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CedarCreek Estate Winery (Kelowna)
By Carolyn Coles
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CedarCreek Estate Winery recently underwent substantial renovations. The refurbished facility and tasting room is immaculate and seems more fitting to a Mediterranean hillside than the Okanagan lakeshore. The interior wine shop is warm and features an array of other products in addition to CedarCreek’s wines. Visitors can take in the view from the nearby rose garden and pavilion, where special functions are held, or they can enjoy lunch at the Vineyard Terrace restaurant, which features an array of Mediterranean and West Coast dishes.
CedarCreek released its first vintage 18 years ago after Senator Gordon Fitzpatrick purchased an apple orchard that sloped towards Okanagan Lake. Since then, the winery has gained elite status and widespread recognition for its premium wines, and has expanded its vineyard holdings to a site across the lake at Greata Ranch and a site in the South Okanagan. One gets a sense of the winery’s eminence upon entering the drive, where the Fitzpatrick family crest flag flies proudly.
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Wines: CedarCreek has three series of wine ranging from the premium quality Platinum Reserve Series to the more economical Classic Series. Varieties are varied, especially in the Classic Series. Wines are sourced from the winery site CedarCreek vineyards, the Greata Ranch vineyards, and the Desert Ridge vineyards, which produce big reds. Other valley growers supply over 1/3 of the grapes needed to fill the winery’s 30 000 case capacity.CedarCreek currently produces:
Platinum Reserve: $350-$500 per case
Cabernet Sauvignon
Meritage
Merlot
Chardonnay Estate Select Series: $230-$350 per case
Meritage
Syrah
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
Pinot Blanc Classic Series:
Cabernet Merlot
Merlot
Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
Proprietor’s White
Proprietor’s Red
Pinot Blanc
Gewurztraminer
Ehrenfelser
Dry Riesling
“M” – Madeira style wine
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Notes on Tastings: Tastings at CedarCreek are geared towards the serious taster and serious buyer, with a $5.00 fee for four wines of the Platinum Reserve. Visitors may also try the winery’s “M”- the valley’s only Madeira style wine- for $2.00. Though the tasting bar is ample, don’t be surprised to encounter crowds- it was very busy when we visited early in the season. Last Word: CedarCreek is a big, serious winery that produces serious, quality wines.
Also by Carolyn Coles:Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards - Formerly LaCompte Estate Winery, Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards sit atop Hawthorne Mountain, and from a distance it almost looks as though the rows of plants could slide right off of it. This is one of the highest altitude wineries in Canada and is more of a destination winery as it requires a bit of a deviation from the beaten path. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery - Burrowing Owl Estate Winery had its first commercial wine release in 1997, however its vineyards were planted earlier in 1993. Since then, the winery has received widespread accolades for its wines, particularly its red vintages, resulting annually in sold-out inventory. Blasted Church (Okanagan Falls) - Blasted Church (the winery) sits atop a bluff overlooking Skaha Lake, providing it with a lovely vista. Visitors can enjoy the view from benches in the parking lot, or from the tasting room, which is located inside a little log house. Published by Carolyn Coles and Tim Martiniuk, founders of the Okanagan Wine Guide. http://www.okanaganwineguide.com/cedarcreek.html
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