Today was the opening day of Crown and Thieves Winery in West Kelowna - and it is well worth checking out. Part of Jason Parkes Customs which includes The Hatch, Black Swift and Truck 59 Ciderhouse, they have been building this winery for quite a while. Back in November, I heard a rumour that it was open only to be disappointed that it was still under construction. Today we had better fortune as it was definitely open - and we were the second people to enter!

After being greeted at the door we went inside the winery. My first view was the washroom and it was a unique, funky (not in a bad way) place - best winery bathroom I've ever been in! We then entered their eclectic but enjoyable tasting room.

There were bottles going up the sides of two walls like bookshelves. There were interesting portraits, custom made wallpaper, and an art reproduction on the ceiling dating from 1666. Everywhere you looked, there was another unusual thing, some with stories, some without.

Our wine tasting guide was a bright and enthusiastic young lady and she did an excellent job of taking us through the wines (unfortunately you can't see her sparkling flapper dress underneath her coat). She was knowledgable about wine (has her WSET 2!) but she also knew the stories behind the wines - something that I think really elevates a tasting. I'm not sure if there was a tasting fee as we are members of the Hatch wine club.

The first wine we tried was 2019 Winemaker's Wench which is a blend of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Roussanne. Honestly, this wine made me think of summer. It was bright, crisp and flavourful and had a very nice taste of stone fruits. At $20, it was a good buy.

Next was the 2017 Chenin Blanc ($30). This was another nice, crisp wine with strong acidity and tastes of green and citrus fruits. I enjoyed it but the other white was the one that made me think of summer.

The first red we tasted was the non vintage Scoundrel's Punch, a blend of Cab Franc, Merlot, and Cab Sauv. Despite the blend, I could see this one going with lots of food, from chicken, to pasta to hamburgers tp steak to Saturday afternoons sitting by the window. Good acidity, not too many tannins, and very drinkable. A very versatile wine for $25.

The final wine we tasted was a bold, brash 2017 Crybaby Malbec ($60). This wine spent 30 months in American and French oak barrels and had tannins to be reckoned with as well as balanced acidity. I already have a bottle of the 2016 (which is $65) so I didn't buy a bottle but this would make a wonderful special occasion wine.

After tasting, we went on a tour of Crown and Thieves as it really has been built as more than a winery. First we went upstairs to the Dimber Damber (which overlooks the tasting room) which has a bar, a fancy piano, and lots of interesting objets d'art. In the 1920s, the era where Crown and Thieves gets a lot of its vibe, this would have been where the boss or the godfather would look down to oversee what was happening in his illicit club.

Then we headed downstairs. This is the Speakeasy and it is awesome! I can't wait for Covid to be over! This would be such a fun place to have a drink of wine or a cocktail and listen to some music. Incidentally, Jason Parkes is one of the performers in the band that will play there. Does the guy even have time to sleep?

Finally, we headed outside to the patio to enjoy the breathtaking views. It was a great end to our visit, especially since it was a beautiful sunny day (mid January? Yep!). We will definitely be back!

This summer, why not book a tour with me at Wine and Then Somm Wine Tours? I would be happy to meet you in Kelowna or Penticton and take you, in the comfort of your own vehicle, anywhere in the Okanagan (to Crown and Thieves, for example!) to try some of the wonderful Okanagan wines! Book today!