Gordon Fitzpatrick, president of the vineyards, said the winery had a soft opening earlier this month. Organizers are now planning for a formal opening

While the winery is new, the Fitzpatrick family’s connection to the Okanagan wine industry goes back several decades.

The family started Cedar Creek Estate Winery in Kelowna in 1986 and operated it until 2014.

In 1994, Fitzpatrick’s father purchased the Greata Ranch property. It has been used for grape growing since 1995, the grapes used in Cedar Creek’s sparking wines.

“We’ve always wanted to do something special at Greata,” Fitzpatrick said.

After the Fitzpatrick family sold Cedar Creek in 2014, efforts were made to develop a winery at the Greata Ranch location.

Fitzpatrick’s two main goals were to make world-class sparking wines in the Okanagan Valley and to create a good on-site experience for visitors.

“This is really special to our family,” Fitzpatrick said. “After 30 years in the business, we’re finally putting our name on the front of the label.”

The Greata Ranch site is a piece of Okanagan history.

In 1895, George Greata purchased the property, which was later used for fruit growing. At its peak, the property had 61 hectares, or 150 acres, in fruit production. The property was known for its peaches.

Fitzpatrick said the site is an idea for producing sparking wines.

The slope of the land and the close proximity to Okanagan Lake both help to produce good grapes.

In summer, the early sun warms the soil, while the lake helps to moderate the temperatures. Mount Eneas to the west plays a critical role in providing shade.

“It’s an ideal site for sparkling wines and white aromatics,” he said.

The winery includes a tasting area and a bistro since Fitzpatrick says sparkling wine is an excellent food beverage. An outside tasting bar and wine lounge are also included.

At present, around 16 hectares of 40 acres of the property are being used as vineyards.

Read more at Source: Summerland Review