Roslyne Buchanan
Summerhill Pyramid Winery family and staff are visionary and generous in sharing their successes and aspirations. “Be a conduit and allow your vision, your dream to come through––and fortify it every day,” urged Summerhill founder Stephen Cipes.
As the uncharted waters of the COVID-19 pandemic mandate new approaches to our lifestyle, it is comforting to take stock of our blessings. A family and business of many firsts, Summerhill provides a model of reflection and forward thinking.
Summerhill pioneered organic wine growing in the Okanagan and began the process of organic certification in the 1980s. In 2012, it was certified as biodynamic. Uncompromising in approach, Summerhill has achieved an abundance of international and local awards.
In 2019, after a two-year rigorous accreditation process, Summerhill became a Certified B Corporation®, providing the same kind of transparency for its business practices as their organic certification does for their vineyards and wine.
It was the first winery in Canada to achieve B Corp™ Certification and one of just 26 wineries worldwide to do so. At that milestone, CEO Ezra Cipes said, “We’re thrilled Summerhill is accredited as a Certified B Corporation®. It adds transparency for the way we run our business. Our organic certification provides transparency for the way we farm and make our wine. Our overall impact on our Earth and community is examined, from the way we hire and treat our team to every aspect of our supply chain. The B Corp™ Certification confirms we prioritize people and planet alongside profit, and use business as a force for good.”
It’s no surprise the team embarked on a process to define Summerhill’s vision to inform their processes and decisions. Summerhill declared that it “seeks to share universal truth, love and gratitude” and prepared a statement of intentions outlining a set of seven guiding principles.
You immediately get a sense of Summerhill’s welcome, wonder and appreciation when you visit. Its mantra resonates: “We are all connected and it is our sincerest hope that we can enhance your life through extraordinary organic pyramid-cellared wines, organic local cuisine, and all of our interactions together.”
Summerhill’s Seven Principles
Gratitude: “A joyful life begins with gratitude. Each of us, our source of life, is connected to one another, to our precious planet and to the entire universe.”
People: “Each of us is a unique, noble, creative individual inherently worthy of love. We all spring from the same source of life, and in our essence, we are all one. We value and honour each individual.”
Planet: “Planet Earth is our home. We are a part of nature and strive to live in harmony with nature. Environmental stewardship is our founding principle. We honour all life.”
Passion: “When we allow our deepest passions to be guided by our conscience, the care for the task and goals at hand results in a higher level of quality and extraordinary outcomes. Our passion is to bring forth the finest wines in the world with pure nature as our partner.”
Abundance: “When we follow our passion and pro-actively nourish the well-being of our health, spirit, relationships and planet, abundance goes hand in hand. Abundance is our natural inheritance.”
Pioneership: “We are pioneers within our industry and community, both locally and globally. We push the boundaries of what has and can be done in business and in life by acting according to our values and creating the world in which we wish to live.”
Love: “Love underlies and unifies all of the foregoing elements of our vision. It is a way of relating to the world. Love is a commitment to caring for our wines, for our people and for the planet. Love is in everything that we touch and it is felt.”
Reap the Abundance In Your Visit
From the iconic white pyramid that beckons from afar, to the World Peace Park at the entry, to the organic vineyards and gardens, experience Summerhill’s bounty. Check summerhill.bc.ca for updates, details, hours and news.
Open seven days per week year-round, wine tastings are from 10 am to 6 pm. The $10-per-person fee is waived with purchase. Children can enjoy organic house-pressed fruit juices during your tasting.
Dining is delicious and refined to match the internationally acclaimed organic wine produced at Summerhill.