Oenophile's rejoice! New 'wine village' planned for Okanagan
Credit to Author: Tiffany Crawford| Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2019 23:18:56 +0000
It takes a village to raise a glass.
Canada’s first “wine village,” which is set to be built in Oliver, Canada’s wine capital, next year, will bring together 16 artisan producers of small-batch wine, beer, and cider.
The District Wine Village will also host wine and culinary events, according to a news release from District Wine Village.
Construction on the village, designed by Greyback Construction in Penticton, will begin in the spring.
Greyback Construction general manager Matt Kenyon says the idea was to create a one-of-a-kind village where small, craft producers can start their own business, without the need to invest in a large-scale facility.
“Ultimately, this project is all about community,” he said, in a statement.
“Not only are we creating a diverse community for our resident wineries, cideries, breweries, distilleries and eateries, but we are really looking to be a significant economic driver for our local communities and support the future growth of wine and culinary tourism in the South Okanagan.”
Oliver, which is located in B.C.’s South Okanagan with a population of about 5,000, is considered Canada’s wine capital, known for its Golden Mile, an area that is home to half of B.C.’s vineyards, and more than 40 wineries.
Each of the 16 spaces at the new village will include a production area that includes access to a shared crush pad and operational resources, as well as a built-in tasting room to build their direct-to-consumer brands, according to the project’s website.
In addition to the onsite tasting rooms, the District Wine Village will also feature a 600-person entertainment centre for concerts and events.
ticrawford@postmedia.com