Winemaker Michael Clark.
Clos du Soleil has always played the long game. Set against the raw, dramatic landscape of British Columbia’s Similkameen Valley (officially within the broader Okanagan appellation), this boutique winery has quietly earned a reputation for elegance, consistency, and integrity.
After sitting down with winemaker Michael Clark, it’s clear that “quiet” may no longer be the right word. This is a winery that’s earned its place among BC’s best, not just for its wines, but for how it’s navigated crisis with grace.
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Chris with winemaker Andrew Etsell.
If you’ve ever driven through the rolling farmland of Mt. Lehman in Abbotsford, British Columbia, you know there’s something special about this pocket of the Fraser Valley.
Quietly tucked into a hillside, surrounded by forest with Mt. Baker rising in the distance, Singletree Winery feels like one of those places where everything just fits—the land, the people, the wine. It’s clear from the moment you arrive that this is a family affair; and at the heart of it all is the Etsell family, who were farming here long before vines were in the ground.
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Surrounded by the striking scenery of rugged, towering mountains, BC’s Similkameen is an excellent place for viticulture. Renowned as the “organic capital of Canada,” this region boasts numerous small farms and producers who are committed to crafting high-quality food and award-winning wines.
Clos du Soleil winery.
The unique climate here is characterized by the retention of heat from the reflective rock surfaces, a very diverse soil composition due to glacial formation, and persistent winds that reduce moisture. These arid conditions, coupled with less disease pressure thanks to the winds, creates an ideal environment for wine production enabling vineyards to thrive with minimal intervention.
Despite these attributes and providing high-quality fruit for many Okanagan Valley wineries, the Similkameen Valley remains somewhat overshadowed by its neighboring regions, much like the towering mountains that encircle it. However, with wineries like Clos du Soleil consistently producing wines that rival some of the best in the province, critics and wine lovers alike are finally taking notice and appreciating the exceptional quality of the Similkameen Valley.
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There’s no question that the Okanagan wine industry has faced some tough years of late.
Winemaker Evan Saunders.
Beginning with the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, the region has weathered a heat dome and forest fires in 2021, a major cold snap in late 2022, and now an even harsher cold event to start 2024. For Blasted Church winemaker Evan Saunders, it certainly feels like the Valley is being put to the test, but if anyone is up for the challenge, it’s him.
Evan became the head winemaker at Blasted Church in 2017 after working there for 4 years, following several years as a cellar hand at Osoyoos Larose in the Okanagan, along with working a harvest at Kosta Browne in Sonoma Valley, California. Throughout our conversations with people at the winery and in the industry, it is clear that Evan is highly regarded, with many expressing enthusiasm for the direction he is taking the wines at Blasted Church.
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Solvero winemaker Alison Moyes.
Last year, Solvero Wines burst onto the Okanagan wine scene, instantly winning us over with their inaugural release. Now, just over a year later, a return visit has left us even more impressed. The synergy of Matt Sartor’s clear vision and winemaker Alison Moyes’ craftsmanship in the winery has quickly elevated them to a level of excellence typically seen in seasoned veterans.
Their intensely focused approach, paired with a brand new tasting room featuring one of the best views in the valley, makes it clear that Solvero Wines is destined for a long and successful journey.
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