Perched on the hill, off Naramata Road in Penticton, BC, overlooking Okanagan Lake, Red Rooster Winery is a wine lover’s haven.
Founded in 1990 by a European couple who settled in the area and built the winery with salvaged wood from the original Naramata train dock, Red Rooster has been a staple in the southern Okanagan for over three decades. After releasing its first vintage in 1997, the winery has been receiving accolades ever since.
Whether you’re seated at a table on the patio, relaxing under a tree in the garden, or upstairs with refreshing air conditioning, you’ll have a spectacular view that almost rivals the wine.
Wine Tastings
Red Rooster Winery offers seated wine tastings seven days a week, from noon until 5 pm, with wine flights changing daily. Although the winery does its best to accommodate walk-ins, reservations are highly recommended to ensure there is a table available for you.
“We take a lot of pride in our wine tastings,” Burke Ganton, the assistant manager at Red Rooster Winery said. “Guests are more than welcome to simply sip their wine and take in the view, but for those wanting to learn, our staff love sharing their knowledge and helping people learn about our winery and our wine.”
There are three tastings you can choose from at Red Rooster: their Signature Tasting, their new Charcuterie Tasting, and their Black Glass Tasting.
The winery’s 45-minute guided Signature Tasting invites guests to taste four of Red Rooster’s Signature wines, all while taking in the picturesque view.
The Charcuterie Tasting for two is a new addition to the winery and has been a huge hit. In partnership with Joy Road Catering, Red Rooster has curated custom charcuterie boards teeming with local ingredients, that pair perfectly with your Red Rooster wine flight.
The Charcuterie Tasting isn’t the only new addition to Red Rooster’s tasting selection. The winery also added a blind tasting this year: the Black Glass Tasting. Those who opt for the blind tasting will be presented with four different wines, poured in completely blacked-out glasses. If you can correctly identify all four wines, you will win a free bottle of wine! What better prize could you want?
“Each tasting offers something completely different, while still presenting delicious wines for guests to try,” Ganton said. “With a group of friends, one can try the Signature Tasting, two can share the Charcuterie Tasting, and one can try the Black Glass Tasting. It really offers something for everyone.”
New Releases
While visiting the winery, guests can try some of Red Rooster’s new releases. The winery recently released their 2020 Viognier.
“2020 has been a remarkable year for Okanagan wine,” Ganton said. “Elaine, our winemaker, and our team are absolutely thrilled with how the Viognier turned out. It’s really good.”
Earlier this year, Red Rooster also released their 2020 Rosé, as well as their NV Brut (their first sparkling) and their Brut Rosé. The NV Brut is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, whereas the Rosé and Brut Rosé are both 100 per cent estate-grown Malbec.
Wine Club
To be the first to hear about Red Rooster’s new releases, you’ll want to join their wine club. You get to be the first to hear about and taste their new releases, and you and up to three guests will receive complimentary tastings at Red Rooster, Black Hills Estate Winery, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Gray Monk Estate Winery, and Sandhill Wines. Wine club members have exclusive access to the Wine Club Members Lounge and receive a 15 per cent discount on all Red Rooster wines, merchandise and accessories, as well as other amazing perks.
Visit Red Rooster online at redroosterwinery.com to learn more about the wine club.
New Look
Red Rooster visitors will also notice a few changes at the winery, including the fact that their once-sand-coloured exterior is now a crisp white. The refreshed exterior matches the winery’s new wine bottles and labels that are being rolled out this year.
Red Rooster Winery is open noon until 5 pm, seven days a week. For more information about Red Rooster Winery, please visit redroosterwinery.com or call 250-492-2424.