Harvest 2023 at Kettle Valley Winery

In 2023 we celebrated our 32nd Vintage.

We saw heavy snow and cold temperatures throughout November and December 2022.  This was our second cold fall and winter in a row and resulted in significant bud death.  Some varietals were hit harder than others and we saw almost 100% primary bud damage in our Syrah and Malbec vineyards and about 70% bud death in our Merlot and some damage to the Pinot Gris vines.  Our Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Gewurztraminer escaped with little vine damage, but we did see significantly lower tonnage.  We took a visit to Oliver, Osoyoos and over to the Similkameen Valley and the damage was extremely widespread.  Our initial fears were that we would actually see plant death, but in our vineyards we saw secondary, non-fruiting buds pushout, and limited plant death.  A normal or warmer than normal winter will be critical to allow the vines to recover and renew themselves.  There will be a number of wines that you will not see a 2023 vintage from us, but don’t you worry as we still have lots of the prior vintages for your to enjoy.  Hard to believe that all those years have come and gone since we started our fist commercial harvest in 1992.

As we start our 33rd year, as the oldest single-owner winery on the Naramata Bench, we still remain dedicated to making and sharing great wines from BC grapes.  Our family’s commitment is as strong as ever to farming full flavoured grapes and to winemaking that brings out the best of those flavours and subtleties.

Whether you’ve known us for all these years or are just coming on-board, thanks for your support and raise a glass to fine fruit, family and friends.

– Bob Ferguson, Co-Founder and Wine Maker
– Tim Watts, Co-Founder and Wine Maker

Our tasting room will be closed for the season as of Sunday, October 15, 2023 and will re-open in Spring 2024.

Our Wine Shop is open for purchases and wine order pickups from 9:30am – 4pm Monday to Friday.

If you have any questions please call 250-496-5898 or email info@kettlevalleywinery.com.

Please call 250-496-5898 to book an appointment.

  • There is a $10 tasting appointment fee per person, payable at the time of booking. The fee will be refunded with the purchase of one or more bottles of wine per person.  Please note, we have a 24 hour cancellation policy.
  • Maximum 30 minute tastings.  Please arrive on time for your appointment or call ahead if you are going to be late.  Late arrival will reduce your booking time.  We will try to accommodate late arrivals but after 15 minutes we may fill your spot with waiting guests and you may be asked to move to a later time slot if one is available.
  • Maximum group size of 6 people (please note, children and non-tasters do count as part of the group if they are in the tasting room).
  • Please do not visit if you are sick or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 or if you have travelled outside of Canada within the past 14 days or if you have been in contact with anyone with a confirmed case of Covid-19 within the last 14 days.

To view our Communicable Disease Prevention Plan visit here.

Our Location

With abundant sunshine, cooling lake breezes, and an optimal temperature range, the Naramata Bench is one of the premier grape growing regions in Canada. The rolling hills and variable soils of the area create a range of microclimates and terroirs that an experienced grape grower can match to a wide variety of grape crops.

It was because of these many qualities that we decided the Naramata Bench was where we were going to plant our vines, locate our winery, and raise our families. We were one of the early adopters of the Naramata Bench and were issued the third winery license for the area back in 1992.

Working with the terroir of the area we have produced a wide range of Kettle Valley wines including red blends such as “Old Main Red,” and single varietals including Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. Whites have also done well in the Naramata terroir; our original Chardonnay has been joined by Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

In 2009 we expanded our vineyards with the purchase of a 14 acre vineyard property in the Similkameen Valley that was entering it’s second leaf.  We replanted most of the vineyard which allowed us to plant Zinfandel in the rocky soils that comprise the growing medium for the vineyard.

Visit our home based tasting room on your wine tour of the Naramata Bench. We look forward to seeing you.

Our Name and Our Wine

The inspiration for our name is the famed Kettle Valley Railway which ran through Naramata between 1915 and 1961 connecting the Southern Interior of British Columbia to the markets of the Pacific Northwest.

Passion and a dedication to excellence were requirements for building the railway, and we at Kettle Valley feel that same passion and dedication for our Red Wines which are known for their dark, intense, and well structured natures; and our White Wines that are flavourful and aromatic with a rich mouth feel.

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Our Featured Wines

$30
2018 Adra Station Chardonnay Reserve

The grapes were handpicked on October 13, 2018 at approximately 25.4 brix. The grapes were crushed and left on the skins to cold soak for two days prior to being pressed off, clarified and inoculated with yeast…

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$24
2022 Pinot Gris

The grapes for this wine were handpicked between October 6 and October 13, 2022 at approximately 24.7 brix. The grapes were crushed and left on the skins to cold soak for up to three days prior to being pressed off…

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$26
2017 Great Northern Vineyard Zinfandel

The grapes were handpicked on October 31 and November 1, 2017 at approximately 22.8 brix. The wine has gone through a full malolactic fermentation and was aged in French oak for 22 months before being…

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$38
2018 McGraw Estate Merlot

The grapes were hand picked on October 30, 2018 at approximately 25.3 brix. The wine has gone through a full malolactic fermentation and was aged in French oak for 19 months before bottling in 2020…

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