Two Odyssey wines — the 2025 Pinot Gris and 2022 Pinot Noir — showcase Gray Monk’s remarkable vineyard heritage and the versatility of the Pinot family.
When it comes to Pinot Gris in British Columbia, few wineries can match Gray Monk Estate Winery’s pioneering history.
The Lake Country winery helped pioneer the variety in Canada, planting Pinot Gris vines in the 1970s, long before the grape became one of the Okanagan’s most popular white wine varieties.
Today, some of those original vines are approaching 50 years of age and continue to produce fruit for Gray Monk’s premium Odyssey collection.
The recently released 2025 Odyssey Pinot Gris celebrates this remarkable heritage. Alongside it, the 2022 Odyssey Pinot Noir demonstrates the winery’s ability to produce an elegant red wine from mature South Kelowna vineyards.
Together, these two wines offer an interesting look at the Pinot family’s versatility in the Okanagan Valley.
Gray Monk Estate Winery – A Pinot Gris Pioneer
Gray Monk’s story began in 1972 when George and Trudy Heiss planted their vineyard overlooking Okanagan Lake in Lake Country.
In 1976, they imported Pinot Gris vines from Alsace, France, helping establish a variety that would become a BC wine industry favourite. The winery takes its name from Grauer Mönch, the traditional Austrian name for Pinot Gris.
The Heiss family opened Gray Monk Estate Winery in 1982, building a reputation for aromatic white wines and scenic vineyard views. Andrew Peller Limited acquired the winery in 2017.
My earlier article, The Lookout at Gray Monk for a Scenic Summer Lunch, explored the winery’s dining experience. This time, the focus is on two premium Odyssey wines.
The 2025 Vintage – An Early Okanagan Harvest
A warm spring put the 2025 growing season roughly two weeks ahead of schedule. Summer heat, cooler nights and occasional thunderstorms followed, with harvest among the earliest on record.
For Gray Monk’s old-vine Pinot Gris, the vintage offered a chance to showcase nearly 50 years of Lake Country vineyard history.
Gray Monk Odyssey Pinot Gris 2025 ($35)
BC VQA Lake Country | 800 cases produced
Hand-harvested from Gray Monk’s estate vineyard, this premium Pinot Gris benefits from vines approaching 50 years of age, among the oldest in British Columbia.
The Odyssey Pinot Gris has an impressive awards history, highlighted by Gold at the 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada and the Best Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio Trophy at the 2022 Global Fine Wine Challenge, both awarded to the 2021 vintage. The 2024 vintage earned Bronze at the 2026 National Wine Awards of Canada.
Winemaking
Following gentle pressing, the juice was fermented in stainless steel. A portion of the wine matured in a 2,000-litre French oak foudre and one new French oak barrel, while the remainder aged in stainless steel with intermittent lees stirring.
The result combines fresh fruit character with subtle oak complexity and added texture.
Tasting Notes
Subtle aromas of ripe stone fruit and delicate white blossoms. This medium-bodied Pinot Gris offers restrained flavours of crisp Granny Smith apple, honeydew melon and a hint of citrus and tropical fruit. The dry palate is smooth and beautifully balanced, with vibrant acidity bringing freshness to the clean, refreshing finish. 92 Points
Technical Specifications
- Alcohol: 11.7%
- Residual Sugar: 1.9 g/L
- Total Acidity: 5.8 g/L
- Production: 900 cases
- Closure: Stelvin
Food Pairings
Pairs well with poached salmon, creamy seafood pasta, or soft cheeses. My choice: pan-seared steelhead trout with a light lemon-butter sauce.
Gray Monk Odyssey Pinot Noir 2022 ($40)
BC VQA Okanagan Valley | 500 cases produced
Sourced from approximately 20-year-old vines in South Kelowna, the Odyssey Pinot Noir benefited from favourable late-season conditions in 2022 that helped Okanagan red grapes reach excellent maturity.
Winemaking
Harvested in early October, the grapes were destemmed and fermented in stainless steel before spending 18 months in French oak barrels, ranging from new to three years old.
The extended barrel aging adds complexity while preserving the wine’s red-fruit character.
Tasting Notes
A light ruby-red colour with inviting aromas of red cherry and baking spice. Elegant and medium-bodied, this Pinot Noir delivers flavours of ripe red cherry and red plum, complemented by a silky texture and fine, powdery tannins. Notes of red currant, pomegranate and cranberry mingle with earthy undertones and delicate spice on the graceful, lingering finish. 92 Points
Technical Specifications
- Alcohol: 13.1%
- Residual Sugar: 0.3 g/L
- Total Acidity: 6.1 g/L
- Oak Aging: 18 months in French oak
- Closure: Stelvin
Food Pairings
Pair with roast pork tenderloin, Moroccan lamb, rosemary chicken, grilled portobello mushrooms or truffle gnocchi. For an autumn dinner, roast turkey with cranberry sauce is an excellent choice. Creamy Brie and charcuterie also work well.
Final Thoughts
Gray Monk has earned its place in British Columbia wine history through its pioneering work with Pinot Gris.
Few Okanagan wineries can point to such a direct connection between their original vineyard plantings and a premium wine being produced today.
The 2025 Odyssey Pinot Gris (92 Points) celebrates that heritage with freshness, balance and subtle complexity. Meanwhile, the 2022 Odyssey Pinot Noir (92 Points) demonstrates Gray Monk’s ability to craft an elegant, expressive red from mature Okanagan vineyards.
Together, these two releases give BC wine enthusiasts a chance to experience both the history and ongoing evolution of one of the Okanagan’s best-known wineries.
For more information, visit Gray Monk Estate Winery.