Manzil Restaurant.
We went to Manzil expecting a great meal. After all, the Dhaliwal family’s original restaurant, Masala Bistro, had long been a favorite at Kismet Estate Winery in BC’s Okanagan Valley, known for its generous hospitality and deeply satisfying, spice-laden dishes.
What we hadn’t expected was just how evolved the experience would be. Manzil offers a modern, refreshingly light approach to Indian cuisine, delivering bold, vibrant flavors without the heaviness. It’s thoughtful, refined, and perfectly paired with the family’s wines.
It begins with a name: Manzil means “home” in Hindi. But this is no ordinary homecoming.
Read More
Some stories feel like they were meant to unfold a certain way.
Manpreet Dhaliwal.
At Kismet Estate Winery, the idea of destiny isn’t just in the name, it’s in the soil, the vines, and the family who built it. Brothers Sukhi and Balwinder Dhaliwal didn’t just plant grapes, they helped shape the future of BC wine, growing fruit for some of the Okanagan’s most respected wineries before launching their own label.
Now, a new chapter begins. Manpreet Dhaliwal, Sukhi’s daughter and Balwinder’s niece, stepped into the role of head winemaker in fall 2023. She’s believed to be the first South Asian female winemaker in Canada, and while that might sound like a lot of pressure, she’s taken it all in stride with plenty of hard work, a strong sense of curiosity, and a willingness to learn by doing.
Read More
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.
Read More
Peter and Kajsa Henricsson.
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.
Read More
Recent Comments