In a valley known for its sweeping lake vistas, Red Barn winery offers a different kind of magic.

Jagged Rock.

Sitting in the shadow of Jagged Rock, a dramatic outcrop that shapes both the vineyard’s microclimate and its identity, Red Barn is a study in contrast: polished wines born of a rugged site, housed in a modernist space that still pays homage to its farming roots.

Red Barn might fly under the radar at first glance, but it’s readily redefining what small-batch winemaking in British Columbia can be.

With a tasting room designed by the iconic Tom Kundig and a fearless young winemaker at the helm, Red Barn offers one of the Okanagan’s most intimate and engaging wine experiences. One that begins in the vineyard and ends in your glass, just steps away.

But the story here isn’t all about beauty and boutique charm.

Winemaker Kaylee Barss.

The last two vintages have tested even the most resilient producers in the valley and Red Barn, whose wines are primarily focused on the Jagged Rock Vineyard, was hit particularly hard.

The vineyard, part of the von Mandl Family’s extensive holdings (think Mission Hill, CheckMate, Martin’s Lane and Cedar Creek), has been farmed for over 30 years. Jagged Rock itself looms just beyond the winery, radiating daytime heat back onto the vines during cool nights, shaping the fruit in profound and site-specific ways.

It’s been the source of some of the Okanagan’s most acclaimed wines including CheckMate’s 100-point “Little Pawn” Chardonnay among them.

But in January 2024, a brutal three-day freeze dropped temperatures to -30°C, devastating vines across the region.

Red Barn winery tasting room.

For Red Barn, whose vineyard is relatively flat and lacked the temperature-moderating effects of a nearby water source, it was a game-changer. Many of the blocks surrounding the barn were lost. Only the higher-elevation, sloping vines toward the back of the property escaped relatively unscathed.

While a blow to production, the loss became an opportunity for renewal. Replanting began last year and is being done with clear-eyed intentionality.

Not a bad seat in the tasting room.

Rows are being reoriented for better sunlight exposure, spacing adjusted to encourage airflow, and varietals reselected based on hardiness and performance under stress—Cabernet Franc, Riesling, and Chardonnay among the likely new mainstays. Plans are also underway to introduce a water feature to help buffer future temperature extremes and increase biodiversity.

Leading this thoughtful transformation is Kaylee Barss, one of the most dynamic young winemakers in the valley. Don’t let her youth fool you, Kaylee has experience that rivals many industry veterans.

Before the official launch of Red Barn just a few years ago, she was deep into research and development work at CheckMate Winery, known for its meticulous, single-vineyard Chardonnays and Merlots. That same attention to detail, and appetite for experimentation, now fuels her work at Red Barn.

There is no oak use in Red Barn wines.

When she’s not tending to wines in the Okanagan, she’s chasing harvests in the Southern Hemisphere, most recently in Marlborough, New Zealand at Greywacke and Dog Point, and pulling inspiration from travel in Italy, which is already influencing her approach to her white wines.

This is a winemaker constantly learning, tasting, tweaking, and pushing boundaries. “Everything is intentional,” she says. And it shows.

The result? A fluid portfolio that evolves year by year. What you taste this season might not be what you find next year, and that’s by design. With access to an eclectic array of grape varieties from vineyards across BC and now also sourcing fruit and juice from Oregon and California, Kaylee has creative license to make what excites her, what thrives, and what best expresses the vintage.

The 2023 Discordian.

Among the standouts: Discordian, a vibrant, unconventional white wine whose black-and-white label, featuring a red fish swimming against the current, is a fitting metaphor for the winery’s philosophy.

Each label features a “jagged edge” instead of a straight line, a nod to the literal Jagged Rock that looms over the vineyard and looms large in the wines themselves.

While Red Barn shares family ties with some of the Okanagan’s most architecturally jaw-dropping estates, its hospitality experience is refreshingly understated and personal. Yes, the space renovated from the original farming barn by Tom Kundig is architecturally striking, but it still feels deeply connected to its origins.

The upstairs tasting lounge.

The upstairs tasting lounge peers into the production space below, while the downstairs area offers cozy, tucked-away seating and expansive views of the vineyard. Outside, an airy patio beckons with live music Fridays, wood-fired pizza ovens, and vineyard vibes for days.

The welcome? Absolutely top-tier. On our visit, Vanessa and Alexa embodied the kind of warm, informed hospitality that makes you want to linger longer and join the club (which, by the way, is the only way to reliably get your hands on these wines, given the sub-1000 case annual production).

The two Red Barn wines that originally got our attention.

With just under 1000 cases produced annually and a loyal wine club already boasting over 700 members, Red Barn is quickly becoming one of BC’s most exciting hidden gems. But don’t mistake its size for small ambitions. This is a winery built on bold ideas, unshakeable quality, and a desire to stand out in a sea of sameness. That’s true in the vineyard, in the cellar, and in every glass.

So, whether you’re a wine adventurer eager to explore the edges of BC wine country or a curious oenophile ready to try something new, Red Barn offers a tasting experience rooted in place, creativity, and passion. And maybe a little rebellion.

After all, sometimes the best wines come from the edge.

Tasting Notes

2023 Red Barn Lost Art Semillon

2023 Red Barn Lost Art Semillon.

In this vintage there is 14% Sauvignon added to the blend, and we think this adds to the overall complexity of the wine. Pear notes get support from the honey and almond notes.

Also fermented in concrete, there is a nice texture and body to this wine. Mineral hints can be detected on the finish. Grapes come from the sloped section of the vineyard which gets a bit more sun and hence ripeness. Very Good+

2023 Red Barn Stand Apart Chenin Blanc

2023 Red Barn Stand Apart Chenin Blanc.

Pears and apples dominate the flavour profile with hints of citrus and dried flowers. After some swirling we pick up mineral notes as well.

We are charmed by the mouthfeel which has both body and cut. This is a really delicious wine and shows just what can be done with this variety in BC when handled by a skilled winemaker. The finish is long and juicy. Very Good/Excellent

2023 Red Barn Discordian Blend

Light yellow in colour. Plenty of grapefruit notes combine with lemon zest to make a very refreshing white blend that is ideal for patio enjoyment on a warm day! Juicy and fresh, it shows the character of Sauvignon Blanc, the almost equal partner with Chardonnay in the blend, with its lively acidity.

2023 Red Barn Stand Apart Gamay.

The body is medium+ which balances well with the structural components.  Interestingly, the grapes are co-fermented in concrete vats, as opposed to being vinified separately and then blended. Very Good+      

2023 Red Barn Stand Apart Gamay

This is a really interesting blend of 93% Gamay with bits of Chardonnay and Semillon. Medium body with medium acid, this wine has a lovely, balanced mouthfeel. We get notes of strawberry and raspberry along with hints of white pepper. This is no Beaujolais Nouveaux but a more serious style of Gamay that is enjoyable as an aperitif but would be equally at home at the dining room table. Hints of dried herbs infuse the long finish. Very Good/Excellent

Red Barn winery.

Red Barn Winery at Jagged Edge

4305 Black Sage Road

Oliver, BC V0H 1T1

E: info@redbarn.wine

T: (778) 739-1000

Tasting Room Hours: Wednesday to Monday 11am-6pm