BC Winegrowers - Serendipity Winery - Naramata Bench
Meet the mother daughter team of Judy Kingston and Katie O’Kell who are Serendipity Winery. Judy was a pilot, a model, and a trained chef long before having distinguished herself as a Toronto-Bay Street technology lawyer. A car accident, a late-day drive down the Naramata Bench change her life forever. When she first saw the rolling Naramata bench she knew it was home. The property was bought in a day – it was all very serendipitous. You can feel the passion behind the wines and then listen to a story of hope.
Serendipity Winery - Canadian Young Entrepreneurs Contest
A short video explaining why they deserve the funding and what the money would go towards.
Our ‘turning point’/pitch is that we want to build a restaurant at the winery, to bring in extra customers and a second revenue stream. Of the 40 (ish) wineries on the Naramata Bench, only 4 have restaurants, and they’re all busy all of the time. In the tasting room I get asked at least 10 times a day where people can go eat, because there’s always a lineup at the winery restaurants.
GUIDE TO NARAMATA BENCH WINE
In this Guide to Naramata Bench Wine join Luke as he gets his hands dirty in the harvest, meets the winemakers, and tastes the delicious wines that this region has to offer.
Naramata B.C. is located on the east shore of Lake Okanagan, just 15 minutes from Penticton.
Thanks for watching!
Music:
Bensound - Badass
Bensound - Memories
Saib - Shinjuku Metro Line
Follow me!
Instagram:
Tumblr photo blog:
Tweet at me:
Snapchat: reallukegibson
Video and editing by Luke Gibson.
Bench 1775 - Naramata Bench
The 20 km-long Naramata Bench begins at Penticton, British Columbia, and runs north, on the east side, above Okanagan Lake. The narrow strip of precious vineland sits in the center of B.C.'s largest wine region, the Okanagan Valley. The many wineries and vineyards that occupy the bench have been founded by a patchwork of people from different economic backgrounds, countries and levels of expertise in winegrowing. In the beginning, many settled and planted what they loved to drink and the forgiving site meant that, surprisingly, many thrived.
Valeria Tait is the General Manager, winemaker and viticulturist of the six-year-old Bench 1775 winery, located almost at the half-way mark of the Bench. She comments on why this variety can exist and on the evolution of winegrowing there from her perspective as a 27-year veteran of working in vineyards throughout Okanagan Valley. We learn a bit more about being a new winery and her approach to running a winery.
While Anthony Gismondi interviews Tait in this video, you'll enjoy the stunning views from their patio and glimpse at the laid-back lifestyle of the Okanagan Valley. You'll want to see the final shot.
Learn more:
Visit Gismondi on Wine:
Home page:
Latest articles:
Our lasted wine tasting notes:
Find wines you like:
Follow us:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Instagram:
Anthony Gismondi:
Twitter:
Facebook:
BC Winegrowers Upper Bench Estate Winery and Creamery (Naramata)
You could say winemaker Gavin Miller and cheese maker Shana Miller are an excellent pairing, just like the products they create. They both share the desire to make the best wine and cheese they can while employing sustainable methods and being organic. Their products can be sampled side by side in their unique combined winery and creamery, the only one in B.C. and possibly Canada.
BC Winegrowers - Seven Stones Winery- Similkameen
George Hanson takes us on a tour of his Seven Stones Winery named for the legend of the seven rock formations scattered across the Similkameen Valley. Hanson’s love of blended wine and French wine led to his planting of 8.5 hectares of benchland overlooking the Similkameen river with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Malbec. An underground cave completes the circle at Seven Stones providing the ultimate cellar to store wine.
BC Winegrowers - Lake Breeze Wine Farm (Naramata Bench)
Winemaker Garron Elmes has made every bottle of wine at Lake Breeze since the day it opened 20 years ago. From South Africa to Penticton his arrival coincided with the launch of many small estates along what is now one of the most famous winegrowing benches in British Columbia. Today the winery is a premier producer of pinot blanc and joins a small cadre of producers making exciting pinot noir across the valley. Join us on ‘The Patio at Lake Breeze’ as we discuss the secrets of the Naramata Bench and how they relate to the style of Lake Breeze wines.
BC Winegrowers - Black Sage Vineyards - Oliver/ Summerland
The historic home of big B.C. reds is Oliver’s famed Black Sage Bench located just south of Oliver. Black Sage Vineyard farms the original plantings 115-acre site at BSV1 planted in 1992 and nearby the more recently planted BSV2. We talk with winemaker Jason James and vineyard manager Troy Osborne about the challenges and the opportunities of growing grapes and making wine from of the warmest and oldest vineyard sites in Canada. Join us as we explore the vineyard, discuss the BSV Merlot and BSV Cabernet Franc and the new revamped Black Sage Hall and tasting facility in Summerland.
Welcome to La Frenz Winery, on the Naramata Bench
+1 250 492 6690
Jeff and Niva Martin come from the Riverina area of Australia, and have been involved with grape growing and wine making since early childhood. Even today, much of their extended family is heavily involved in the Australian wine industry.
Jeff became involved in the wine industry at the age of eighteen, when he was employed by renowned Australian producer McWilliams as a trainee winemaker at their half million case Beelbangera facility. Here, Jeff gained a wealth of experience in a wide range of styles: table wines, fortified wines, and even fine brandy distillation. In 1983, he received one of the first degrees in enology from Charles Sturt University. During his fourteen-year career with McWilliams, he worked with many of their vineyards, from the “cool climate” hilltops area in New South Wales to the famous “terra rosa” of Coonawarra in South Australia. In 1989, Jeff became the chief red winemaker for the McWilliams group, with his wines winning major awards at Australian wine shows.
In 1989, after a working sabbatical in Napa California, a short trip to British Columbia opened a door that couldn’t be closed. Jeff and Niva returned in 1994 with their two young daughters for what was termed “a working holiday” and were captured by the sun-drenched beauty of the Okanagan Valley.
There, Jeff found a place as one of the first university-trained winemakers in the valley. He spearheaded production for Quails’ Gate winery in Kelowna, where his wines were an immediate success, setting new benchmarks for Canadian wine.
Armed with twenty years of experience in both the Canadian and Australian wine industries, the Martins fulfilled their lifelong dream of producing world-class wine in their own winery. Jeff now dedicates his experience to producing some totally unique wine styles at LA FRENZ. His talent is widely recognized and he still regularly judges at international wine shows in the U.S.
Meanwhile, Niva is the administration manager for LA FRENZ. She has a diverse background in sales and marketing, as well as a good palate and a lifelong appreciation of world class wines. Jeff is very much a “hands on” winemaker, from bud burst in the vineyard to final blending and bottling. During the 2006 crush, Jeff celebrated a milestone in his life. Turning fifty, he realized that he was completing his 36th vintage, having made wine in both hemispheres.
BC Winegrowers - The Hatch Winery (West Kelowna)
If you can’t ‘out-fancy’ your neighbours, what is one to do? Collect antique shovels and hatch a series of single-vineyard wines from across the Okanagan Valley might work.
Meet GM Jessie Harnden and winemaker Jason Parkes and learn all about the Black Swift, a bird native to the Okanagan that lays a single egg per year. Single egg, single vineyard, well, you get the picture — The Hatch is an incubator for wine.
Drop by, experience the wine, have a picnic and play some bocce: It's the New Okanagan. ~ Anthony Gismondi
Paradise Ranch/Bench 1775 Winery Production Video 001
BENCH 1775 is one of the largest producers & exporters of icewines from B.C., and the Paradise Ranch and Whistler brands are well known as market leaders for both award winning wines and distinctive packaging. All of our Icewines and Late Harvest Wines carry Canada's Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) seal of approval.
30 BC Wineries visit Lang Vineyards
Lang Vineyards is situated on the Naramata Bench on the Eastern Side of Okanagan Lake. Gorgeous views and some really nice wines make this a must visit winery plus you have to try their Canadian Maple Wine which would be amazing drizzled over vanilla Ice Cream.
30dayadventures.ca
Marc Smith launched his 30 Day Adventures in June of 2012 with the goal of exploring and experiencing what was around him. From getting to know your city, exploring the local food scene to performing random acts of kindness 30 Days is all about the possibility of yes.
#30DayAdventures
Facebook:
Twitter:
Blog:
Instagram:
LinkedIN:
BC Winegrowers - Red Rooster Winery Naramata Bench
Sun wine writer Anthony Gismondi goes into the vineyard at Red Rooster to talk about wine with winemaker Karen Gillis.
BC Winegrowers - Howling Bluff Estate Winery - Naramata Bench
Luke Smith is the owner, winemaker and tractor driver at his Howling Bluff Estate Winery on the Naramata Bench, just outside of Penticton. Hear his personal story of transformation from a life in investment banking to winemaking.
BC Winegrowers Series - Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Don't expect neat rows of dark green vines at Summerhill Pyramid Winery. CEO Ezra Cipes and winemaker Eric von Krosigk walk us through the biodynamic vineyards they've been developing which are filled with indigenous plants, insects and animals, creating an ecosystem that ultimately is reflected in their wines.
Partridge Vineyards, Naramata
FOR SALE: Partridge Vineyard, Naramata BC
MLS# 10081080
BC Winegrowers - Fort Berens - Lillooet
Rolf de Bruin and Heleen Pannekoek like to say they came to Lillooet because it was affordable. In fact, they scoured the world for a place to build their winery before deciding on British Columbia and ultimately Lillooet. The dynamic duo threw a lot of science at the site as well as personal energy, and carved out 8.5 hectares of vineyard on a sagebrush-covered bench, at the foot of the impressive Coastal Ranges. There is no Fraser Canyon Designated Viticultural Area (DVA) yet and that goes ditto for a Lillooet sub appellation but like the gold rush before them the race is on.
BC Winegrowers - Gray Monk Estate Winery
Where is the Okanagan Valley wine culture today? Notable Vancouver Sun wine writer Anthony Gismondi explores the region in a three day road trip almost covering the 200 km long valley from north near Vernon to the south near Osoyoos.
In this first video, Anthony visits George and Trudy Heiss, the founders of Gray Monk Estate Winery.
The government said their grapes wouldn’t work at the site they’d chosen. Three years later, they came back to crib their notes. 40 years later, they are one of the largest producing wineries in the valley and Pinot Gris is the number one planted varietal in B.C.
Cherry Spit
With a bumper crop of juicy Okanagan cherries, the Naramata Farmers' Market stages a contest to use people's natural talent.
Welcome to Lake Breeze Vineyards, Naramata, BC
Welcome to Lake Breeze Vineyards one of the hidden gems on the Naramata Bench. We been producing award winning wines since 1995 with focus on minimum intervention and maximum natural expression of the grape, vintage and origin. Visit us for a tasting and a lunch on our Patio Restaurant with expeptional local inspired cuisine and stunning views.