Lunessence Winery & Vineyard
A serene organic estate winery on Summerland's Gartrell Road — where classical music reverberates through the vineyards and cellar to shape well-balanced wines, wild-fermented with minimal intervention from certified organic Summerland Bench Estate vines, enjoyed on a pergola patio consistently described as the most European setting on all of Bottleneck Drive.
Highlights:
Certified organic vineyards since 2014 — organically certified since 2020 — farming the Summerland Bench Estate with minimal intervention
A genuinely unique philosophy — classical music plays continuously through the vineyards and cellar, believed to produce more harmonious and well-balanced wines
Wild fermented wines using native yeasts — foot trodden, unfiltered, and unfined where possible
Seated patio tasting — five wines chosen from the full portfolio, $15 per person, bookable via Tock
Charcuterie boards available — the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon on the lake view pergola patio
European pergola patio with sweeping Okanagan Lake views — consistently described by guests as the most European-feeling setting on Bottleneck Drive
Amadeus Wine Club — annual spring case curated by the winemaker, exclusive winery benefits, and priority access to limited and library wines
Groups and families warmly accommodated — accommodated a party of 10 with two children and a dog on the patio
Wine and food pairing events and guided vineyard tours held throughout the season
Open daily Easter weekend through end of October 11am–6pm — weekends only in April — by appointment November to March
The Vibe
Step onto the pergola patio at Lunessence and the first thing that strikes you is the view — a sweeping panorama of Okanagan Lake framed by vineyard rows and the rolling Summerland hills, so consistently described by guests as European in feel that the comparison has become almost standard in the reviews. The second thing that strikes you is the quiet — not silence, but a particular kind of calm, the kind that comes when someone has thought very carefully about the atmosphere they want to create. That calm is not accidental at Lunessence. The winery was founded on the belief that classical music — played continuously through the vineyards, the fermentation tanks, and the barrel cellar — produces more harmonious wines, and that the relationship between art and agriculture is not a marketing device but a genuine philosophy. Whether you are a sceptic or a convert, the wines themselves make a compelling case for whatever is happening in that cellar.
The Experience
Tastings at Lunessence are seated, personalised, and guided from the pergola patio overlooking the lake — one of the most consistently praised tasting settings on all of Bottleneck Drive. Guests choose any five wines from the full portfolio and are guided through each at their own pace by knowledgeable and enthusiastic hosts — staff like Emily and Alex have earned devoted followings in guest reviews for their warmth, humour, and depth of knowledge. Charcuterie boards are available to accompany the tasting, and the combination of a perfectly assembled board, a glass of Vin Gris on the pergola, and the lake view below is one of those Okanagan afternoons that guests describe for years afterward. Walk-ins are welcomed when space allows, though reservations via Tock are recommended — particularly for groups, who the winery has consistently shown a genuine willingness to accommodate even when arrival is spontaneous.
The Wine
Lunessence produces a focused estate portfolio from certified organic Summerland Bench Estate vines — with winemaking techniques that are as considered and deliberate as the classical music philosophy that underpins them. All wines are wild fermented using native yeasts, unfiltered and unfined where possible, and aged in French oak with the minimum intervention required to express the terroir honestly. The estate whites are the backbone of the portfolio — a foot-trodden Chardonnay aged five months in French oak, a Pinot Blanc of exceptional aromatic clarity, and the house Riesling-Gewürztraminer-Pinot Blanc blend aged on lees for four months that delivers a beautifully layered aromatic complexity. The reds — Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot — source from both the Summerland Bench Estate and select Osoyoos vineyards, delivering the depth and structure that the warmer South Okanagan soils provide so generously. The Rosé is a perennial standout — guests who try it rarely leave without a bottle.
Good to Know
Best for: Couples, wine enthusiasts, guests seeking a serene and European-inspired tasting experience, organic wine lovers, families with well-behaved children and dogs
Don't miss: The Vin Gris and the estate Rosé — two wines that consistently surprise and delight first-time visitors — and the pergola patio view on a clear day
Signature wines: Estate Chardonnay, Vin Gris, Pinot Blanc, Estate Rosé, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc
Tasting fee: $15 per person for five wines — book via Tock, walk-ins welcome subject to availability
Hours: Daily Easter–October 31 11am–6pm | Weekends only in April | By appointment November–March
Picnic and food friendly: Charcuterie boards available — bring your own picnic to enjoy on the pergola patio
Dog and family friendly: Yes — groups with children and dogs warmly accommodated on the patio
