Adega on 45th Estate Winery is the perfect combination of old world tradition and new world opportunity. The tasting room, housed in the façade of a terracotta, Mediterranean-style architecture, reflects the Portuguese heritage of the family who owns and operates it. The dramatic landscape surrounding it is distinctively Okanagan.
The family began its relationship with this land in the 1960s and it shows in the quality of the wine. Owners Alex Nunes and Fred Farinha were orchardists until 2005 when they began to grow grapes. They built the estate together, even paving the tiles on the tasting room floor and the patio. The other half of the team, wives Pamela and Maria, work the front of the house, running the tasting room and getting to know their clientele. This hands-on philosophy creates an intimacy that is often missing on larger estates. The day I visited, Alex was busy checking out a shipment of new French oak barrels.
The tasting room is comfortable with an inviting bar. Wine, local art, family photographs and memorabilia fill the shelves. I try the estate’s Portao (Port Style), made with Merlot grapes and spirits for fortification. It tastes of dark fruit, plum and blackcurrant — delicious. During the season, the winery has prepared picnic lunches which can be enjoyed out on the patio with a glass of wine. This is the ideal place to relax with family and enjoy the stunning views of Lake Osoyoos.
If you’re looking for an occasion to visit the estate, consider its upcoming annual Father’s Day event on Sunday, June 17. This celebration is a catered event. Past highlights include tasting stations, wine pairing and lots of music.
Beginning in March, Adega is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Visit soon — you won’t be disappointed. There’s an appreciation of the good things in life here: fine wine, delicious food and family, making it a place you’ll want to return to again and again. www.adegaon45.com