If you are looking for the down-to-earth winery experience, a perfect place to visit is Kalala Organic Estate Winery. Perched atop Powers Creek Canyon in West Kelowna with a spectacular view of Lake Okanagan, Kalala anchors the southwest end of the Westside Wine Trail. This typical “garage winery” offers tastings year round in an environment that lets you truly connect with the winemaking process.
Karnail Singh Sidhu and his team grow a selection of varietals suited to their rocky south-facing vineyard, among them Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Zweigelt. Handpicking and minimal handling in the winemaking process allows them to express the fresh, fruit forward characteristics of the grapes in the glass. Their portfolio includes a wide selection of wines at value prices: fresh whites, aromatic reds, a Rosé perfect for patio sipping, and succulent dessert wines, too. Having Certified Organic vineyards, the Kalala team works in pursuit of harmony from vine to bottle. The wines express the terroir and the staff expresses the down-to-earth hospitality that comes from being connected to their product.
From April through October, Kalala is open for tastings daily. The wines are widely available at VQA stores and liquor stores, but a visit to the winery itself will show you why they chose the name, meaning “miracle place”, where you can enjoy the harmony of a good wine with like-minded souls. If you are interested in winery events, follow them on Facebook.
~ Kristin Peturson-Laprise