SpearHead Winery

The Vibe

Named after Spierhead Road at the top of which it sits, Spearhead began life as an apple orchard before winemaker Grant Stanley arrived and quickly redirected its destiny toward Pinot Noir. The result is a boutique estate that punches so far above its weight class that it has now claimed Canada's top winery honour — and yet somehow managed to stay genuinely approachable and unpretentious in the process. Guests consistently single out the bright, warm energy of the tasting room — no cold stone floors, no hushed reverence, no marble counters — just a charming, light-filled space with staff who clearly love what they're pouring. The drive through East Kelowna's orchard-lined back roads to reach the winery is half the experience, and the vineyard patio that greets you at the top is a very good reason to linger.

The Experience

Tastings at Spearhead are seated, educational, and guided by knowledgeable hosts who bring genuine enthusiasm to every pour. The $10 per person tasting fee is among the most accessible on the East Kelowna route, and the relaxed patio and lawn area make it one of the most pleasant spots in the valley to slow down, breathe in the vineyard air, and open a bottle after your tasting. Groups who bring a picnic to enjoy alongside their tasting consistently rate it as one of the highlights of a day in East Kelowna wine country. The wine club is an active and engaged community, with flexible membership tiers offering priority access to new releases and library vintages that rarely make it to the general public — particularly valuable given how quickly Spearhead's most celebrated bottles tend to sell out.

The Wine

Grant Stanley's winemaking philosophy is rooted in the meticulous attention to vineyard detail he developed during his training in New Zealand and refined during his time at Quails' Gate. On the estate, six distinct Pinot Noir clones are planted and harvested separately — cold-soaked, fermented with indigenous yeasts, aged in French oak for thirteen months, and then blended with painstaking care into both the approachable Pinot Noir and the more complex, structured Cuvée. The Chardonnay, sourced from the Gentleman Farmer Vineyard, has proven to be an age-worthy gem — with older vintages revealing extraordinary depth and complexity that challenges even the most sceptical wine lover's assumptions about BC whites. The Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Gris is the aromatic wild card of the lineup — fresh, lush, and consistently one of the most talked-about white wines on the East Kelowna route.

Good to Know

• Best for: Wine enthusiasts, collectors, Pinot Noir lovers, couples seeking a refined yet relaxed experience

• Don't miss: The Pinot Noir Cuvée — Canada's Winery of the Year flagship bottle and frequently the first to sell out each vintage

• Signature wines: Pinot Noir Cuvée, Pinot Noir, Gentleman Farmer Chardonnay, Golden Retreat Pinot Gris

• Tasting fee: $10 per person for seated educational tasting

• Reservations: Recommended but not required — book ahead for summer weekends and groups

• Pro tip: Bring a picnic — the vineyard patio is one of the finest spots for a leisurely outdoor lunch on the entire East Kelowna route