There in her magnificent glory stands the majestic Mission Hill Family Estate Winery. The winery, located in West Kelowna on the west side of Okanagan Lake.
Where does one start to tell you about this award winning winery. Not only have its wines received countless awards. The architecture has also received awards. Mr. Anthony von Mandl and family own the winery since 1980.
Imposing, fortress-like entry gates leave visitors in no doubt that they have entered a very special environment, a sanctuary to the world of wine. An allée of Oak trees frame the drive and guide the visitor to what is, in essence, a parking garden.
The landscape plantings of close to 4,000 trees and shrubs have carefully integrated native species with varietals to enhance the ecological aspects of the grounds. A rose garden at the entrance to the winery beckons to visitors.
Visitors enter the main winery grounds by passing through a massive set of contemporary, curved arches held together by a single Keystone. Hand chiselled from a five tonne block of Indiana limestone by English-born Master Stone Mason Tony Rojac and Welshman Andrew Swinley, the Keystone features images taken from the von Mandl family crest.
Once through the arches on the right is the Wine Education Centre and on the left the restaurant
Anthony von Mandl was 12 years old when he rang a bell for the first time. As a schoolboy in Europe, bells were part of his daily routine, something forever etched on his mind. To him, bells represent a special sense of time and place. They bring people together, strike a celebratory note, and provide a natural rhythm and a sense of order. His dream was to bring that cadence to the Okanagan and share it with its people.
Standing 12-storeys tall and visible as guests approach the winery, the Bell Tower, with its lightning rod and pelican-inspired weather-vane, taken from the von Mandl family crest, entices visitors to enter the grounds. Inside the tower, there are four bronze bells, handcrafted in Annecy, France by the Paccard Bell Foundry. Each is dedicated to a member of Anthony's immediate family, his late father Martin, his mother Bedriska, his sister Patricia and himself.
For summer entertainment the winery features summer out door concerts in the Amphitheatre with some well known star performers.
Ben Bryant
Ben Bryant is the chief winemaker joining the team in 2018. After growing up and gaining a masterful wine knowledge in New South Wales, Australia, Bryant refined his skills working throughout Asia before returning home to Australia where he served as chief winemaker for Jacob’s Creek, St. Hugo, and Wyndham Estate.
Philosophy:
The belief that balance is the most important
element in wine. John also strives to produce wines with New World ripeness
but Old World elegance. This is achieved in the vineyard by moderating yields
to suit the vintage's weather, and harvesting at optimum ripeness. In the winery,
oak is used with discretion, in a supporting role, in order to add complexity and
only on wines suited to barrique fermentation and maturation.
Mission Hill owns five distinctive vineyards
- Mission Hill Road Vineyard - West Kelowna
- Lakeshore Vineyard - East Kelowna
- Naramata Ranch Vineyard - Naramata Bench
- Black Sage Bench Vineyard - Southeast Oliver
- Osoyoos Vineyard - East & West Osoyoos
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.
They have been award Year of the Year on numerous occasions. The 2011 Martin's Lane Pinot Noir International Trophy
for Best Pinot Noir in the World.
Best Canadian Red Wine
Best Canadian Pinot Noir |
2017 Decanter World Wine Awards
2015 Terroir Collection Reflection Point Pinot Noir |
Canadian Winery
of the Year |
2015 National Wine Awards of Canada
2015 InterVin International Wine Awards |
Just a few recent awards.
