4 minute read

Red Rooster Winery

Recipe: Boozy Watermelon Skewers

JENNA HICKMAN Tucked away off of Naramata Road in Penticton, BC, Red Rooster Winery is an oasis within the Southern Okanagan. With a spacious green lawn spanning the estate property, a covered patio space with ample shade, and unspoiled views of Okanagan Lake, Red Rooster offers an experience you will remember. A staple in the Okanagan’s wine industry for over three decades, the winery released its first vintage in 1997. Since then, Red Rooster has continued to impress wine lovers across Canada. In June, the winery released their 2021 Rosé, and in July, their 2020 Semillon was newly released after two years of aging. “Our 2020 Semillon is really different and interesting, in that we have bottle-aged this white on purpose,” says Elaine Vickers, Red Rooster’s winemaker. “It’s lemony with a refreshing acidity to it, while maintaining structure and character from aging. It’s the perfect crisp and fresh summer sipper.”

EXPERIENCE RED ROOSTER

This summer, Red Rooster offers several experiences: their Signature Experience, Frosé & Friesling Experience, and Winemakers Experience. The Signature Experience, a seated educational option, will awaken your senses and educate you on the various senses involved in wine tasting. Guests will be hosted on Red Rooster’s expansive covered patio and will be invited to try a selection of the winery’s red and white releases. Each varietal will be paired with samples of sweet, salty, spicy and sour tastes and smells, each highlighting how wine adapts to different flavour profiles. Repeat tasters, worry not—the wines within the flight rotate weekly. The Frosé & Friesling Experience is the ultimate way to stay cool and refreshed this summer. Made from Red Rooster’s delicious Rosé and Riesling wines, these wine slushies will pair perfectly with the balmy weather and views of Okanagan Lake from Red Rooster’s grassy lawn.

Red Rooster’s Winemakers Experience is unparalleled. It’s an opportunity to spend a few hours with the Red Rooster winemaking team and learn the ins and outs of what goes into creating award-winning wine. Starting in July, the winery will be offering this exclusive tour, but guests are encouraged to book ahead now to secure a spot. The one-and-a-half-hour experience will take guests on a guided tour of Red Rooster’s cellars, and will discuss blending, barrel aging, fermenting, and questions such as “What does ‘sur lie’ mean?” or “What is carbonic maceration?” Rest assured that you will leave with new knowledge. The hands-on Winemakers Experience will take place on the following Thursdays: July 7, 14 and 28, and August 4, 11 and 25. Each week focuses on a different theme, such as the difference between Syrah and Shiraz, or why Pinot Noir is known as the “heartbreak grape.” Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or taking your first sips, there is something for everyone to take away. To reserve a summer wine experience at Red Rooster, visit redroosterwinery.com/tours-and-experiences/.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Stay tuned for the Okanagan Comedy Festival, scheduled for August 24–28. Red Rooster is scheduled to be a host venue for this laughter-filled annual event. Red Rooster Winery is open seven days a week from noon until 5 pm. Reservations are highly recommended to ensure a table is available for you, but the winery will do its best to accommodate walk-ins. For more information about Red Rooster Winery, please visit redroosterwinery.com or call 1-888-510-5537. To stay up to date on new releases and events, follow Red Rooster on Instagram at @redroosterwine.

BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

Red Rooster re-invented! Introducing the use of concrete tanks, bold winemaking techniques and an expanded portfolio, our new wines will tease your tastebuds, all from the splendor of our sun-soaked patio with endless views of Lake Okanagan.

Located on the Naramata Bench, Red Rooster Winery is just minutes from downtown Penticton and the perfect location to contemplate your new favourite wine. Sur lie Chardonnay, Carbonic Merlot-Malbec, or Pinot 3?