Niche Wine Co.
Highlights:
Family-owned winery and working farm nestled in the hills of West Kelowna at 620 metres elevation — one of the highest vineyard sites on the Westside Wine Trail
Founded by co-owners James and Joanna Schlosser — James holds both an undergraduate and master's degree in Oenology and Viticulture from Brock University, Canada's first program of its kind
Joanna is a member of the Squamish Nation — seventh-generation Indigenous thinking shapes how the farm is run, from farming philosophy to community stewardship
Approximately 7 acres of estate vines: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, and Foch
Small and micro-batch production — wines sell out vintage over vintage and consistently win national and international awards
Hilltop Bar & Patio open Thursday through Sunday, 12–5pm (seasonal — confirm before visiting)
The Outside Inn — a small collection of luxury vineyard cabins on-site, one of the few true agritourism stays in the Okanagan
Sustainable growler refill program — bring your bottle back and fill it up
Working farm with laying hens, a lovable Labrador, and the kind of gravel-road drive-in that sets the tone for everything that follows
Inclusivity is baked in — Niche is a place where all people are meant to feel seen, valued, and at ease
The Vibe
There's a phrase on the Niche Wine Co. website that sums the place up perfectly: put a little gravel in your travel. And they mean it — the drive up Bartley Road to this hilltop farm winery is part of the experience, the kind of approach that signals you're leaving the conventional wine trail behind and heading somewhere genuinely different. Niche isn't trying to compete with the grand estate wineries down the hill. It's doing something more personal: a working farm, a family story, a glass of wine on a hilltop patio with views that stretch across the valley. Co-founders James and Joanna Schlosser have built something here that reflects their values at every turn — honest farming, small-batch craft, a genuine commitment to community, and a philosophy of inclusion that makes every visitor feel like they were expected. The Hilltop Bar & Patio, the Outside Inn cabins, the chickens roaming the property — it all adds up to one of the most authentic and unhurried stops on the entire Westside Wine Trail.
The Experience
Tastings at Niche are relaxed and personal — poured at the Hilltop Bar & Patio with sweeping views of the Okanagan Valley as the backdrop. The small-batch production philosophy means the lineup changes, and part of the fun is discovering what's currently pouring. Thursday through Sunday, 12–5pm (seasonal). For those who want to stretch the experience further, The Outside Inn offers three sustainably built vineyard cabins nestled into the hillside — waking up surrounded by vines with no agenda is, by most accounts, the ideal way to explore the Okanagan wine region. Niche also runs an innovative growler refill program, a sustainable wine-buying practice inspired by French wine culture and one of the few of its kind in BC. It's the sort of detail that tells you exactly who these people are.
The Wine
James Schlosser's winemaking credentials are serious — a master's degree in Oenology and Viticulture from Brock University's pioneering program — but the wines at Niche don't wear those credentials on their sleeve. They're expressive, food-friendly, and rooted in the specific character of a 620-metre hillside where cool nights and water-stressed, gravel-rich soils coax remarkable tension from the vines. The elevation makes this one of West Kelowna's premier Pinot sites, and the Pinot Noir is consistently a standout. The Riesling earns devoted fans vintage after vintage. Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer round out the aromatic whites, while the Foch adds a bold, heritage-variety counterpoint. Production is intentionally small — which means bottles sell out — so buying on-site is always the right call.
Good to Know
Best for: Wine lovers who value story and authenticity, agritourism seekers, couples, those looking for an off-the-beaten-path hillside experience away from the larger estates
Don't miss: The Hilltop Patio views — and asking about whatever micro-batch is currently pouring
Signature wines: Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer
Stay: The Outside Inn vineyard cabins — book ahead, availability is limited
Hours: Thursday–Sunday, 12–5pm (seasonal — confirm before visiting)
Heads up: Small-batch production means the lineup rotates and wines sell out — grab bottles while you can
Also worth knowing: The growler refill program is a genuinely sustainable option if you're staying in the area — a great way to take home wine without the glass
