Summerhill Pyramid Winery views organically and biodynamically grown grapes as fundamental to its award-winning wines. Sourced from its Okanagan Valley estate vineyards, the fruit is handled with love and respect, making wines that are allowed to ferment naturally. The wines are finished in Summerhill’s pyramid cellar, which is “built with precision sacred geometry and aligned to the stars to create a structure of stillness and harmony.”
Biodynamic Practices Are About Relationship
Second-generation Summerhill CEO Ezra Cipes explains, “Many people think biodynamic winemaking is about astrology
and magic potions. It’s really about farmers and their relationship to the farm, life and
the universe.”
Each part is in harmony with the whole. According to the Biodynamic Association, “biodynamics is a holistic, ecological and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food and nutrition.” Scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner urged farmers in the 1920s “to integrate scientific understanding with a recognition of spirit in nature.”
Summerhill embraces that approach to ensure the wine reflects that trajectory. “As we strive to live in harmony and bring value to the universe, our wines are a product of the journey,” says Ezra. “Our wines are a tangible piece of the journey we can share.”
South Kelowna Slopes
On the South Kelowna Slopes, Summerhill’s estate-grown biodynamic grapes become wines of provenance. They demonstrate distinctive character, unveiling a “sense of place and integrity to the protocols in growing the grapes and transforming them into wine.” Winemaker Michael Alexander nurtures the process to extract the grapes’ true nature, reflecting how and where they were grown.
Estate Grown Biodynamic Expressions
The 2020 Estate Grown Biodynamic Chardonnay is complex, creamy and overall fruity, with luxurious notes of lemon, lime pith, red apple, ripe pear and a light oak toast. Bright acidity refreshes the palate and leads to a long, lingering finish.
Rich, complex and refreshing, the 2019 Estate Grown Biodynamic Grüner Veltliner offers texture with notes of starfruit, celeriac and cracked peppercorn. Rare within BC and primarily grown in Austria, these were planted in 2013 by Ari Cipes at the Summerhill Estate.
The 2020 Estate Grown Biodynamic Pinot Noir is full, rich, full-on pure Pinot Noir with incredible mouthfeel and texture.