Grooving at Poplar Grove

Want to get back to the Okanagan’s wine roots? Make a stop at Poplar Grove, one of the original wineries on the Naramata bench.

Here, on their sprawling estate, Tony and Barbara Holler and their four sons practice a philosophy of patience to nurture the potential of their Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah vines to create award-winning wines. Their commitment to patience is exemplified by the winery’s French barrel aging and bottle cellaring program which results in perfectly aged wines enjoyable upon release. These wines have the potential to develop further in the cellar for at least 10 years, and many become favourites of Wine Club enthusiasts.

Along with the renowned Legacy red, which blends carefully selected estate fruit and is aged for four to five years before it is released, the winery is also known for its Wine Club where members receive exclusive access to an extended portfolio of wines in addition to Poplar’s six core vintages. The estate also boasts the fine dining Vanilla Pod Restaurant, which features local, seasonal ingredients and has recently undergone a complete renovation and expansion. It’s open year-round but we highly suggest stopping by this summer to sample their new menu. —Vitamin Daily

Poplar Grove Winery, 425 Middle Bench Rd N, Penticton. 250-493-9463. www.poplargrove.ca

Grape Minds is a multi-part summer travel series exploring British Columbia’s incredible array of wineries. Tune in next week when we get half-corked at the Half Corked Marathon in Osoyoos.