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.
From the rugged beauty of the Similkameen to the golden shores of Osoyoos, our latest video AdVINEture through the Okanagan Valley reminded us why BC wine is a world-class contender. 🍇✨
📍 Similkameen → Summerland → Naramata → Oliver → Osoyoos
In spite of recent challenging vintages, what we found was a region that’s not just surviving—it’s thriving. Quality is soaring, individuality is shining, and the stories behind the wines are more compelling than ever.
⬇️Hit play below for a taste of our Okanagan AdVINEture or click the links above ⬆️ to explore each featured winery.
Our first sip of Henricsson Chardonnay was a revelation. Wait—this is from BC? Rich yet lithe, with acidity and texture dancing in perfect harmony, it was a wine that stopped us mid-sentence. Moments later, their Pinot Noir poured into our glass and again: stunned silence, followed by disbelief. How had we never heard of these wines? How were more people not talking about them?
As we mapped out our next trip to the Okanagan, Peter and Kajsa Henricsson quickly rose to the top of our must-meet list. When we reached out, they replied almost apologetically: there was no formal tasting room, no scheduled hours. But if we were willing, we could share a bottle at the vineyard with them. It was, to us, the perfect invitation.
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