Jenna Hickman
Located just off Highway 97 in Oliver, Kismet Estate Winery is a gateway to India, right here in the Okanagan.
This winery is owned by the Dhaliwal family, who immigrated to Canada from India in the 1990s.
“We wanted to infuse our culture into everything we do at Kismet,” said operations manager Neelam Dhaliwal. “Telling our story by including our culture feels like the best way to really create our identity.”
All of Kismet’s wines have Indian names that resonate with the characteristics of the wine, such as Karma, Mantra and Moksha (and Kismet itself means “destiny”). Their estate restaurant, the Masala Bistro, uses these award-winning wines to create complementary, flavourful dishes, such as pani puri chaat (a popular Indian street food), barbequed meats, and freshly sourced Arctic char paired with tandoori spices, just to name a few.
In August, Kismet was nationally recognized for their outstanding wine at the All Canadian Wine Championships. The Oliver-based winery took home 10 awards, including a double gold for both their 2019 Pinot Grigio and their 2018 Syrah.
Although Dhaliwal says receiving awards is always humbling, Kismet’s focus goes beyond producing world-class wine.
“It’s not just about producing great wine, it’s about giving our guests an experience to remember,” she says. “We’re never going to be the biggest winery, but we can be the most unique.”
Stay Next to a Vineyard
Building on that unique experience, Kismet is looking to re-open their guest house in the fall. Located across from their wine shop and right next to the vineyard, the recently renovated character home is an ideal getaway for families or couples. The home has two large bedrooms on the main floor, and two more large bedrooms, plus a multipurpose room, upstairs. It can accommodate up to 10 people.
Staying at Kismet, nestled in the vineyards, is representative of what the Okanagan Valley has to offer. Keep an eye on the Kismet Estate Winery website for up-to-date details.
Have a Kismet Wedding
If you’re looking to book a private event, or, due to the pandemic, you’ve had to scale back your wedding, Kismet has the venue for you. Nestled in their private vineyard, with a view of a secluded lake, this idyllic location is truly one of a kind.
With only one wedding per week, guests have the complete focus of the staff, who make sure every detail is taken care of. Bookings are available from summer to fall, except for long weekends.
Reservations Recommended
Whether you simply want to taste award-winning wine, or sit down for a delicious meal, Kismet Estate Winery should be your next stop in the South Okanagan. Kismet is open daily from 10 am until 6 pm and is open for walk-ins only. The Masala Bistro is open from noon until 7 pm daily, except for the last Tuesday of each month. Restaurant reservations are highly recommended.