In Canada’s Lake Country wine region, architects, builders, and designers are bringing a rising wine region to the cusp — by embedding its future within solid granite.
These two visionary Lake Country wineries—O’Rourke Family Estate and Azhadi Vineyards—have projects that may change the trajectory of Lake Country in North Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. Both have identified opportunities to leverage the area’s burgeoning wine country charm. They are expanding on the success of their existing wineries—Peak Cellars and Ex Nihilo—with significant developments that may change and enhance the appeal of this region. They are doing this by building wineries into raw granite.
A Visit to Canada’s Lake Country Wine Region
Lake Country is Canada’s furthest north G.I. (Geographic Indication). Manny Zuppiger, winemaker at Arrowleaf Cellars, explains. “Lake Country is on the northern frontier of grape growing,” he says. “Ours will never be a large-scale winemaking region, but rather a place to seek distinct, complex, collectible wines.”
Lake Okanagan – A Key to Its Success
The wine region’s proximity to Lake Okanagan is key to its success. It is a deep glacial lake that stores heat, moderates temperature, and provides airflow, delivering a more welcoming niche for grapes. Lake Country is located on its eastern shores. It is west-facing and ideally positioned for solar capture. At lower elevations (1,000 to 1,200 feet), silt and clay make up the soils, resulting in wines with texture and complexity.
The higher elevations have glacial-affected gravel and sand soils that drain well, resulting in wines with bright acidity and minerality. The granite hills rising from the lake to high plateaus offer builders several advantages, including raw structural material and vineyard land with excellent drainage, mineral-rich soils, and temperature regulation. Dennis O’Rourke and Mike Azhadi are building their game-changing new winery projects on granite bedrock.
It’s not a stretch to imagine Lake Country becoming even more of a draw for well-heeled wine tourism than it already is. There is an established history of hospitality here as a long-time active lifestyle destination – lake activities, sports, and world-class golf resorts – and wine tourism is poised for growth.
Several trends favor the area’s success. The first is the flight of urban professionals and well-funded retirees from the major cities of Vancouver and Alberta, which began in earnest during the COVID-19 years and continues to this day.
Second, the BC wine industry’s strategy of clustering wineries has been successful at the south end of Okanagan Lake, with over 200 wineries in the Summerland and Penticton areas. Lake Country and the town of Kelowna recognize that they have room to grow and develop.
Climate Change and Warming Trends is a Factor
Additionally, the six existing wineries and investors are hedging their bets on further climate change and warming trends, which favor wine regions in northern climes and lake orientations.
Jackson Family Wines of California is eyeing northern wine regions. Their recent acquisitions on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, include Unsworth Vineyards and Blue Grouse wineries.
Finally, I would argue that the growing interest in still and sparkling white wines may also contribute to the appeal of this region. Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay are well-established and excellent value for quality. And what foodies don’t love the cool, climate-loving Pinot Noir, the primary red wine in Lake Country?
Laura Kittmer of Wines of British Columbia says, “Lake Country, located 30 minutes from Kelowna Airport, is gaining recognition as a unique wine region in the Okanagan Valley. Recent developments include new vineyards and wineries such as Azhadi Estate Vineyards and O’Rourke Family Estate Winery. The region is seeing increased interest in grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling, which are earning international attention. We expect ongoing vineyard expansion and investment, as Lake Country is becoming a focus area for wine production in the Okanagan.”
A Legacy of Hospitality: Lake Country’s Established Wineries
In the mid-19th century, Austrian and Swiss pioneers originally explored and developed the Lake Country, located on the western banks of North Okanagan Lake. Six well-established wineries are flourishing there, and a seventh, the O’Rourke Family Estate, has opened a small tasting room to showcase some of its wines. This number will grow as additional investment and media exposure help increase consumer awareness. Let’s go through a timeline of the core group of winery founders.
Gray Monk Estate Winery
Gray Monk was founded in 1972. In 1976, the Heiss family planted the Pinot Gris, sourced from Colmar in the Alsace region of France. The industry considers it the first planting of that variety in Canada. They are farming 75 acres that were initially fruit orchards. Several tasting experiences are available daily, and the Lookout Restaurant is open for lunch and pairings from Friday through Sunday, including Sunday brunch. I recommend that you take a winery tour.
Meet Gray Monk’s Wine Character: Jen Oishi, Winemaker
Most Emblematic Wine: 2020 Sparkling Brut
Arrowleaf Cellars
Arrowleaf Cellars, the second winery established in Lake Country, was founded by the Swiss dairy-farming Zuppiger family in 1986. Its winery opened in 2001 after many international winemaking experiences by family members. Multiple generations are actively involved in the business.
A new tasting room and view deck opened in 2013, with a commanding position overlooking Okanagan Lake. The impressions you’ll get when visiting are decidedly “old-world,” as are many of the wines on offer, including Petite Arvine, Auxerrois, Bacchus, and Zweigelt.
Meet Arrowleaf Cellar’s Wine Character: Manny Zuppiger, Winemaker
Most Emblematic Wine: Petite Arvine
Intrigue Wines
In 2008, two families, the Wongs and the Davises, opened Intrigue Wines. With diverse business and winemaking experience, the families have built their brand on accessibility, familiar hospitality, and affordable wines.
They are a social brand that encourages opening a bottle and lingering over conversations with friends. You won’t need reservations for their picnic area or daily indoor tastings. Bring your food or order charcuterie boards and other fresh-made snacks.
Meet Intrigue’s Wine Character: Roger Wong, Winemaker
Most Emblematic Wine: 2022 “Social” White Blend
50th Parallel Estate Winery
50th Parallel Estate Winery opened in 2009, although you’d think the grand opening had just happened and you were visiting during their honeymoon period. The estate buildings were developed by Curtis Krouzel, one of the first architects and designers to build into granite hillsides in this area. Curtis and partner Sheri-Lee Turner-Krouzel have been instrumental in elevating the consumer wine tourism destination experience in Lake Country.
Your visit options include touring and dining in the granite cellar caves at Block One Restaurant for a special chef-led wine and food pairing experience. Keep an eye out for Curtis and Sheri-Lee. You’ll know them if you see the two flamboyant and provocative owners. Check the restaurant’s daily schedule. Pre-booking is recommended.
Peak Cellars
Peak Cellars is a 100-acre property and the predecessor of the soon-to-open O’Rourke Family Estate. Dennis O’Rourke is another visionary builder who is literally carving out his next project out of granite hillside. He famously doesn’t even drink wine and claims not to know anything about it, and calls Peak Cellars his “beginner winery” in anticipation of opening O’Rourke Cellars, a mega project.
I loved strolling through the greenhouses and gardens, where much of the restaurant’s ingredients are sourced. The tasting room and Garden Bistro Restaurant are open daily for casual dining and pizza indoors or outdoors on the patio. Locals favor visiting on Wednesday Date Night and Smoked Meat Sundays. This is another casual and approachable destination recommended for extended visits.
Ex Nihilo
Ex Nihilo Vineyards appeared “out of nothing” in 2018 when husband-wife team Mike and Janet Azhadi started the brand. Mike is the third builder referenced in this article who sculpts into granite. He is the engineer, architect, and designer of the built-out-of-granite Azhadi Vineyards development, which is opening soon.
Mike shared his inspiration for the project. “Initially, I was only looking for a vineyard. One cold, snowy day in January 2018, we entered the property, walked about a mile to the top of the granite knoll, and were overwhelmed by the beauty of it all, including a bald eagle flying above. The knoll was situated in the middle of the property and would not be farmable. I named it the “Gratitude Knoll”. I started imagining vineyards surrounding it, overlooking the Okanagan Lake with no view obstruction. That was the moment I felt this was a special place and had a sense of arrival. I needed to share this property to bring good thoughts, good words, and good deeds to people.”
Ex Nihilo is another hospitality-focused operation with wine and food ambassadors collaborating to create unique experiences. If you like learning about wine and food pairing, I highly recommend lunch here, as the staff is knowledgeable about pairing and local ingredients.
Meet Ex Nihilo’s Wine Character: Mike Azhadi, Founder
Most Emblematic Wine: Azhadi Vineyards Griffin
What’s Coming Soon – The Visionaries: O’Rourke and Azhadi
Lake Country and BC Wines may soon benefit from two significant projects that will change the region’s trajectory. Both are upscale lifestyle and tourism destinations. Both are well-funded, with considerable partnerships and a long-term vision for the area. Their timing also aligns with global trends in wine tourism – interest in destination locations, architectural design, and integration of art, dining, and activities. These two projects, along with Sparkling Hill Resort, built in 2010 by the Swarovski Crystal family, will likely transform the future of Lake Country.
O’Rourke Family Estate Winery
O’Rourke Family Estate is partnering with Predator Ridge – established over 30 years ago as a world-class four-season and golf resort community – to expand its exclusive brands in Lake Country. Dennis O’Rourke, the founder and chief visionary of O’Rourke Family Estate, has a long history with Predator Ridge. His Sureway Construction Company worked on the residential building retaining walls at the resort. The combined efforts will result in a one-of-a-kind world-class international destination location that may become Canada’s largest wine-themed large-scale property.
Dennis O’Rourke has a big palette to work with – 300 lake-view acres. His plans for a mega wine resort are admittedly very ambitious. He is moving granite mountains to make it happen. The footprint will be over 180,000 square feet. There are 100 acres of vines, 300 meters of tunnels, 12,000 square feet of caves, and a state-of-the-art hospitality center with lodging. There will also be restaurants, a bakery, tasting rooms (plural) with multiple decks, an amphitheater, an events center, and who knows what else. The concept is fluid, and Dennis is limitlessly creative. Expected to open in Spring 2026, this project will be his opus magnum.
More information: Sign up to follow this project https://ofestate.com/
Azhadi Vineyards
Azhadi Vineyards is Mike and Janet Azhadi’s second big project and the realization of a lifelong dream. Mike and Janet acquired the 41-acre site in 2018. The Iranian-themed hospitality center, overlooking the vineyards and Okanagan Lake, will stretch to over 30,000 square feet. It will include lodging, an amphitheater events space, an art gallery, and a state-of-the-art gravity flow winery and tasting room. The Azhadi’s built everything from granite, primarily on granite. They plan to submit for LEED environmental certification. That will make it one of the largest wine tourism facilities in Canada to do so. In the next phase, they add five villas.
Big Things on the Way in Lake Country Wineries
Mike is also planning big things in Lake Country. The project stands out as aspirational and includes both Western and Eastern influences. The four-story building will have a 19.5-meter observation tower and “wind catcher.” It takes its inspiration from the original Freedom Tower in Tehran, which was built in 1971 to celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire. Wind catchers draw in cooler breezes and act as passive air conditioning in extremely hot climates.
Mike and Karen’s quiet and gracious hospitality will be central to the project’s success. The estimated opening date is Fall 2025.
More information: Sign up to follow this project https://www.exnihilovineyards.com/
Civilization is replete with dreamers and visionaries, but builders must execute the vision. Lake Country is poised to redefine the Canadian wine tourism experience. As these projects take shape, stay tuned as the region steps into the spotlight of the global wine scene.
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