If your ideal summer involves chilled rosé, mountain views, vibrant celebrations, and long dinners that stretch into live music under the stars, consider this your sign to plan a road trip to Oliver.
At Kismet Estate Winery, summer isn’t just a season—it’s an experience.
The family-owned South Okanagan estate is entering its busiest, and arguably most beautiful, time of year. The vineyards are flourishing, new vintages are flowing, Manzil Restaurant is serving up bold Indian flavours, and the calendar is packed with everything from sunset concerts to one of the Okanagan’s most joyful celebrations: Holi Festival of Colour.
“This is the time of year when people can really feel what Kismet has become,” says Head Winemaker Manpreet Dhaliwal. “The new wines are being poured, the vineyard is moving through an important stage, and Manzil is bringing people together over food, wine, music, and celebration. It feels like the whole estate is alive.”
That sense of vitality runs deep.
Long before the Dhaliwal family launched Kismet Estate Winery, they were quietly shaping the South Okanagan wine industry from behind the scenes, farming grapes for some of the region’s most celebrated labels. Today, they steward more than 600 acres of vineyards, selecting only the top 10 per cent of estate-grown fruit for Kismet’s 100 per cent BC VQA wines.
This summer’s lineup includes the newly released 2025 Pinot Grigio and a trio of rosés to suit every mood. Infinity is crisp and Provence-inspired, Phulkari leans floral and elegant, while Kamal delivers juicy aromatics practically made for patio season.
Then there’s Virsa.
Meaning “heritage” or “legacy” in Punjabi, the new ultra-limited annual release is crafted from the top one per cent of each vintage. The inaugural bottling—just 58 cases—is reserved exclusively for wine club members.
“Virsa is small for a reason,” says Dhaliwal. “It gives us a way to set aside something that feels especially meaningful from the vintage. It speaks to heritage, but also to choice, what stood out, what deserved more time, and what we wanted to carry forward.”
As Canada’s first and only South Asian female head winemaker—and a BCBusiness 30 Under 30 honouree—Dhaliwal continues to bring a thoughtful perspective to every aspect of the winery experience.
That experience extends beyond the tasting room.
On July 25, Kismet’s annual Holi Festival of Colour returns, transforming the estate into a kaleidoscope of powdered pigments, music, food, dancing, and community spirit. Rooted in Indian tradition, Holi celebrates renewal, joy, and connection through playful bursts of colour that erase boundaries and invite everyone into the celebration.
Live music nights continue throughout the season, offering yet another reason to linger a little longer among the vines.
And then there’s Manzil.
Meaning “home” in Sanskrit, the winery’s on-site restaurant has become a destination in its own right. This summer, the kitchen has launched a new happy hour menu featuring shareable plates including Dahi Puri, Samosa Chaat, Jackfruit and Cauliflower Pakora, Fish Pakora, Masala Calamari, and perhaps the most Canadian-meets-Indian creation imaginable: Butter Chicken Poutine.
The cocktails are equally inventive. Think Chai Espresso Martinis, Spiced Tamarind Old Fashioneds, and Chaat and Chutney Caesars designed to pair seamlessly with Kismet’s wines and the restaurant’s vibrant regional Indian cuisine.
Meanwhile, out in the vineyards, optimism is in the air.
Following several challenging years for B.C.’s wine industry, favourable spring conditions have delivered healthy vine growth and a promising flowering season.
“After several challenging years for the B.C. wine industry, it is encouraging to see the vineyards looking vibrant and full of promise,” says Kismet co-founder and viticulturist Balwinder Dhaliwal.
Wine country has never been solely about what’s in the glass. It’s about gathering around a table, celebrating heritage, discovering new flavours, and creating memories in beautiful places.
At Kismet Estate Winery, all of those things happen at once. And this summer, that’s exactly where we want to be. —Noa Nichol
Win! A Kismet Estate Winery Summer Prize Pack!
One lucky Canadian winner will receive from Kismet Estate Winery: a $50 gift card, two tickets to Holi Fest ($50 value), and a vineyard winery tour for two ($70 value)! Travel to and accommodations not included. To enter, follow @kismetwines and @vitadailymedia on Instagram and follow the entry rules on our corresponding post. Contest opens June 24, 2026 and closes July 1, 2026. Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding. Full contest rules/regulations here.
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