First-time visitors to Quails' Gate Winery may be forgiven for wondering if they are in Canada or have magically transported to a faraway land.
From a spectacular perch on the western shore of Okanagan Lake, about 15 minutes from the city of Kelowna, the views here are idyllic. And they recall some of the world’s most famous wine regions — in, say, France, Spain, and Germany —where vineyards stretch for miles, sloping gently and sometimes not so gently toward the water. This confluence of fortunate geographical aspects is just one contribution to great winemaking. The rest is up to the people behind the scenes.
Quails’ Gate’s wines have garnered national and international acclaim, most notably for its award-winning Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, and the winery remains at the forefront of Canada’s leading premium wineries. The Stewart family was among the first to plant the famous Dijon clones of Pinot Noir in Canada, in 1961, with many wineries soon following their lead. That commitment to quality carries through today with an intense focus on sustainable winegrowing practices designed to conserve energy and water, curb carbon emissions, and nurture the land. Today, the estate’s 160 acres of vineyards tucked below the extinct Mount Boucherie volcano are fully certified by Sustainable Winegrowing BC.
Guests at the winery will learn all of this and more — a visit to the tasting room or a leisurely dinner at the Old Vines Restaurant delivers a delicious immersion in local terroir-driven cuisine. The culinary team works closely with local growers and purveyors, sourcing about 90 percent of ingredients from nearby farms. The farm-to-table cuisine is created to match seamlessly with the wines, made with grapes from some of the oldest vines in the province. Winemaker Kailee Frasch was born and raised in the Okanagan and so is naturally steeped in the region’s wine and culinary identity.
As one of Canada’s foremost family-owned estate wineries, Quails’ Gate has, for six decades, approached winemaking in the Okanagan as a continuous pursuit for quality through innovation. A visit to Quails’ Gate is an unforgettable immersion in the quintessential wine-country experience — with onsite accommodations, a wide range of wine-tasting and dining options, and spectacular views of the lake and surrounding hillsides. Once you have a taste, you may never want to leave.
Visit quailsgate.com to learn more.
