Alison Moyes.

By our third visit with winemaker Alison Moyes of Solvero Wines, we already knew what we were walking into: an earnest conversation packed with thoughtful insights, layered with the kind of honesty that makes you lean in, and beautiful wines in the glass that over-deliver on every level.

Solvero may still be young in the BC wine scene, but their clarity of vision, precision in execution, and ability to adapt under pressure have quickly made them one of our absolute favourites in the region.

Canada’s white wine of the year.

And we’re clearly not alone in that sentiment. Just recently, their 2022 Chardonnay was named Best White Wine in Canada at the 2025 All Canadian Wine Championships.

A huge accolade for a winery barely past its toddler years. But we weren’t surprised. We remember tasting that wine for the first time two years ago and marveling at its finesse: layered, textured, taut with tension and energy.

It was a wine that felt wise beyond its years, much like the winemaker behind it.

Solvero’s focus on Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and a rosé of Pinot Noir, speaks to a cool-climate philosophy rooted in place. Located high in BC’s Garnet Valley, their vineyards climb close to 600 metres above sea level, resulting in wines with freshness and vibrancy at their core.

There’s precision here, a winemaker’s restraint that says: let the site do the talking but guide the voice.

The estate vineyard at 600m elevation (before the 2024 harvest).

But 2024 tested that philosophy in ways few could have predicted. The brutal winter event that devastated vineyards across the Okanagan meant no fruit for Solvero. For many, it meant a lost vintage. But Alison doesn’t strike us as someone who sits still.

“I went down to Washington and Oregon in late June,” she told us, “touring nearly 20 vineyards and potential custom crush partners. I knew Oregon fruit would be a better fit for what we’re doing. Washington might have been cheaper, but the climate just didn’t align with our style.”

That decision to prioritize alignment over affordability says everything about the winery’s commitment to quality. And Alison didn’t just order grapes and hope for the best. She embedded herself in the process.

Alison in the winery.

She found two vineyard sources in Oregon’s Willamette Valley: one in the Chehalem Mountains AVA and one in McMinnville. She worked with Northwest Wine Company to select vineyard blocks that would be farmed to her specifications, then spent weeks in Oregon overseeing harvest, from grape sampling to pressing and loading the refrigerated truck that she literally raced back to BC to unload.

“It was intense,” she said with a laugh, “but also incredibly rewarding. I learned so much—not just about fruit and winemaking, but about logistics, border paperwork, and what it means to work with a product that is very much alive.”

Solvero’s rosé of Pinot Noir with fruit from Oregon.

The rosé in particular bears the mark of her careful choices. Midway through processing, she switched from destemming to whole cluster to rein in the colour. A tiny detail that makes a massive difference in the final wine, resulting in a delicate salmon hue that perfectly matches its lifted aromatics and crisp palate.

Solvero’s story this year isn’t just about making wine across a border, it’s also about navigating the murky waters of policy. The BC Liquor Distribution Branch announced a relief program for wineries devastated by the 2024 vintage, but the structure relied on a five-year sales average.

“For a new winery with rapid year-over-year growth, it just didn’t work,” Alison explained. “We were basically penalized for being new and successful.”

To protect their BC VQA inventory from being taxed at close to 90%, Solvero pivoted to a commercial licence for the Oregon juice. That meant they couldn’t sell the imported wine wholesale and would pay tax on it, but it safeguarded the rest of their portfolio.

Matt Sartor [Source: Solvero WInes]

It was a difficult decision, but one that shows the kind of clear-headed leadership and long-term thinking that define the Solvero team, from winemaker Alison to owner Matt Sartor and his family.

Matt’s commitment is evident in everything Solvero does. This isn’t a winery designed for quick returns. It’s a generational project that is focused, thoughtful, and driven by passion rather than profit. That focus is reflected in their wines that are precise, site-driven, and confident in their restraint.

Even their Pinot Gris, so often treated as an afterthought, is given depth and texture, with half the lot fermented in barrel and stirred lightly on lees. “I don’t think Pinot Gris has to be boring,” Alison said. “It can have weight and interest if you let it.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Alison pouring us a sneak peek of Solvero’s first sparkling wine.

Production for 2024 is less than half of what they would have made from their own vineyard, but in a twist of fate, that smaller volume may have been a blessing. Had they brought in more fruit, they might not have been able to sell it under the regulatory limitations. Instead, they made what they could, made it well, and stayed transparent with their community.

Labels for the Oregon wines feature a reversed colour scheme and include a QR code that leads to video footage of Alison in the Oregon vineyards. “People have been really supportive,” she shared, “as long as the wine is good and the price doesn’t spike, they understand.”

And for those wondering what’s on the horizon: Solvero’s first traditional method sparkling, a 2023 Blanc de Noir, has already spent over a year on tirage and will be released in 2026 after 24 months on lees. It’s tasting stunning even now, with just a hint of colour and incredible texture. “Sparkling is a winemaker’s wine,” Alison said. “It’s about precision at every step.”

Wine quality beyond their years.

There’s a quiet confidence in Alison Moyes’ approach. She has a singular focus of making great wine. And in just a few short years, she’s already proven herself one of the most exciting winemakers in British Columbia. Her technical skill, coupled with her openness to learning, means that every vintage feels like a step forward, even when the path gets rocky.

This past year could have been a disaster. Instead, Solvero turned it into an opportunity. And as we swirled and sipped their latest releases, we were reminded of something Alison said that perfectly sums up both her philosophy and the spirit of Solvero:

“Wine is a full sensory experience, and every detail matters. From the way it’s grown, to how it looks in the glass. Every step tells part of the story.”

Solvero is still early in their story but already it’s one worth following closely. We certainly will be.

Tasting Notes

2023 Solvero Pinot Gris.

2023 Solvero Pinot Gris

This is our kind of Pinot Gris! Definitely more from the Alsatian school than the Italian, this is a textured and layered wine that shows great balance. A bit of lees stirring adds a bit of body which makes a nice counterpoint to the acidity. Flavours of apple, pear and grapefruit are delivered on a medium body with medium acidity. Hints of lemon zest and wet stones are found on the long finish. Very Good+ ($25)

2024 Solvero Rosé 

A lovely salmon pink in colour. Due to the frost in January of 2024 this wine was made from grapes purchased in Oregon and farmed to Alison’s specifications. Cranberry and melon framed by high acidity that imbues the wine with a fresh crispness. Secondary notes of cherries and apple skins contribute to the complexity of this wine. Delicious as an aperitif, we think this would also be a great accompaniment at a dinner table serving seafood or Asian-inspired dishes. Very Good+ ($25)

2022 Solvero Chardonnay

The star of the line up & just awarded Canada’s Best White Wine at the All Canadian Championships! Apple, pear and other orchard fruits take turns at being the lead flavour profile as this wine shifts and gets more complex as we swirl it in our glasses. Another wine with terrific mouthfeel created by balance that sits atop the fulcrum. The result is texture and fullness without being at all heavy. The medium+ acidity is expertly judged to be just the right contrast to the body. The finish is long and shows (variously) lemon curd, wet stones and marzipan. Excellent 

2020 Solvero Pinot Noir

2020 Solvero Pinot Noir.

Medium dark red with a slight fade at the rim. Lots of ripe cherry flavours along with some raspberry and plum notes. Even at this young age, there are plenty of secondary notes that show earth, mineral and just a hint of baking spices. The mouthfeel is smooth, almost decadent, but kept authentic by the fine tannins. Again as with the rest of her line up, this wine has terrific balance. Deserving a rightful place among the top 5 Pinot Noirs in British Columbia. Excellent 

2021 Solvero Pinot Noir

Just being released is the 2021 Pinot Noir. Similar to its older sibling with its cherry and plum notes. But perhaps in this vintage the focus is a bit more on elegance. This is still on the way up and is likely to improve and gain more complexity over the next few years and provide a decade of great drinking. Excellent       

Solvero Wines

25585 Wildhorse Road

Summerland, BC

T: (250) 404-4109

E: admin@solverowines.ca

H: 11am-4pm daily – *Reservations recommended*