Anthony Gismondi: Okanagan's District Wine Village a must-visit destination for tourists and locals
This week, our Okanagan tour heads south of McIntyre Bluff, thought to divide the north and south Okanagan in grape-growing terms. However, one could argue that Okanagan Falls, Naramata and Summerland form an important middle zone today.
Our stop was just north of Oliver, at District Wine Village, which is steadily becoming a multi-layered destination for tourists and locals. The concept was developed in the late 2010s by Okanagan businessmen Matt Kenyon and Max Brock, who were inspired by U.S. winery cluster models. After Brock’s untimely death, longtime wine executive Mike Daley helped carry the project forward with Kenyon, and District Wine Village opened in June 2021 inside the Senkulmen Business Park, just off Highway 97 at Enterprise Way.
What began as a practical shared-winery concept has evolved into a purpose-built destination, where small producers can operate without the burden of major capital investment. The village brings together wine, beer, spirits, food and events in one walkable setting, filling a market gap for small-lot wineries without their own hospitality space.
Today, the Village includes eight wineries, one of which focuses on low- and no-alcohol wines, along with a brewery, a French bakery, a bookstore, a restaurant, a distillery, a roastery and a coffee shop. A central 600-person amphitheatre anchors the site and serves as a fun area to hang out, eat, relax and attend concerts. Collaboration is built into the model, allowing winemakers to share a crush pad and equipment to keep costs down.
One of the newest additions to the Village is Spacedog Wines. Todd Heintz, co-owner and winemaker, is a fan of viognier and has first released the 2025 Disinheritence, a stylish, full-flavoured barrel fermented white that will surprise you with its freshness.
Winemaker Kyle Lyons of Apricus Cellars shared a delicious 2025 Old Vines Riesling via Sam Baptiste, a partner, viticulturist and longtime manager of Inkameep Vineyards, where Apricus gets much of its fruit. Lyons, who started at Sumac Ridge, worked at Bannockburn in Australia and Liquidity in OK Falls, among others. Apricus has partnered with Reeves Performance and will have the Yeti race car on site on Aug. 18. They will also be selling a limited-edition Yeti-labelled wine.
We also tracked down a tasty Mischief 2022 Tempranillo at Foolish Wines, a brewery-to-winery crossover project owned by the Coghill and Main families of Neighbourhood and Yellow Dog Brewing. The family is having fun with a relaxed, almost irreverent tone to Okanagan wine that fits in perfectly with the ethos of District Wine Village.
Finally, we discovered two surprises. Owner and winemaker Efi Perel has opened Tender Hope Winery and is pouring an impressive Tender Hope 2019 Blanc de Blanc sparkler made using the traditional Champenoise method. Steps away, La Levainière by Audrey is run by Bordeaux-born baker, Audrey Enixon, who employs her microbiology background to bake the South Okanagan’s most precise sourdough. What began at the farmers markets has evolved into a District Wine Village bakehouse focused on long fermentations and hand-milled grains, all very much in tune with the surrounding artisanal wine ethos.
Each unit has a patio with tables and chairs for tasting, and food from Ward’s Kitchen can be delivered while kids play nearby in the amphitheatre in full view. And when it comes to entertainment, upcoming events include concerts by 54.40, Blue Rodeo, and Eagle Eyes & Jazz Sabbath, as well as several vineyard wine dinners.
District Wine Village is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with live music Friday through Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. It’s well worth a visit to experience the vibe; event details at districtwinevillage.com .
Weekend wine picks
Chronos Pinot Gris 2025, Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
$24.99 I 89/100
UPC: 696852016223
It is a richly floral white with scents of fresh strawberry and Granny Smith apple, plus a hint of wet-stone minerality. The palate is more of the same, with candied apple and pear notes that linger long. At just over five grams per litre, the sugar level doesn’t mask the fruit’s ripeness. Well made and clean, it is a refreshing Pinot Gris with enough gravitas to pair with richer dishes such as halibut or chicken. The fruit is Summerland-based, grown at Dragon Mountain Vineyard — a real patio pleaser.
Roche Artist Series Pinot Gris 2025, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
$27 I 90/100
UPC: 724901649068
Grown in Okanagan Falls with a southwest exposure, the Artist Series Pinot Gris is a lovely, rich Gris with a pleasant blend of pitted orchard fruits, ginger spice and beeswax. All of that spills onto a creamy palate, stoked by just the right amount of acidity to keep the balance through the finish. Honouring the French tradition of supporting the arts, the Roche family has collaborated with Canadian artists to create the Artist collection, and the 2025 label is by Marina Billinghurst of Penticton.
Blue Grouse Pinot Gris 2024, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
$30.99 I 90/100
UPC: 696852117401
A little-known fact is that Blue Grouse Estate is home to some of the oldest Pinot Gris vines in British Columbia, and that portion of the blend is responsible for the intense minerality that runs through the wine. The nose opens with sweet notes of acacia and candied melon, while the palate is dry and lively, with a wealth of citrus rind and bright acidity that dances across the finish. It pairs with shellfish, fresh fish, fish cakes, and fish soup — it can handle it all.
Solvero Pinot Gris 2023, Garnet Valley, Summerland Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
$25 I 90/100
UPC: 627987248425
The team at Gismondi on Wine enjoyed this Gris sourced from the Kozuki Family Vineyard on the Summerland Bench. The style is more restrained and elegant, showing a classic pear-and-green-apple/orchard-fruit spectrum. The palate carries the variety’s hallmark waxy, beeswax-like texture, with a more phenolic edge that adds balance and complexity. Overall, it’s crisp; it offers good texture, concentration, and a persistent, subtle spicy character that lingers at the end. Drink or hold; there is no rush.
Gérard Bertrand Orange Gold, France
$32.99 I 89/100
UPC: 3514123120189
Orange Gold is Bertrand’s modern homage to an ancient wine. That said, Bertrand is not a fan of overt bitterness, and this version gets only minimal skin contact, leaving Orange Gold with an enticing nose, to say the least. The blend of Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Mauzac, Muscat and Clairette is partly carbonically macerated in stainless steel before the wine finishes in barrel. Look for a wealth of tangerine scents and white grapefruit dusted with garrigue. Rich and ripe enough for a favourite spicy dish, with a favourite curry in the lead. Be curious.
Calendar items
• SUYO Modern Peruvian revives its acclaimed SUYO con Amigos series on June 18, with a one-night-only dinner featuring chef Billy Nguyen of Victoria’s Rabbit Rabbit. The series brings guest chefs into the SUYO kitchen to cook alongside chef Ricardo Valverde, whose restaurant was recently named best Latin American at the 2026 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. The dinner will feature an eight-course tasting menu, with dishes alternating between the two restaurants, and paired with wine and cocktails. Seatings are at 5 and 8 p.m., with just 40 seats available per sitting. Tickets are $269 per person, including pairings, and reservations can be made through OpenTable .
• Sips at Sea offers a curated harbour experience featuring a three-hour voyage that combines guided wine and cocktail tastings with a storytelling journey through Vancouver’s landmarks and maritime history. The B.C. wine selection is crafted by award-winning sommelier Justin Isidro, who is currently the operations manager at Kissa Tanto, Meo and Bao Bei, and co-owner of Maria Celeste. B.C. Bacardi portfolio brand ambassador Michael Norbury leads the cocktail program. The cruise offers a structured storytelling experience that highlights key moments in Vancouver’s maritime history, with each cocktail corresponding to a specific era. The wine program emphasizes local producers and their stories. All Sips at Sea cruises begin and end at Pacific Boulevard Marina. For more information, visit sipsatsea.ca .
B.C. wine of the week
Tantalus Riesling 2025, East Kelowna Slopes, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
$30.99 I 91/100
UPC: 626990067412
2025 marked a return to some normalcy in B.C. vineyards, and at Tantalus, this Riesling, a blend of clone 21B (75 per cent) and clone 49 (25 per cent), is proof in the glass. The fruit is a mix of estate plantings, now more than two decades old, and a nearby site in the East Kelowna slopes. It presents as a touch riper than in previous years, with attractive aromas led by lime blossom, grapefruit, and even pineapple. It is just off-dry in feel despite its 14.9 g/L of residual sugar, because, as winemaker David Patterson says, “the fruit is self-balancing,” with 14+ g/L of residual sugar working its way into an explosion of acid tension. Chalk, lemons, minerals, citrus and peach rule the palate and the finish. A masterpiece in simplicity and a star with food. This will age effortlessly under screwcap, too.
Value wine of the week
Arrogant Frog Rosé N/V, Vin de Pays d’Oc, Languedoc, Sud de France, France
$37.99 3L I 87/100
UPC: 03760040435244
The Arrogant Frog Rosé 3L box offers great value for large gatherings or quick pours from the fridge, making it convenient and affordable. Its blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah is crafted for easy drinking and volume, priced at roughly $9 per bottle. The cherry-pink colour hints at soft, candied strawberry and cherry aromas, leading to a smooth, slightly sweet, and approachable rosé. It remains clean, simple, and reliable in its bag-in-box format. Best enjoyed well chilled and served al fresco in the sunshine.
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Source: vancouversun.com