[Summerland, BC] I recently returned to Solvero Wines in Summerland’s Garnet Valley, but this visit was very different from my previous trips.
I first wrote about Solvero when the winery opened in 2023, focusing on its premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and the remarkable Garnet Valley site. I returned to the wines again in 2024, when the young winery was already establishing a reputation for small-lot, terroir-driven wines.
Solvero Wines Opens with a Splash – 2023
This time, the scars of the 2026 Bald Range wildfire were impossible to miss.
The Bald Range Wildfire
As you drive into the winery, the extent of the fire damage becomes strikingly clear. Large areas of the forest surrounding Solvero are burned, including land immediately adjacent to the winery and vineyards. Yet the winery, tasting room and other principal structures survived.
The Bald Range fire swept rapidly toward Summerland beginning August 7, forcing widespread evacuations. Solvero evacuated its property, and the winery subsequently reported that its structures appeared to have escaped the fire.
The fire itself was only part of the problem for Summerland’s wineries. Prolonged smoke during a critical period of grape development raised serious concerns about smoke exposure in the 2026 crop, though the extent and effect will vary by variety and vineyard site.
During my visit, I was told Solvero will not produce a 2026 vintage from its Summerland vineyards because of their specific proximity to the smoke, ash exposure, and the resulting risk of smoke taint.
It is another difficult setback after the January 2024 freeze devastated the Okanagan crop. That earlier event prompted Solvero winemaker Alison Moyes to look outside British Columbia for premium fruit, eventually sourcing grapes in Oregon.
That decision produced two of the wines in this tasting.
The Solvero Wines
Solvero Blanc de Noir 2023 ($40)
This is Solvero’s first Traditional Method sparkling wine, made from 100% Pinot Noir grown at the Happy Valley and Garnet Valley vineyards.
The fruit was harvested at the end of August to maintain the right balance of acidity and sugar. The whole clusters were gently pressed, and only the juice was selected for the cuvée. The base wine was fermented in equal parts neutral French oak and stainless steel, then spent 20 months en tirage. It was disgorged in March 2026 with zero dosage.
Alcohol 12.3%
The wine opens with fresh lemon zest, green apple and orchard pear. Extended lees aging adds brioche and toasted almond. Vibrant acidity drives the palate, with citrus and orchard fruit complemented by a fine chalky minerality and persistent mousse. The finish is long, with lingering citrus and toasted pastry. 92 Points
Solvero Rosé 2024 ($25)
The January 2024 deep freeze forced Solvero to look beyond the Okanagan for Pinot Noir. The fruit for this Rosé came from Aebischer Vineyard in Oregon, with the vines farmed to Solvero’s specifications.
Half the fruit received one hour of skin contact, while the other half was whole-cluster pressed. The chilled juice was transported overnight to Garnet Valley, where 75% was cool fermented in stainless steel and 25% in neutral barrel.
A lovely pale salmon colour with aromas of cranberry, peach and rose petal and a subtle touch of white pepper. Refreshing acidity carries the berry fruit through a clean, balanced finish. 90 Points
Solvero Chardonnay 2024 ($35)
Another fascinating result of the 2024 Okanagan freeze. Alison Moyes travelled south looking for premium Chardonnay and found an exceptional vineyard block in Oregon’s Chehalem Mountains AVA.
The wine is 100% barrel-fermented, primarily in neutral oak with 14% new Mercurey barrels. The winemaker performed bâtonnage during partial malolactic fermentation, followed by 11 months of barrel aging.
Alcohol 12.5%
Round, generous and beautifully mouth-filling, yet held together by excellent freshness and vibrant acidity. Ripe pear, apricot and juicy peach lead the palate, layered with toasted hazelnut, subtle brioche and a fine mineral edge. The oak is beautifully integrated, adding creamy texture, depth, and gentle savoury complexity without overwhelming the fruit’s purity. Rich and polished, with impressive balance and a long, elegant finish. 92 Points
Solvero Pinot Noir 2023 ($35)
The previous vintage received considerable international recognition, with James Suckling awarding the Solvero Pinot Noir 2022 an impressive 94 points during his 2026 Okanagan Valley review.
The Pinot Noir combines fruit from Garnet Valley and Kozuki Family vineyards and includes clones 115, 667, 777, 828 and Pommard.
The five clones were harvested separately and fermented in small batches. Approximately 35% of the fruit was fermented whole cluster. After two weeks on the skins, the wine was pressed and aged for 15 months in French oak, 25% new. 450 cases were made.
Alcohol 13.4%
The wine opens with a gorgeous aroma of ripe cherries and violets. Medium-bodied with an impressive concentration of classic Pinot Noir flavours of black cherry, cocoa, and earthy forest floor. Silky tannins, bright natural acidity, and a long, lingering finish make this a food-friendly wine. 93 Points
Solvero Pinot Gris 2025 ($25)
The fruit comes from the Kozuki Family and Happy Valley vineyards and was hand-harvested over five separate picks at optimum ripeness.
Each block was whole-cluster pressed and fermented separately, using a combination of spontaneous and selected yeast. Fermentation took place at a cool 12–16°C, followed by three months of aging in 65% stainless steel and 35% neutral barrel
Alcohol 13.5%
Fresh and silky, with inviting aromas of ripe pear, crisp apple and a touch of honey. The palate is dry and lively, showing juicy pear and apple layered with subtle citrus and honeyed notes. A distinctive thread of ginger and white pepper adds a lovely spicy lift that carries through to a fresh, energetic finish. An expressive and beautifully balanced Pinot Gris. 93 Points
The wine has already received significant recognition, winning a Gold Medal at the 2026 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.
Solvero Riesling 2025 ($26)
A particularly interesting addition to the Solvero portfolio. This is the winery’s first Riesling with only 120 cases made.
The Clone 21B Riesling comes entirely from Happy Valley Vineyard on the Summerland Bench. Yields were just one tonne per acre, and the fruit was harvested on September 24.
The grapes were whole-cluster pressed into stainless steel and underwent an exceptionally cool fermentation below 12°C that continued for two months. The wine then remained on its lees until bottling in February.
Alcohol 12.8%
The dry Riesling has apple blossom and stone fruit aromas leading to flavours of green apple, almond and honeycomb. Bright acidity keeps the fruit beautifully balanced, leading to a crisp, refreshing finish. 90 Points
Final Thoughts
My first visit to Solvero showed the potential of this high-elevation Garnet Valley site. Three years later, that potential is clearly being realized, but the path has been anything but easy.
The winery has now faced two extraordinary events in three vintages — the devastating January 2024 deep freeze, followed by the 2026 Bald Range wildfire.
What impressed me on this visit was the quality and diversity of the wines despite those challenges. The Oregon Chardonnay and Rosé demonstrate how successfully winemaker Alison Moyes adapted when there was virtually no local crop in 2024, while the Blanc de Noir and first Riesling show Solvero continuing to explore the potential of its Summerland vineyards.
The photographs of the burned forest surrounding the winery tell their own story. Solvero came remarkably close to a much greater loss.
While there will be no 2026 vintage from Solvero’s Summerland vineyards, the story doesn’t end there. The winery plans to produce a 2026 Rosé from Fraser Valley fruit, and there are some excellent current releases to discover today.
After everything Summerland’s wine community has endured, there has rarely been a better time to visit, taste and support these wineries. Solvero is a particularly compelling example of that resilience.