When I first tasted the St. Katharina Vineyard sparkling wine at Burdock & Co. in Vancouver, I immediately needed to know more.
A terrific Summerland Sparkling wine.
A friend had ordered the bottle, and after one sip, I was hooked. Not only because it was terrific, but because it came from British Columbia and I had somehow never heard of it.
A few weeks later, I found myself walking through the 2.5-acre vineyard in Summerland with winemaker Jordan Kubek, trying to understand how a neglected patch of old Pinot Noir had become one of the Okanagan’s more compelling sparkling wines.
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With Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie (L) at Garnet Valley Ranch [credit: Leeann Froese]
As a wine writer, I’ve spent a lot of time in Summerland. It’s where I often stay when I am in the Okanagan Valley and a place I have regularly recommended to readers as a base for exploring the region. Over the years, it has become familiar in a more personal way, through the wineries I return to, the people I have met, and the friends who have made their homes there.
That familiarity makes the events of the past several days particularly difficult to watch. The Bald Range wildfire has forced the evacuation of the entire population of Summerland, a community of approximately 12,000 people. The province has described the fire as one of the fastest and most aggressive wildfires it has seen, and it remains out of control. With hot, dry conditions and wind continuing to challenge firefighters, the situation remains dynamic. Power and water had also been shut down.
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Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa.
Few places in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley strike the balance quite as well as Summerland. Between Penticton’s high-season momentum and the increasingly polished profile of Oliver, it remains comparatively quieter, with a character that feels a little more grounded.
That balance is part of the appeal. And it’s what makes Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa such an ideal base from which to experience this part of the region.
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The covered patio at the Outlook.
A visit to the Okanagan Valley’s Garnet Valley Ranch in Summerland, BC, reveals a 320-acre property that blends seamlessly with the surrounding natural landscape. Purchased by Okanagan Crush Pad in 2012, it saw its first vines planted in 2014. Pinot Noir is the main variety on site, accompanied by Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Meunier, Chenin Blanc, and Gamay Noir. Okanagan Crush Pad’s Free Form label offers a Blanc de Noir sparkling wine, a Pinot Noir Rosé, and a Riesling, all crafted from fruit sourced from Garnet Valley Ranch. Last year, the inaugural release under the Garnet Valley Ranch label featured the 2016 Traditional Method Sparkling wine, the 2021 Chardonnay, and the 2021 Pinot Noir.
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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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