May is an exciting time at Serendipity Winery as owner Judy Kingston looks forward to another year of growth and change. Truth be told, she also awaits the return of ‘second in command’, Katie O’Kell, her daughter. Katie, with her winemaking degree now complete, is getting valuable experience at a New Zealand winery and will return home later in the month.
Meanwhile, construction is getting underway. A small building beside the winery will house washrooms for visitors. The winery building itself is being renovated to create a new wine shop featuring large windows to highlight the vineyard views on the beautiful Naramata Bench. The entrance to the property is being redone—“to make it more visible and elegant”, Judy says, and the parking lot will also get some attention.
With 2015 white wines now available, visitors will get a firsthand appreciation for the way Judy’s vision translates through her vineyard and into the bottle. She works closely with Katie and winemaker Bradley Cooper to ensure Serendipity wines are of high quality and food friendly. A note to the wise—small wine batches in particular tend to sell out quickly, so joining the Wine Club on line is the best way to avoid disappointment.
Serendipity has been winning awards since its first wines were released, and the accolades continue to roll in. 2011 Merlot and 2014 vintages of Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc all won medals at the 2016 Savor NW Wine Awards and the Globe & Mail’s Beppi Crosariol gave the 2012 Pinot Noir 90 points earlier this year. Drop in between 9 and 6 daily to see what all the fuss is about!
~ Lorne Eckersley