Glistening like a jewel overlooking Penticton, Poplar Grove Winery provides a stunning architectural setting. Savour that vista along with the wines in the Tasting Room, open 10 am to 9 pm daily in the summer. The facility hosts hundreds of Wine Club members at its exclusive Annual BBQ – just one of the benefits of membership. For the second year, the Classe Speciale reception of the Prospera Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan will be staged there. On September 13 it hosts the Annual Naramata Bench Wineries Association Tailgate Party. Poplar Grove’s Barrel Hall, ideal for groups of about 20, can be booked for company meetings, teambuilding, birthdays, rehearsal dinners and small weddings. Says Tasting Room Manager Laura Veljacic, “With its large screen, some avid fans once booked it for a private play-off party for the NHL finals.”
Beauty runs more than skin deep at Poplar Grove. It is home to the contemporary cuisine of Chef Bruno Terroso at the award-winning Vanilla Pod Restaurant, which takes its last seating at 9 pm. Linger there longer as the city lights twinkle. In the Tasting Room, discover the depth of beauty in those luscious wines from new releases to proven award winners. Most recently in the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival, Poplar Grove received two Best of Varietal Awards: Best Pinot Gris for the 2013 and Best Cabernet dominant Meritage for the Legacy 2008. In the 2014 Pacific Rim Wine Competition, the Cabernet Franc 2011 was awarded Gold.
At the 2014 Canadian Oyster Wine Competition, the best Chardonnay went to Poplar Grove’s slightly-oaked 2012 vintage, which also received a Silver Medal at Chardonnay-du-Monde in France. It’s not just Poplar Grove stepping up to the podium, sister winery down the hill, Monster Vineyards is bringing home the hardware. To name just one of late, Monster Rosé 2013 was Best of Varietal at the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival. Visit Monster daily between 10 am to 6 pm.
~ Roslyne Buchanan