Evolve Sparkling House
The Okanagan's first dedicated sparkling wine house — opened July 2025 at the gateway to the Naramata Bench, named Canada's Top Sparkling Producer at the 2025 All Canadian Wine Championships, with jaw-dropping 180° Okanagan Lake views, three distinct tasting experiences, and winemaker Lynzee Schatz producing world-class traditional method bubbles that rival the finest Champagnes.
Highlights
The Okanagan's first and only dedicated sparkling wine house — opened July 23, 2025 at the gateway to the Naramata Bench
Named Canada's Top Sparkling Producer at the 2025 All Canadian Wine Championships — 2018 Brut Nature awarded Canada's Best Sparkling Wine of the Year
2020 Brut Première — Silver Medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, standing alongside Champagnes and the world's finest sparkling wines
Three distinct tasting experiences — Splash + Dash ($15), Flight Mode ($30), and Bubbles + Bites ($55)
Winemaker Lynzee Schatz — 20+ years sparkling wine expertise, formerly at Chandon in Australia's Yarra Valley
Stunning two-storey facility with floor-to-ceiling windows, peachy-pink décor, and three levels of patio with 180° Okanagan Lake views
Light bites menu — oysters, salmon, local cheese, and charcuterie elevating the sparkling experience beautifully
Instagram-worthy interior — directional signs pointing to sparkling wine regions worldwide, "Because life is too short not to sparkle" installation, and the iconic "Canada's Best Sparkling Wine 2025" signage
Direct access from the Kettle Valley Rail Trail — bike-friendly steps and rail planned for 2026
Family-friendly games lawn opening spring 2026 — upper and lower lawn with outdoor games
Part of the TIME Family of Wines — co-founded by Ron and Shelley Mayert with deep BC farming roots
Open Wed–Sun 12–6pm — walk-ins welcome, reservations recommended
The Vibe
Evolve Sparkling House arrived on the Naramata Bench in July 2025 and immediately became the most talked-about new winery opening in the Okanagan. Perched at 245 Lower Bench Road — one of the first addresses you hit driving north from Penticton — the two-storey tasting room delivers a jaw-dropping 180° panorama from downtown Penticton and the Penticton Yacht Club sweeping north across the shimmering expanse of Okanagan Lake. The aesthetic is intentionally joyful and glamorous — peachy-pink umbrellas, retractable canopies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and more Instagram-worthy corners than any other stop on the Bench. Co-founders Ron and Shelley Mayert brought deep BC roots to this project — Ron raised in Summerland, Shelley on a Fraser Valley farm — and their philosophy of giving back to the communities that shaped them is woven into every interaction. This is a place built to make people happy, and it succeeds extravagantly.
The Experience
Evolve offers three beautifully structured tasting experiences that cater to every pace and appetite. The Splash + Dash is a quick 30-minute introduction — three pours at the indoor or outdoor bar — perfect as a first stop before heading further up the Bench. Flight Mode offers a seated 60-minute experience of either four sparkling wines or a mixed flight of two sparkling and two still wines, paired beautifully with the patio views and afternoon light. Bubbles + Bites is the signature experience — five wines paired with elevated light bites including oysters, salmon, and locally curated cheese and charcuterie — a 60-minute immersion that most guests describe as the finest single winery experience on the entire Bench. The light bites program reflects a deliberate choice to elevate the sparkling wine pairing conversation beyond the expected, with staff who guide guests through food and wine interactions with genuine passion and knowledge. With the KVR Trail running directly past the property and bike-friendly access planned for spring 2026, Evolve is shaping up to be the most versatile arrival point on the Naramata Bench.
The Wine
Winemaker Lynzee Schatz spent more than two decades perfecting sparkling wine, including five years at Chandon in Australia's Yarra Valley, before returning to BC to lead what is now the most decorated sparkling program in the country. The portfolio launches with eight wines — five sparkling and three still — anchored by traditional method Champagne-style releases that earned international recognition before the tasting room even opened its doors. The 2018 Brut Nature, a zero-dosage traditional method expression of extraordinary precision and mineral freshness, took Canada's Best Sparkling Wine of the Year at the 2025 All Canadian Wine Championships. The 2018 Brut Rosé took Gold at the same competition. The 2020 Brut Première earned Silver at London's International Wine & Spirits Competition, standing alongside Champagnes and some of the world's finest sparkling wines. The accessible Pink and White Effervescence Prosecco-style bubbles round out the approachable end of the lineup, while two acres of estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier now growing on the Bench property promise an exciting estate sparkling program in the years ahead.
Good to Know
Best for: Sparkling wine lovers, celebrations, couples, first-time Naramata Bench visitors, cyclists arriving from the KVR Trail, anyone who wants a genuinely distinctive and glamorous winery experience
Don't miss: The Bubbles + Bites experience — one of the most polished and complete tasting experiences on the entire Naramata Bench — and the 2018 Brut Nature, Canada's best sparkling wine
Signature wines: 2018 Brut Nature, 2018 Brut Rosé, 2020 Brut Première, Pink Effervescence, White Effervescence
Tasting fee: Splash + Dash $13 | Flight Mode $30 | Bubbles + Bites $55 — walk-ins welcome, reservations recommended
Hours: Wed–Sun 12–6pm — confirm seasonal hours as Evolve is only in its first full season
Heads up: Evolve sits at the very bottom of the Naramata Bench just above Penticton — an ideal first or last stop, with later closing hours than most Bench wineries. As a brand new estate it is still adding amenities including the family games lawn and KVR bike access, both planned for spring 2026
