The Off the Grid Organic Winery is nestled between the two houses of the Paynter brothers in Westbank. Nigel and Travis Paynter are from a long line of farmers who have worked their land for over a hundred years.
They are lucky enough to be married to two very smart and ambitious women. Together, they can make great wine. As a “net metered” winery, they have a unique experience to offer from solar panels to the straw-bale wine shop. They are organically minimizing their footprint with each bottle produced.
The Vineyard
The original lot purchased by Edwin Paynter from Walter D’Aeth ran from Butt Road down to Powers Creek. In total it was 80 acres. The decision to grow grapes following certified organic guidelines stemmed from their devotion to the land. Originally a fruit orchard, the family decided to be done with the many pesticides and move forward in a new, and more green, direction.
The first vines were planted in 2007, in conjunction with two other family properties. Now there are 18 acres of Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Zweigelt, Riesling, and Pinot Noir.
For years they sold grapes to other local organic winemakers. They decided to make their own labelled wine in 2012, with the first vintage being released in 2015. The winemaker Sheri Paynter has worked with many industry friends and consultants to create the first vintages.
The Wines
Off the Grid Organic Winery Unoaked Chardonnay 2018
The chardonnay is dry with strong bursts of tropical fruit aromas and flavours. Pineapple both fresh and toasted are at the front of the nose, with mango and banana swirling around. Fresh acidity makes this a wonderful pairing for shellfish and rich and creamy dishes.
Off the Grid Organic Winery Merlot 2018
The merlot has aromas of plum, raspberry, and fig with hints of cocoa and brown sugar. Pair this when cooking with wild mushrooms or fresh herbs. Try this with a brie & apple stuffed pork tenderloin.
For the current portfolio of Off the Grid Organic wines please visit the winery website.
I was grateful for the opportunity to discuss the vineyard and winery operations with Sheri back in 2016. Here are her comments.
2015 Harvest
2015 provided us with a number of challenges and opportunities! The longer growing season and warm summer were challenging as we had to speed up our pick by about three weeks. We did end up with some really interesting fruity flavours this season that we are excited about though! Our 2015 Chardonnay has the most amazing tropical fruity nose, the pineapple is so prominent that we decided to make an un-oaked version. The flavour and smells are exactly what I think of when I think Okanagan Patio.
Sustainability
Our business model and our family goals run similarly, we strive to operate with the lowest footprint possible. We are always looking at new farming practices and ways we can operate in a greener manner. The newly built tasting room is straw bale construction, with a roof design to accommodate solar and green roof.
We plan to outfit the roof come spring and once in operation we should operate at a “0” footprint. Our winery is a converted 40-year-old greenhouse and as we grow we plan on building a similar “off the grid” structure. We want to achieve a business our family can be proud of for years to come, this is also part of the sustainability for us. I know how hard it is to stay in the Okanagan valley and as a large family we want to stay where our roots are and want to provide a future for our kids. We see this business as a way to make that happen!
Family Business
The four of us may be the owners, but Off the Grid is so many more people, this is a true family effort and if it wasn’t for my father in law, Geoffery Paynter and his brother David and their years of experience farming and hard work in the vineyards we would not have the quality fruit we have today.
My daughter Paige, helps out around the farm and is our photographer, producing most of the website photos and the cards we sell in the winery. My mom, Betty Russell puts in many hours working not only in the wine shop but on the property and in the office. Hayley’s parents have done the same. But on top of that, Henry Paynter “Cousin” of Wooden Arms, created everything in our wine shop from reclaimed wood, everything from the cabinets, to the tasting bar to the front door. This list could go on, we had 30+ volunteers help us stuff straw, plant grapes, landscape, fence and so much more. We think every day how blessed we are to be surrounded by so much support.
The Farm
The last note is about our farm, we do operate a small farm on the winery property, where we raise chickens, turkeys, and goats currently. Our goats can be found in a pen by the tasting room, with a ramp to the green roof.
The guests love the opportunity to see our animals and interact with them. We are excited about sharing them with the community and providing some interest for families who vacation with their kids. We are also looking into bringing in some miniature sheep to help us with the weeds in the Vineyard.
You really should check out Off the Grid Organic Winery the next time you are in Westbank / West Kelowna.
Note: The original article was updated in March 2020 to include some new releases.