Best of B.C. – Summerhill Pyramid Winery
I recently had the pleasure and privilege of visiting Summerhill Pyramid Winery located in Kelowna. I bashfully admit I am a newcomer to the Okanagan Wine scene, but after a summer tour I was hooked. For some reason, I had it in my mind that all the wineries would be an hour outside the city down some sketchy unlit country road. To my surprise, the complete opposite. Most of the wineries are mingled in with communities with breath taking views surrounding Okanagan Lake. Realizing I was a naive Vancouverite, I decided to take another trip up to Kelowna and fully experience the magic of Summerhill Pyramid Winery for our monthly “Best of B.C.” travel feature.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Summerhill Winery is an award winning Organic Winery with Biodynamic certification. As our wine tour guide Harry told us, it would take an entire day to explain all the stipulations that a winery must adhere to before they were deemed a biodynamic organic winery, but I think I got the gist of it. The highlights of being a certified organic winery consist of the absence of pesticides and growing grapes in a completely natural setting. Summerhill Winery dedicates a portion of their acreage as a nature reserve that goes untouched by humans. There is an underlying dedication to working with nature as opposed to working against it. Founder, Stephen Cipes believes that by growing grapes in their natural setting you truly get the characteristics of the region. How’s that for drinking local!
Tour & Tasting
Our tour and tasting began with the popping of Canada’s most celebrated sparkling wine, Cipes Brut. The bubbles were flowing as we made our way to the biggest surprise of the night. In 1997, founder Stephen Cipes constructed a true Pyramid on the grounds with the exact dimensions of the very top of the Great Pyramid! We felt honoured as the doors were opened and we were taken up the eerie steps into the heart of the Pyramid. There is a calm inside the Pyramid that is noticeable and refreshing. I felt a warm glowing energy growing inside me. I wasn’t sure if that was the sparkling wine setting in, or if there was some magic in this structure. Our guide explained that the Pyramid is meant to amplify your mood whether it is good or bad. I was feeling good and my spirits were rising. The walls were lined with cases as all of Summerhill’s wine as all of their wine spend time in the Pyramid as they receive their ancient blessing before being enjoyed. An eccentric twist which adds to the allure of their products. Feeling charged up we headed back to the winery for a tasting to remember!
We were given the star treatment as our knowledgeable wine Sharman Harry spared no expense by uncorking vintage after vintage. Summerhill Pyramid Winery is known for their sparkling wines and their 20yr old Cipes Traditional Cuvee 1996 is a celebration in a bottle, boasting rich notes of ginger and lime. As a red wine lover, I was seduced by the 2012 ‘Om’ Organic Meritage. Inspired by the perfect conditions in 2012 for growing Cabernet Franc grapes, this meritage blend is silky and delicious. Last but not least, we tried Summerhill’s premium 2012 Zweigelt Ice Wine bursting with notes of strawberry and dried cranberry with a long luxurious finish. With our minds full of knowledge and our bodies full of wine we were ready for the highlight of the night, Chef Alex Lavroff’s culinary journey.
Sunset Bistro
We enjoyed the anticipation of our upcoming dishes in the cozy setting of the Sunset Organic Bistro. Overlooking the Okanagan Lake, the Sunset Bistro is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner or an intimate night with friends. Their menu is locally sourced with produce coming from their own actual farm! Chef Alex Lavroff greeted us and to our delight told us he would be creating his own Omakase dinner experience for us. Omakase, is when the chef creates his own, off the menu dishes, course by course. The first dish was a tenderloin tar tar that would leave a foodie speechless. Up next, crab cakes on a bed of Israeli Couscous with a parsley puree, amazing! This paired beautifully with Summerhill’s Organic Riesling as we toasted to the good life. The most impressive dish was our main course that Chef Lavroff personally presented while the other tables looked on with envy. He hand-picked a small pumpkin from their organic garden and stuffed it with scallops, prawns, salmon, and mussels. Then proceeded to roast it for several hours. The result, a mouth-watering dish bursting with flavour. I don’t think my wife and I spoke during this dish as we were consumed by foodie reverie. Bravo Chef, bravo!
Community of Innovators
The combination of inventive dishes paired with complimentary varietals was an experience I will never forget. Summerhill’s dedication to growing their own products from grapes to produce shines through the entire experience. I hear a lot of talk about the evils of consumerism and how it has changed the food industry into a heartless machine. If you find yourself feeling down about this sad scenario, a visit to Summerhill Pyramid Winery is what you need! You will see that there are still people actively breaking ground and proving that we can live in a mutual beneficial relationship with nature and enjoy the fruits while were at it. As our generous host, Paul LaGrange explained, the Summerhill employees are more like a community of innovators that are working with the same belief. Getting back to our roots by living with the land and providing sustainable wine that you can feel good about drinking. Next time you are in the mood for celebrating, pick up a bottle of Cipes Brut and pop the cork and experience the magic of Summerhill’s wine!
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