and black cherry and where lots of supporting notes are given by the hints of cracked pepper and baking spices. The medium+ body is framed by polished tannins that create a lovely balance that is felt as much as it is tasted. The finish is long and earthy. Excellent ($34)

2017 Adega Alfredo Reserve Merlot

2017 Adega Alfredo Reserve Merlot.

A lovely and voluptuous Merlot. Black cherry and plum come across on a full body frame with medium+ tannin. This is silky and decadent and really cries out for a juicy grilled steak. The long finish reveals spice cake notes and even a bit of cherry liqueur. Excellent (wine club only)

2019 Adega Quartito Tinto

This blend of the main Bordeaux varieties includes 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 12.5% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This wine is a deep and dark red with a little fade at the rim. Beautiful flavours of black cherry cascade over your palate with depth and intensity. Lots of classic Bordeaux secondary notes come to the fore after a bit of air and include, cedar, tobacco and earth. The tannins are medium+ but not at all aggressive. This is a St. Estephe look-alike that sells for a fraction of the price. Delicious! Excellent ($43)

A perfect place to enjoy a glass.

Adega on 45th

7311 45 Street

Osoyoos, BC, Canada

T: (250) 495-6243

H: Open daily 10am-5pm