Recently, we visited West Kelowna’s newest winery, The Gallery Winery. There was good wine, interesting art, and a friendly welcome.
And even some nice views!
First, some background.
Kirstin and Tasha are sisters that run the winery. The property was originally bought by their parents in 1980 so that the family could live together in one big place. That dream realized, the sisters decided in 2015 to grow grapes. They grow Riesling, Muscat, Ehrenfelser, and Malbec on the property,. Yes, I said Malbec - this is the northern most planting of Malbec in the Okanagan.
The winery has only estate grown fruit - basically all of their wine is from grapes on the premises. The winemaking has been helped by wine consultant Gary Strachan from Summerland and mentor Michael Bartier of Bartier Brothers Winery.
Our tasting was hosted by Kristin. She was very friendly and was happy to tell us all about the winery including the history.
We first tried the Inspiration Sparkling ($35). We are drinking a lot more bubbles now as it is such a versatile food pairing wine. This sparkler was a good one, with nice, small bubbles and a dry, yet fruity, taste. The price point is a tad high but if you are a sparkling fan, this one just might be for you.
We then tried the Under the Chandelier blend - a blend of Riesling, Ehrenfelser, and Muscat Orange. This was a very enjoyable, fruity, soft, drinkable wine that sells for just $18! Since purchasing this wine, we have had it with paella, chicken and with the sunny afternoons we are still experiencing out on the terrace.
Next up was the Between Friends Riesling ($22). This was a fruity Riesling which was fairly acidic. My wife really liked it but I thought it was just OK. The name of the wine comes from the fact that another winery, Crown and Thieves, was looking for antique furniture for their new winery. The Gallery sisters offered an antique armoire - in exchange for help making some of their wine. Thus, the name Between Friends - a reminder that winemakers need to work together.
We finished off with the 2018 Introducing Ann Malbec ($30). The name comes from the painting on the label which was created by sister Tasha. She is the artist in the family as is obvious by her art on the bottles and in the tasting room.
The Malbec was incredible! Because it is grown so far north, it is lighter than most Malbecs that I’ve tried - but still has that Malbec taste. Think like a Pinot Noir or Gamay that has just a bit more oomph to it!
We didn’t get to taste the 2019 Introducing Natalia Malbec which is even better, according to Kirstin. We bought a bottle of each and they are now happily ageing in our cellar.
I would definitely recommend visiting The Gallery Winery next time you are in West Kelowna. Currently they are only open Saturday to Monday. Go there for the wine, the art, the view, the stories, and the friendly people!
If you are interested in a tour of The Gallery Winery next year, why not book a private tour in the comfort of your own vehicle? Click the link to book!
