Guests to the popular Oliver winery were thrilled with the gorgeous renovations of their tasting room last year. It’s ample design and U-shaped bar made it easy to welcome the waves of wine lovers that flow into their wine shop annually. This season, the Toor family decided to embark on exterior improvements by increasing and paving the parking area.
The new, easy-access driveway and parking lot can accommodate up to 25 vehicles and features a turnaround for buses and larger vehicles. The arid terroir that make for Desert Hills’ optimum grape growing conditions didn’t help the dust from their gravel driveway, so they’ve paved the whole thing. “To save the interior, we had to work on the exterior!” laughs proprietor Randy Toor.
These improvements were an essential step to their next big development: the opening of Desert Hills’ first-ever food operation. Throughout the summer and fall, guests will be able to enjoy fine Indian cuisine from their on-site food truck: The Feisty Cactus Bistro.
Every April, the winery sends out the first shipments to their wine club members. “It takes about three weeks to fulfill all those orders,” explains Randy. The popularity of Desert Hills’ wine club lies in the ease, selection, first dibs on new releases and exclusive access to events and small lot vintages, like the newest addition of Petit Verdot.
This June, Desert Hills’ annual release party for wine club members features Syrah 2010, Mirage 2010 and Petit Verdot 2012. Randy is particularly proud of the latter, saying, “It blew me away.”
If you aren’t a Desert Hills wine club member yet, no worries. Interested parties can sign-up anytime. To become a member and attend the June festivities, visit www.deserthills.ca.
~ Sarah Willard