Okanagan Villa – A Dream Realized - Wine Trails – Canada Jennifer Schell,
Managing Editor BC Wine Trails Magazine - Canada
After living in some of the most beautiful cities and exploring the world, the Lewis’s were ready to fulfill their “eternal dream of retiring into wine country’. After considering Tuscany and Provence, Marion and Wyn Lewis unexpectedly found themselves in the Okanagan – and they fell in love with it.
Friends suggested that they take a detour en route to Victoria to visit Big White where they were instantly charmed. After purchasing a place there, they travelled down into the city below to check it out. What they found was exactly what they were looking for – the perfect place to build their dream – a winery, on the South Kelowna bench overlooking the City.
Okanagan Villa is definitely a family affair. The combined talents of this extraordinary family have converged into a stunning Tuscan-esque villa laden with newly planted grape vines and manicured gardens (all designed by Marion) - and it is truly magnificent. Happy as can be with their choice of cities, Marion lovingly refers to Kelowna as the Mediterranean of Canada – while Wyn even compares the light here and blue hued mountains-cape to that of Provence. He even says that he is sure that “the impressionists like Monet and Cezanne would have been just as happy to paint here”.
Under the tutelage of Hooman Haft Baradaran, the Lewis’ son Anthony, who is the winemaker in the family, is bubbling with excitement and anticipation after filling their brand new tanks for the first time at their onsite estate winery. Springtime will bring us the launch of their label of there new releases. They are growing five varietals on their estate Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
The label itself will be a true work of art (really) because their other son who is a famous artist is designing the label! Phil Lewis is a highly recognizable international art sensation and is certain to wow our wine world with his unique style. The bottle design will also be including the innovative brilliance of their third son, Peter who is creating a very interesting technical twist to the brand – (but details are a secret)!
Taking a page from Howard Soon’s, Artist Series – the Lewis’ are christening their brand as The Winemaker’s Art. Wyn beams with pride as he poetically describes the idea behind the name by assigning the roles of his creative family. IN the bottle: refers to the wine made by son Anthony, ON the bottle: the art of son Phil, WITH the bottle will be Peter’s technical wizardry and AROUND the bottle: describing the stunning landscapes and gardens created with love by Marion. Wine isn’t all the Lewis’s plan to do with their estate winery, they have been an exclusive private wedding venue and in future will be offering a gorgeous guesthouse as a B&B nestled amongst the vines, garden tours and maybe even cooking demonstrations in Marion’s state of the art kitchen!
Adding beauty, creativity as well as what I am sure to be a delicious new wine to our repertoire here, we are very excited that they have chosen our Valley to put down their talented roots.
Jennifer Schell-Pigott
Managing Editor/Director of Sales
BC Wine Trails Magazine
www.winetrails.ca
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