The winery owner is Dennis O’Rourke. He is known among his peers as a pioneer, innovator, and risk-taker who thrives on overcoming challenges. After founding one of Western Canada’s leading construction companies, Dennis is now bringing his passion for building only the best to create a visionary winery and world-class tourism destination that showcases the very best of BC winemaking.
Dennis founded Sureway Construction Group Ltd. in 1973. Over the next 46 years, Dennis worked relentlessly to foster a competitive edge for Sureway by incorporating the latest, largest, and most productive construction equipment in the industry. From these modest beginnings in water and sewer construction, Sureway now employs more than 900 people and has the largest fleet of earthmoving, water, and sewer equipment of its type in Western Canada.
The winery is located on a picturesque property with panoramic views of the surrounding orchards, vineyards, rolling mountains and Lake Okanagan. The wine display and barrel room are impressive!
The Vineyard
The roughly 100-acre estate vineyards produce Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Rosé, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Talented winemaker Stephanie Stanley strives to produce complex, bright and exciting wines from these grapes.
The Winemaker
Stephanie Stanley, Peak Cellars Winemaker
A true Okanagan native, Stephanie Stanley was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley and is well-versed in all aspects of viticulture in the region. She received a Bachelor of Science with Honours from Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture program where she was also awarded the President’s Medal.
From 2003 to 2015 Stephanie was mentored by esteemed winemaker, Howard Soon, at Sandhill wines. She then worked as the lead winemaker for Wayne Gretzky Okanagan when it launched in British Columbia, as well as lead winemaker for Peller Estates Okanagan. Stephanie left Peller Estates in 2016 to propel her career by working two vintages each year for six months at a time in both New Zealand and Canada.
After four years at Wither Hills in Marlborough, she was commissioned by Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards winery to bring her expertise back to the Okanagan full-time. Stephanie has been part of the O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars for the past three years as lead winemaker. Her expertise and professionalism are integral to the winemaking team.
Riesling
“Riesling happens to be my favourite white grape. Whether that is attributed to my German heritage or to the fact that I love acidic food. I was the kid that always bought sour candy and Tear Jerkers at 7-11, or poured pure white vinegar on my lettuce as a salad dressing. Riesling really delivers to my acidic desires! I often refer to myself as a bit of an acidhead, which sometimes raises an eyebrow or two….
I just love how diverse Riesling can be. In my opinion, has the largest spectrum of wine style expressions, more so than any other variety. From extremely dry to Icewine and so many other styles in between. There is always a beautiful character balance coupled with the naturally high acidity, which is also what gives Riesling the ability to age for many years.
If you have the willpower to cellar it, put several bottles of easy vintage away and wait a few years before opening one a year, to witness the amazing evolution of Riesling over time.”
Stephanie Stanley, Peak Cellars Winemaker
2018 Vintage
August was ruined by smoke. Key effects of smoke include decreasing the average daily temperature in August by 5 or 6°C. Smoke will filter out all UV light from the sun, UVB is particularly important in ripening tannins and phenolics in black grape skins. So we changed tack and made a less extracted and more aromatic wine in 2018. For our earliest ripening Pinot Noir we went 100% whole cluster on 5 Metric Tonnes.
September had no growing energy, was wet and cool, but clear of smoke. A good season for aromatics whites, a good season for citrusy Chardonnay. Also a good season for Pinot Gris, Gruner Veltliner.
2018 was a strong season for the noble Riesling grape. Our house Riesling style will always be dry. This year, with higher acidity the wine will be able to handle a few grams more of natural sugar. In 2018 we have made an extraordinary Riesling Block 11, it has 35 g/L of natural residual sugar but tastes dry to the layman and even to sommeliers it tastes only like 12-16g/L.
The Rieslings
O’Rourke Peak Cellars Riesling 2019 ($22)
A really special Trocken style Riesling.
The Riesling has a vibrant colour with a beautiful green tint. If you love green apples this is the wine for you! On the nose citrus and green apples with floral notes. There are lively flavours of Key limes, green apples, honeydew melon and honeycomb with minerality and a hint of almond. 91 Points.
2020 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards Platinum medal winner.
When it comes to pairings, think FAT – pork belly, sablefish, Peking Duck and more.
O’Rourke Peak Cellars Riesling Block Eleven 2019 ($28)
Alcohol 10.1%, Residual Sugar 32.3 g/L
This wine is made purely from clone 21B Riesling, which was originally imported into North America from Germany’s Mosel Valley. Clone 21B tends to produce wines with more racy acidity, which provides the perfect balance to the naturally retained sugar. The fermentation was stopped at about 84% completion to provide natural sweetness and flavour.
The 2019 Riesling Block Eleven is fresh and vibrant, overflowing with tropical aromas of pineapple, mango, guava and passionfruit.
The wine displays fruity tropical flavours of fresh pineapple, canned fruit Meyer lemon, Key lime delicately framed with some hints of lemongrass and nutmeg. The wine is so well balanced that you would never guess that the residual sugar is over 30 gm/L! 92 Points
2020 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards Silver medal winner.
The food pairing options are quite diverse. Try it with some Asian fare like Thai red duck curry or other hot and spicy dishes. Chilled seafood, like a chilled octopus and shrimp salad, or a fish ceviche with chilli, lemon-lime and cilantro would be a delight! Try it with some truffle cheese or even be a little adventurous and pair it with venison prepared with star anise and Thai basil. It’s also the perfect partner for a ham and pineapple pizza or simply just POOLSIDE!
Other White Wines
O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars Grüner Veltliner 2019 ($24)
Light straw colour. Soft aromas of orange, apricot and fine herbs entice the nose. Flavours of melon, gooseberry and honey along with beautiful minerality and a touch of white pepper and marzipan. The wine is amazingly smooth and well rounded. A fabulous white for a hot summer day. Do not over chill to taste the subtle fruit flavours. 90 Points
Difficult to taste this Gruner without thinking of Wiener Schnitzel, Bratwurst sausages and potato salad.
O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars Fieldling Block 26 Field Blend 2019 ($24)
53% Pinot Gris, 32% Riesling and 15% Gewürztraminer.
The 2019 Block 26 displays fruity aromas of stone fruit with delicate floral notes of jasmine and other white blossoms.
The palate has a medium body and acidity, flavours of lime, white peach, pineapple, apples and pink grapefruit. The minerality gives the wine a sensation of mid-palate sweetness while finishing dry and with great length. 90 Points
O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars Pinot Gris 2019
On the nose apple blossom and fresh pear. Full-bodied with prominent flavours of lemon zest, apple and pears with a subtle touch of baking spices. The high acidity makes for a crisp and refreshing Pinot Gris at 13.3% alcohol. 92 Points
O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars Gewurztraminer 2019 ($18)
Alsace off-dry style with a rich, almost creamy body from three months of barrel ageing and acidity to balance the aromatics. Light straw coloured. The wine has the classic aromas of lychee, kiwi, gooseberry and rose petals.
Meyer lemon, passionfruit, lychee, ginger and apricot flood the palate. Your taste buds are excited by the acidity. 91 points
O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars Chardonnay 2018 (
This Chardonnay is 100% barrel fermented and aged in French oak for 11 months, with only about 20% being new oak.
Intense aromas of honey, green apple, lime zest and citrus, rounded out with a light mineral note and hints of white blossoms and vanilla. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine delivers a gentle toastiness, flavours of butterscotch, Meyer lemon, cantaloupe and a soft voluptuous mouthfeel with a fresh but lingering finish. 92 Points
For the complete portfolio of O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars BC wine please visit the winery website.
The Garden Bistro
These notes are from our preCOVID-19 visit in the summer of 2019. We are definitely looking forward to returning.
The combination of high-quality wines paired with Chef Alex Lavroff’s delicious cuisine makes the Garden Bistro a great value dining experience. The $40 special of a bottle of wine and a pizza is definitely a crowd pleaser!
This time for lunch we started with the Marinated Prawn Louie – Iceberg Lettuce, avocado, asparagus and rye crisp with a green goddess dressing.
For the main course, I had the Beef Dip Panini. Both courses were first class.
For the full Garden Bistro menu please visit the restaurant Website.