International Rosé Day, the fourth Friday of June, saw me head down to River Stone Estate Winery in Oliver. It is a lovely drive from Kelowna down the western side of Okanagan Lake to Penticton and then up above Skaha Lake to Okanagan Falls and beyond to Oliver. There is a certain magic in the southern Okanagan and the beautiful sunny day only added to the ambiance.
River Stone was closed to the public for this special event titled, Rosés and Summer Days. When I arrived, a little after the posted start time, the street parking was almost full. Clearly, a lot of people were eager to attend this event.
After a short walk up the driveway, bordered on each side with leafy vines, the welcoming tent was set up. Noelle Starzynski, General Manager, (favourite wine, Malbec) Kirsten Thorne, Marketing and Events Coordinator (Pinot Gris), and Sylvia Lowe, Tasting Room Associate (Stones Throw) were there to check guests in. Included in the price of admission was a River Stone Riedel wine glass, funky pink sunglasses, and four tickets for the wines that were being served in the River Rock vineyard interspersed with local artisans and vendors.
We were greeted at the first station with a taste of the 2023 Sparkling White Merlot. It was full of flavour with lots of ripe berries. “This wine is currently showing aromas and flavours reminiscent of cherry, strawberry, raspberries, and rose petals. Fine carbonation bubbles evoke a lively, soft, pleasing mouthfeel with a clean lasting finish.”
I got to meet Austin Hodinsky, Assistant Winemaker, who joined River Stone four years ago. He filled me in on some of the challenges they have faced these two past winters and what plans they have for the future. I can report that things look very positive. His favourite wine? Still Rosé.
He mentioned that they have planted one acre of new vines, two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and one-third Petit Verdot. They have also planted some Malbec. And there might be some Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc in the future. Cover crop is very important for water retention given the slopes in the vineyard. River Stone uses both drip and overhead irrigation.
The first vendor I met was Leanne Richardson, Owner and Baker at West Kelowna’s CHOMP Cookie Company. They offer delivery and pick-up. She had four samples of her wares, Cookies and Cream, Nanaimo Bar, The Overall, and Mighty Maple. All of them looked delicious.
I saw Ted Kane walking with his dog and got the chance for a quick catch-up. River Stone typically produces about 4 000 to 5 000 cases of wine per year and the good news is that they still have a good inventory of their 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 vintages of their red wines on hand.
Little Valley Tallow offers an array of skin care products including body balms, face balms, lip balms, and more. Owner Cassandra Mandaric was on hand with help from her mother to explain all about her product line.
At the second wine station, Trish was pouring the 2023 Cabernet Franc Rosé. Yummy and flavourful.
“This wine is currently showing bold aromas and flavours reminiscent of strawberry, raspberries, and rose petals and has a luscious, dry finish.”
Lovely piano music wafted up through the vineyard and when I heard “Linus and Lucy”, stopped for a few minutes just to enjoy it. Live music was provided by Bernie Stuckey.
Here I met Allison Perran, Tasting Room Supervisor (Sauvignon Blanc, and Corner Stone) who was wandering through the vineyard making sure everything was running smoothly.
Tradition Praline located in West Kelowna, offered free samples of four of their specialty almonds. Maple Siracha (sounds intriguing doesn’t it?), Raspberry Balsamic, and Pecan Baileys in addition to Romance Praline, Wild and Sweet Praline, La Rose Praline and many others. These are LOVELY to serve to guests on their own or on a charcuterie board.
Seams Sew Creative based near the winery makes a wide range of machine-embroidered gifts. Owner Avis Cooper has decades of experience, with a passion that began in high school.
Chalk Couture, owner Shauna Burbidge makes a range of designed silkscreened tea towels, shirts, signs and other products.
Station #3 brought a welcomed taste of the 2023 Corner Stone Rosé. Corner Stone is one of River Stone’s most popular red wines. This rosé version is full-bodied with great texture and lovely balance. “This wine is currently showing bold aromas reminiscent of a bowl of lighter berries and has a luscious, juicy finish. Perfect for the patio and enjoyed with good company. Serve slightly chilled.”
Encaustic Art is an intriguing name. As eclectic owner Jan Kreut explained, she has a passion for art utilizing beeswax and mixed media. She is involved in teaching classes and you can find her at many of the art shows and markets throughout the southern Okanagan.
Hammock Hounds Pet Products. Located in Okanagan Falls, Megan Traicheff is the owner and chief Baker of this company which specializes in natural dog, cat, and bird treats without the use of corn or soy products. Dog ice cream mix? Wow! Made without dairy, I overheard a visitor comment how much she loved this product.
Aly Shore’s Shore Farm offers a range of small-batch hand-crafted teas, BBQ rubs and single spices as well as seasonal veggies, herbs, eggs, and sewing creations. One-stop shopping!
My apologies to the other vendors that I didn’t get to as they had crowds surrounding their displays (good for them).
In the tasting room alongside their 20+ offerings, you will find a collection of cute mini bottles (200ml) that make great gifts and stocking stuffers.
Food trucks Hixzee’s Gourmet Street Food and Tak-Oh provided hungry guests with an array of food options.
Always an important member of the local community, River Stone donated a portion of their ticket sales to Desert Sun Counselling.
River Stone is open daily from 11 – 5. You will find them at 143 Buchanan Drive just off Tucelnuit Drive in Oliver, BC.
Be sure to make River Stone one of your stops when touring Okanagan wine country this summer.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
Vendor contact information:
CHOMP
Leanne@nullchompcookies.ca
Chompcookies.ca
Little Valley Tallow Skincare Company
littlevalleytallow@nullgmail.com
@littlevalleytallow
778-594-1827
Tradition Praline
Bernard Marchetti, Founder and Owner
contact@nulltraditionpraline.com
www.traditionpraline.com
778-869-2703
Seams Sew Creative
cooperal@nulltelus.net
250-498-2991
Chalk Couture
ChalktheValley@nullgmail.com
www.chalkcouture.com/ChalktheValley
250-485-8465
Encaustic Art
Kreutopia Arts
Kreutopia@nullgmail.com
www.kreutopia.com
250-276-4492
Hammock Hounds Pet Products
hammockhounds@nullgmail.com
250-896-6177
Shore Farm
Shorefarm2020@nullgmail.com
www.shorefarmproducts.com
250-499-9526
