Kalala Organic Estate Winery is a producer of organic wines and is located on the upper bench of West Kelowna.
Kalala, meaning “Miracle Place”, is the symbol of the owner’s commitment to harmony with nature, organic viticulture practices, and their wines.
Started by Karnail Singh Sidhu and family, Kalala has been making award-winning, great value wines since July 2006. The vineyards were certified organic in September 2010. Their philosophy is to allow the varietal characteristics and terroir to be truly expressed and only enhanced by minimal handling during winemaking.
The story of how Karnail went from farmhand to winery owner reads as if it came from a brochure selling Canada to prospective immigrants. It also has a curious twist: Sidhu doesn’t drink alcohol. The award-winning winemaker smells and tastes everything he makes – but almost always spits it out. <1>
The 2016 Chardonnay Icewine has been awarded one of the “Best Chardonnay’s in the World” at the 2018 Chardonnay du Monde Competition in France.
Kalala Organic Estate Winery now has about 50 acres of vineyards and produces over 20,000 cases of organic certified wines annually.
Viticulturist of the Year 2019
In 2020, the B.C. Grape Growers’ Association presented its inaugural Viticulturist of the Year award to Karnail, which is the first awarded in BC. This award shows that Karnail grows the best grapes in BC! Judging criteria includes vineyard management, environmental stewardship, equipment, human resources, innovation and peer perception; however, Karnail’s engaged approach to farming was a large reason why the judges selected him as the winner.
The Vineyards
Westbank Vineyard (20 Acres)
Kalala grows many of the grapes for their aromatic white wines at this vineyard. The vineyard receives long sun exposure from the east, south, and west as the day progresses. The nights here are fairly cold, which contributes to aroma development. Grapes from this vineyard include:
- Riesling
- Gewürztraminer
- Merlot
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Auxerrois
- Zweigelt
- Pinot Gris
- Chardonnay
Oliver Highway 97 (4 acres)
This vineyard is part of the renowned Golden Mile stretch in Oliver, which recently became the first sub-appellation in BC. The vineyard enjoys south-eastern sun exposure. It also has excellent air drainage, which contributes to growing impeccable Merlot.
Oliver Sunflower Street (10 acres)
This vineyard is in the Fairview area of Oliver. It is one of the cooler sites. This means that it has perfect growing conditions for our Pinot Noir. Grapes from this vineyard include:
- Pinot Noir
- Merlot
- Riesling
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Blaufränkisch
- Chardonnay
Osoyoos Paulson’s (4 acres)
This vineyard enjoys a long growing season with south-western sun exposure. Long daylight hours and hot days create the favourable conditions for growing our Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard’s nice slope protects the grapes from early frost.
West Bay, Westbank (6 acres)
Situated in a low-lying area, it is a very cold growing site. Vidal, which is a winter-hardy grape and perfectly suitable for making icewine, late harvest wine, and cognac is planted here.
Winemaking Team
Winemaking Consultant
Dr. Alan Marks has been responsible for the creative and fine-finishing work on Kalala wines since 2006. He has made wine commercially since 1987 in the US and Canada and relocated to the Okanagan in 1994. Alan has a BS and MS degree in Agriculture with emphasis on incorporating new vineyard practices to maximize wine quality and a PhD in Food Science/Enology.
Winemaker
Tibby Erdelyi grew up in Serbia and was inspired by his uncle who was a winemaker. In 1989, Tibby immigrated to Canada to pursue his passion for food and wine. After many years’ as a chef, he has fully immersed himself in wine culture since moving to the Okanagan. Starting as a retail-and-marketing manager for Summerhill Pyramid Winery, he began his winemaking career with Kalala Organic Estate Winery in 2008. Tibby quickly gained great recognition for his winemaking prowess due to the numerous international and domestic awards his wines have won year after year.
We visited the winery during the “Sip with your sweetheart” event the weekend before Valentine’s Day. The wines we tasted are noted with a point score.
The Kalala Wines
150 Frizzante 2017 ($25)
It is a blend of Blaufrankisch, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer. This Frizzante celebrates Canada’s 150th birthday.
It has a deep ruby colour with light bubbles. A fresh sparkler with juicy red cherry, liquorice and lime flavours on the palate. 88 Points
Pinot Gris 2017 ($20)
The Pinot Gris is from Kalala’s certified organic Westbank Vineyard. The morning sun exposure brings maximum ripeness to grapes while the cool summer evenings maintained the vibrant acidity. The Pinot Gris was picked in three separate batches for better balance in the wine. Cold-soaked for 6 hours for ideal acid/sugar balance and additional aroma extraction. Two separate fermentations. Finished in one tank for ideal integration.
Aromas of honeydew melon, honey and mandarin orange. Flavours of lime, lemon, pineapple and white nectarine. Offers a refreshing twinkle of acidity, a saline-like minerality, and a weighty mouth-feel. 90 Points.
Pairs well with sushi, pan-fried seafood and light pasta dishes.
Harmony White
This white wine is an aromatic blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer & Pinot Auxerrois. It has a tropical nose and palate, full of ripe passion fruit, grapefruit and guava with just a hint of minerality. It is just slightly off-dry with vibrant acidity and a lingering finish. Great sipping wine!
Harmony Red (Coming soon)
This red wine is a medium-bodied lightly oaked blend of Merlot, Zweigelt & Pinot Noir. Aromas of raspberry and cherry are balanced with warm spice flavours such as cinnamon and cardamom. Perfect sipping red.
Kalala Rosé 2018 ($22)
These certified-organic grapes for the Rosé grow in the Kalala Westbank vineyard as well as the Hwy 97 vineyard in Oliver. The vines were subject to more intensive berry thinning to enhance quality. The rosé is a blend of 65% Gewurztraminer, 20% Zweigelt, 10% Pinot Noir and 5% Merlot.
Kalala Rosé has a pink rose hue with aromas of strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb, lemon zest and honeysuckle. On the palate, it has a light sweetness, with bright acidity & flavours of watermelon candy, and lemon. 90 Points
Kalala Zweigelt 2017 ($25)
100% Zweigelt is from Kalala’s Westbank Vineyard. The cooler climate is well-suited to the Zweigelt varietal while long days of sunshine allow the grapes to reach their full potential for a fuller-bodied version of the wine.
Crushed on November 7th, 24 hours cold-soaked for acid balance. Fermentation lasted 2 weeks and the wine was pressed off its skins on November 26th. It then went through malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity and was aged in mainly Hungarian barrels for 18 months.
Aromas of cassis and black cherry. On the palate, the wine is juicy and bright with black cherry and cassis flavour and a hint of white chocolate and vanilla from the Hungarian Oak. The natural acidity gives bite with soft tannins and lingering chocolate notes. 92 Points.
Wine Casks
Kalala Winery has three-litre casks of their three popular wines; Rosé, Harmony White, and Harmony Red. Rosé and Harmony White Casks were released at the end of October. Harmony Red Cask is currently in the process of being boxed.
For the complete portfolio of Kalala Organic Estate Winery please visit the winery website.
References
- How an engineer followed his nose to become an acclaimed winemaker in the Okanagan, Globe & Mail, November 12, 2017
Notes
- Kalala Organic Estate Winery provides background, growing conditions and winemaking notes.
- The original article was updated in November 2020.