Harvest 2024 at Kettle Valley Winery
In 2024 we are celebrating our 33rd Vintage.
In January 2024 a prolonged cold front settled down on the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, with temperature of -23C and below. These cold temperatures lasted for over 50 hours without any warming. Across the Valley we saw significant bud damage, killing the fruiting buds in most vines. We experienced 100% bud death in the Pinot Gris, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Sirah and Malbec blocks. The vineyards experienced significant trunk vine damage and we will be re-establishing new trunks for many of the vines that survived and replanting those vines that died. This will result in lower tonnages at harvest for the next year or two. Our Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer fared better, and we will see a harvest this year, albeit a smaller than normal harvest on the vines.
This is our third cold Fall and Winter in a row, and it has resulted in significant damage!
A normal or warmer than normal winter will be critical to allow the vines to recover and renew themselves and let use replant and replace vine trunks where possible. There will be a number of wines that you will not see a 2023 or 2024 vintage from us, but don’t you worry as we still have lots of the prior vintages for your to enjoy.
As we start our 33rd year, as the oldest single-owner winery on the Naramata Bench, we still remain dedicated to making and sharing great wines from BC grapes. Our family’s commitment is as strong as ever to farming full flavoured grapes and to winemaking that brings out the best of those flavours and subtleties.
Whether you’ve known us for all these years or are just coming on-board, thanks for your support and raise a glass to fine fruit, family and friends.
– Bob Ferguson, Co-Founder and Wine Maker
– Tim Watts, Co-Founder and Wine Maker
Our tasting room will be closed for the season as of Monday, October 14. Our Wine Shop will be open for purchases and wine order pickups Monday to Friday 9:30am – 5pm throughout the winter/spring. We will be closed on all statutory holidays.
If you have any questions please call 250-496-5898 or email info@kettlevalleywinery.com.
Please call 250-496-5898 to book an appointment.
- There is a $10 tasting appointment fee per person, payable at the time of booking. The fee will be refunded with the purchase of one or more bottles of wine per person. Please note, we have a 24 hour cancellation policy.
- Maximum 30 minute tastings. Please arrive on time for your appointment or call ahead if you are going to be late. Late arrival will reduce your booking time. We will try to accommodate late arrivals but after 15 minutes we may fill your spot with waiting guests and you may be asked to move to a later time slot if one is available.
- Maximum group size of 6 people (please note, children and non-tasters do count as part of the group if they are in the tasting room).
- Please do not visit if you are sick or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 or if you have travelled outside of Canada within the past 14 days or if you have been in contact with anyone with a confirmed case of Covid-19 within the last 14 days.
To view our Communicable Disease Prevention Plan visit here.
Our Location
With abundant sunshine, cooling lake breezes, and an optimal temperature range, the Naramata Bench is one of the premier grape growing regions in Canada. The rolling hills and variable soils of the area create a range of microclimates and terroirs that an experienced grape grower can match to a wide variety of grape crops.
It was because of these many qualities that we decided the Naramata Bench was where we were going to plant our vines, locate our winery, and raise our families. We were one of the early adopters of the Naramata Bench and were issued the third winery license for the area back in 1992.
Working with the terroir of the area we have produced a wide range of Kettle Valley wines including red blends such as “Old Main Red,” and single varietals including Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. Whites have also done well in the Naramata terroir; our original Chardonnay has been joined by Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
In 2009 we expanded our vineyards with the purchase of a 14 acre vineyard property in the Similkameen Valley that was entering it’s second leaf. We replanted most of the vineyard which allowed us to plant Zinfandel in the rocky soils that comprise the growing medium for the vineyard.
Visit our home based tasting room on your wine tour of the Naramata Bench. We look forward to seeing you.
Our Name and Our Wine
The inspiration for our name is the famed Kettle Valley Railway which ran through Naramata between 1915 and 1961 connecting the Southern Interior of British Columbia to the markets of the Pacific Northwest.
Passion and a dedication to excellence were requirements for building the railway, and we at Kettle Valley feel that same passion and dedication for our Red Wines which are known for their dark, intense, and well structured natures; and our White Wines that are flavourful and aromatic with a rich mouth feel.
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Our Featured Wines
2018 Adra Station Chardonnay Reserve
The grapes were handpicked on October 13, 2018 at approximately 25.4 brix. The grapes were crushed and left on the skins to cold soak for two days prior to being pressed off, clarified and inoculated with yeast…
2023 Pinot Gris
The grapes for this wine were handpicked between September 7 and September 29, 2023 at approximately 25.8 brix. The grapes were crushed and left on the skins to cold soak for up to three days prior to being pressed off…
2018 Great Northern Vineyard Zinfandel
The grapes were handpicked on November 2 and November 3, 2018 at approximately 23.0 brix. The wine has gone through a full malolactic fermentation and was aged in French oak for 19 months before being…
2019 McGraw Estate Merlot
The grapes were hand picked on October 28, 2019 at approximately 24.7 brix. The wine has gone through a full malolactic fermentation and was aged in French oak for 21 months before bottling in 2021…