Poplar Grove Winery has just opened a brand new, 9500 square foot, state-of-the-art winery on top of Munson Mountain at the gateway to the Naramata Bench. The new winery space is home to a working winery, showcase barrel hall and an expansive tasting room.
Location: 425 Middle Bench Road North, Naramata Bench, Penticton, BC
Vineyards: 110 estate acres (60% Naramata Bench; 40% East Bank Osoyoos)
Owners: Tony Holler, Ian Sutherland and Barrie Sali
Winemakers: Ian Sutherland, Stefan Arnason and Nadine Allander
Viticulturist: Valeria Tait
Visitors can tour the barrel hall, sample Poplar Grove’s award- winning wines and enjoy a picnic on the viewing deck overlooking Penticton’s scenic waterfront. Artisanal cheeses, meats & breads are available. The restaurant and professional kitchen are part of the phase two opening and are expected to be ready early spring 2012.
The winery was designed to intertwine with the natural landscape and topography. Poplar trees, lavender, iris and Russian sage are being planted on the property in order to incorporate the local flora into the winery landscaping. Within the new estate vineyards, Poplar Grove planted foundation plants to harmonize with biodynamic principals, including hard fescue, red clover and bluegrass. The vineyard edges are lined with crested wheatgrass, wild mustard and annual rye. The decision to move towards a biodynamic estate vineyard stemmed from evidence that quality could be increased through the use of biodynamic principles that add an extra dimension to a natural farming process.
“Tony Holler said, “We are thrilled with our new winery! The whole team at Poplar Grove has been involved in every aspect of the design and function of this exciting project. Our goal has been to build an iconic winery on our new location on Munson Mountain. The new property looks over both the Okanagan and Skaha lakes; from the viewing deck we can see the waterfront from Penticton to Peachland. This building is the legacy to our journey to produce world class wines from our estate vineyards in the Okanagan Valley.”
Ian Sutherland recently stated, “The best part of my day is showing people around our new winery. I couldn’t be more pleased with how it has turned out. I love it when people drop in for a glass of Merlot.”
About Poplar Grove Winery
One of the original 5 wineries on the Naramata Bench, Poplar Grove began in 1993 as a boutique winery. Quite literally a “garagiste”, Ian Sutherland began making wines out of his garage. In 2007, Tony Holler became majority owner and president. Ian Sutherland and Barrie Sali complete the newly defined ownership team. Tony Holler & his wife Barb Holler brought with them 110 acres of prime vineyard throughout the Okanagan, which allows Poplar Grove to produce 100% estate grown top quality wines. Over the years, Polar Grove Winery has gained a far-reaching reputation for producing quality wines and winning numerous medals – three of which include the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence (2002 Cabernet Franc and 2007 Syrah) and a gold medal at the 2011 Decanter World Wine Awards (Syrah 2008).
About Biodynamic Farming
Biodynamic farming principals focus on a holistic approach to planet earth. The term “biodynamic” is derived from the Greek ‘bio’ meaning life and ‘dynamic’ meaning changing force. A biodynamic winery employs a natural approach to farming that involves attaining a healthy living soil and balanced vines that are in harmony with nature without upsetting the delicate balance of nature. A biodynamic winery uses only natural pest repellents and no synthetic herbicides.
