Mission Hill Winery
Canada's Grand Estates
"If I were asked to name the North American Winery that best captures the beauty, the history, the industry and the magic of the total wine experience, that dazzles with finesse as well as sheer power, and that invites the visitor to return, again and again, to make discoveries, it would be Mission Hill Family Estate in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.”
Pacific Northwest/The Seattle Times Magazine November 2003There is no doubt that Mission Hill is one of Canada's Grand Estates
Wine author John Schreiner writes... The jaw dropping beauty together with the studied formality of the staff sweeps visitors away and sets up high expectations for the wines.The winery sitting on the top of Westbank hills over looking Kelowna and Lake Okanagan does indeed present an imposing site. British Columbia.com writes on their website...
It begins with the setting...Golden with sunlight and green with vines, the heart of the glorious Okanagan Valley is home to some of British Columbia's finest wines. Here, overlooking Okanagan Lake and framed by magnificent views of vineyards and fields, stands British Columbia's most awarded winery, Mission Hill
The history of Mission Hill can be traced back to 1970s but its true success began in 1981 when Anthony von Mandl purchased the winery. Each year the winery improved new vines were planted , the buildings enhanced. Perhaps the key came in 1992 when John Simes arrived and produced his memorable Mission Hill Grand Reserve Barrel Select Chardonnay which won the title of the best Chardonnay in the world.
Their winemaking philosophy is simple. We believe that what happens in the vineyard determines what happens in the bottle. It's about growing the best grapes under the best possible conditions. It's about being relentless in the pursuit of quality.
Dinning at Mission Hill:
The experience is only available in good weather as The Terrace is an outdoor restaurant. Open from May 3rd to October 7th for lunch, dinner operations begin June 15th and run through to September 2nd. The Terrace is open weather permitting. Honoured as one of the Top Five Winery Restaurants globally, the restaurant and epicurean program is led by Executive Winery Chef Matthew Batey
Events
Tours- Misssion hill offers a number of options designed to provide guests with a deeper appreciation of what the winery and agriculturally rich Okanagan Valley have to offer. Ranging from one-hour overview to an in-depth eight-hour 'Day in the Vineyards' option, the tours include visits to the winery's varietal garden, underground barrel cellar and estate vineyard. They do charge for their tours.
Arts - MissionHill is a great supporter of the Arts events range for Sculptural exhibitions to musical theatre to wine dinners.
Seminars- different workshops and seminars offered through the year
Naramata Ranch Vineyards
Vineyards
They have five located from the Westbank to Osoyoos in the south
Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec,
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon,
Riesling and Vidal (used in the production of Icewine).The Wines
September 2, 2008 - Mission Hill Family Estate, Canada's Winery of the Year has won the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Trophy for the World's for the Mission Hill Family Estate 2006 Reserve Riesling Icewine
Mission Hill is one of the best known labels in Canada
Their signature wine is a Bordeaux inspired blend, called Oculus. It is crafted from only the highest quality grape clusters from designated blocks that are set aside and nurtured to maturity. The fruit undergoes extended fermentation and maceration the wine is then aged in new and old French Barrels for a minimum of 14+ months. A rich and deeply concentrated and powerful artisanal wine. It will develop additional complexity over three to five years. It is so named Oculus, as it encapsulates the vision Anthony von Mandl has for Canadian wines.
The Mission Wines are labeled
Five Vineyards
Family Estate Reserve - limited quantity wines are produced from select vineyard
Select Lot Collection - are age worthy, with careful handling at each stage of grape cultivation, harvest and winemaking. The grapes are chosen from only the finest lots of select blocks and rows within 100% winery owned estates throughout the Okanagan
Legacy Series - including Perpetua, Quatrain and Compendium are a culmination of 30 years crafting fine wine. Rare and limited, they showcase the finest of everything at Mission Hill Family Estate
Mission Hill wines are generally available in retail stores and restaurants across Canada.
