The Okanagan Valley is said to be home to the largest percentage of organic wines in the world, which comes as no surprise here in Kelowna, where several area wineries have adopted numerous sustainable farming practices or become certified organic. Read on to be introduced to some of these wineries, which you can learn more about when you visit them in person on your next trip to Kelowna.
Beaumont Family Estate Winery
In 1995, the Lubchysnki family planted 12 acres of vineyards and became certified organic immediately with the Similkameen Organic Producers Association. All of Beaumont Family Estate Winery's organic grapes are grown within a few blocks of each other, harvested to produce Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir, and more.
Kalala Organic Estate Winery
Photo credit: Kalala Organic Estate Winery
Owner Karnail Sidhu got his start in the wine industry at Summerhill Pyramid Winery—one of the region's largest and longest-standing organic vineyards—learning all he could and eventually turning his passion into planting his own vineyard and opening Kalala—meaning "Miracle Place—Organic Estate Winery in 2008. The winery was certified organic in 2010, and today continues to produce exceptional wines along West Kelowna's upper bench.
CedarCreek Estate Winery
Photo credit: CedarCreek Estate Winery
Named Winery of the Year at the 2022 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada, CedarCreek is home to numerous animals, including Scottish Highland Cows, chickens, kestrels, and more, that help create the ecosystem within which its organic vineyards flourish. Winemaker and Director of Sustainability, Taylor Whelan, Organic Viticulturist, Kurt Simcic, and Sustainability Coordinator, Alejandra Galvin, have managed the estate's vineyards organically since 2017, with the winery's grapes certified organic since 2021.
Mission Hill Family Estate
Photo credit: Ken Hagen
Mission Hill, one of the region's most renowned and decorated wineries, now also farms its grapes organically. The winery's team uses traditional farming techniques, like cover crops, earthworms, and compost, and modern technology, like drones, to manage its vineyards, producing exceptional grapes to produce its award-winning wines.
Off the Grid Organic Winery
Photo credit: Ken Hagen
Brothers Nigel and Travis Paynter, whose family has farmed in the area for over 100 years, and their wives, Hayley and Sheri, planted their first organic vines around 2005. From Off the Grid's energy-efficient tasting room—which includes solar panels on its roof—to its organic pest management, and everything in between, sustainable practices have been a priority since day one.
Rollingdale Winery
Photo credit: Rollingdale Winery
The first vines at this small, family-owned winery—Marechal Foch, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc—were planted in 1999, with the first official vintage launching in 2004. From there, Pinot Blanc, Merlot, and Chardonnay were also planted, with the winery becoming certified organic in 2007.
Scorched Earth Winery
Rising from the ashes of the 2003 wildfires, Scorched Earth Winery—a member of Régénération Canada—crafts small-lot wines, including Pinot Noir, Rose of Pinot Noir, and Syrah, from the grapes grown in its certified organic vineyard. Family-owned and operated, the winery team uses sustainable farming practices and minimal intervention winemaking to lower the winery's carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change.
Sperling Vineyards
Photo credit: Ken Hagen
Ann Sperling's family planted the first grapes on their Kelowna family farm in 1925. Acclaimed for organic and biodynamic winemaking, with numerous accolades including winemaker of the year to her name, Ann launched Sperling Vineyards alongside several family members including her husband and fellow winemaker, Peter Gamble, in 2008. The winery has been certified organic since 2017—don't miss the organic vineyard labyrinth onsite!
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Photo credit: Ken Hagen
The Cipes family purchased its Kelowna vineyard in 1986 and has incorporated organic winemaking principles ever since. The vineyard entered the organic certification program in 1988, then received Demeter Biodynamic certification in 2012. Summerhill cellars its 100% organic wines in the onsite Pyramid, a replica of the Great Pyramid in Egypt, which is said to possess unique energetic properties thanks to its sacred geometry.
Tantalus Vineyards
Photo credit: Ken Hagen
Sustainability is at the forefront of Tantalus Vineyards' operations. They were BC's first LEED-certified winery, thanks to an array of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient components in their building. The winery is also a Biosphere Committed Business and a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing British Columbia. Another fun fact? A unique partnership with Arlo's Honey Farm means they have beehives in the vineyards.
