As many of you already probably know I live in the beautiful Okanagan and one of my best things about living here is being surrounded by wineries. On the west side of Kelowna lies 200 acres of vines and one of my favourite wineries, Quails Gate. Quails Gate is a 100% family owned and award winning sustainably run and operated winery. For 30 years now the Stewart family has been dedicated to growing grapes and producing some of the best wines, their passion and dedication has ranked them among one of the top wineries in Canada.
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to celebrate Quails Gate 30thAnniversary, and what a celebration it was. I cant wait to tell you all about it. The weekend started by checking into THE LAKE HOUSE, which is one of two vacation rentals at Quails Gate. The lake house sits on the shore of Okanagan lake with the most amazing views from every room. It is the perfect combination of luxury and cozy that gives you the perfect Okanagan experience. The lake house has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms it can accommodate up to 14 guests when booked with the additional suite, so whether it is a family getaway, a girls weekend, a corporate retreat or even a small wedding this is the perfect place to create lifetime memories and enjoy some wine of course.
The second property THE NEST, which I did not stay at, is located just to the left of the lake house. It is tucked away in a secluded area situated next to Green Bay wildlife sanctuary. This 1960 Okanagan lake cabin has been fully renovated to provide a comfortable stay for up to 7 people. It has 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms and even has a private beach. The nest would be a perfect place for a romantic getaway or a small family vacation, just picture it, sitting on the beach sipping wine and experiencing the full Okanagan experience.
After getting settled in at The Lake House we opened a bottle of LUCY”S BLOCK ROSE (which is one of my faves), turned the fireplace on and relaxed as we were in for a spectacular celebration.
Cheers to 30 Amazing Years for Quails Gate. The evening started with a VIP cocktail reception, a very intimate setting where we met Quail’s Gate’s CEO & Proprietor, Tony Stewart, as well as their Wine Maker, Ross Baker. It was so great hearing about the rich history behind the winery and how much passion there is behind the wines they produce.
The party continued as we moved into the restaurant area where we were treated to the most delicious food prepared by head of Old Vines Restaurant, Winery Chef, Roger Sleiman, and his team. There were grazing stations throughout and the food was so good I am finding it hard to pick a favourite but if I have to I would say I loved the risotto and the scallops.
We can’t forget about the wine, we got to try the NEW RELEASE Clone 220 Chenin Blanc. I am a white wine lover and I really enjoyed this new wine. The 2018 vintage marks Quails’ Gate’s first time fermenting and aging a limited amount in a concrete egg.
We were also treated to some rare library wines, which were equally as great. We ended the night off taking in the magical lights outside as the winery was all lit up in holiday lights and dancing to the sounds of Andrew Allen.
The next day we were treated to an exclusive wine tour, there is something so special walking through the vineyard and hearing the story behind the wine and the winery that is Quails Gate. We tasted some great wines including a 20111 and 2017 Chardonnay, I was amazed at the difference of the same wine just a different year. My favourite was the 2011 Chardonay. We finished out tasting the best way possible, with some ice wine and chocolate, YUMMMM!!!!.
Here are some of my favourite wines from our tasting:
I am so happy that I was able to celebrate this special 30 year milestone with Quails Gate. I had the best time and I cannot wait until the next amazing event.
If you are a wine lover like me you will love some of the great experiences that Quails Gate offers during the winter season. There is blind wine tasting, chocolate pairing, tea time(something I want to try) in the Old Vines Restaurant and many more, check them all out here.
If you are interested in the 2 properties at Quails Gate for your next getaway check them out here
If you are a food and wine lover and want to experience some amazing Okanagan cuisine check out OLD VINES RESTAURANT AT QUAILS GATE WINERY
CHEERS!!!!
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