Any visit to Gray Monk Estate Winery in Lake Country is cause for celebration, but this year it is extra special. The Heiss family is celebrating what they’ve called their 35-45-55 anniversary.
It has been 55 years since proprietors George Sr. and Trudy Heiss tied the knot, and their relationship has been a match made in heaven in more ways than one! They’re also celebrating 45 years of grape growing and 35 years of crafting some of BC’s finest wines.
The Heiss family are not only pioneers in the BC estate winery world, but they’ve succeeded in working virtually every aspect of their development as a family unit, as George and Trudy work alongside their three sons. Robert is the operations manager; George Jr. is the winemaker and Steven is the director of sales and distribution.
The Heiss family has been instrumental in shaping the Okanagan wine industry with the introduction of high quality vines. Most notably, the family is credited with bringing the first Pinot Gris vines into Canada from Alsace in 1976. Today, it is the most prolific white varietal in the Okanagan.
They’re planning a marvellous 35-45-55 Celebration on September 29th, when they present Roll Out the Barrels. Billed as an extravagant wine paired dinner with George and Trudy Heiss, rest assured that the wine will be amazing, the food delectable, the view dazzling and the evening a night to remember! Tickets are available at Gray Monk and as they are limited, be sure to get yours early.
At Gray Monk, prestigious awards just keep coming. Most recently, they received a coveted platinum award at the Northwest Wine Summit 2016 for the 2014 Odyssey White Brut .
Late spring and early summer are special times with new releases becoming available on a regular basis. Trudy recommends the 2016 Chardonnay and the 2016 Ehrenfelser, to be released by mid-May
As their legion of dedicated customers will tell you, all of your senses will be awakened with a trip to Gray Monk. 2016 is your year to celebrate with Gray Monk and you’re invited to the ‘Home of Pinot Gris.’
Gray Monk is open daily through the end of June from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. In summer they open from 9 am to 9 pm daily. Tours run hourly from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
2014 Odyssey White Brut $21.99
A blend of Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay Musqué and Orange Muscat. The nose displays brioche, Hawaiian bread and apples that carry over to the palate. There, it shows restrained acidity, pretty stone fruit, nice minerality, small persistent bubbles and a long finish with lemon meringue pie and white peach.
~ Deanna Rainey