Quails’ Gate Winery is a family-owned winery located in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1989 by Ben and Tony Stewart, the winery is now run by the second generation of the Stewart family.
Quails’ Gate is known for its stunning location, set on a bluff overlooking Okanagan Lake and surrounded by vineyards. The winery is named after the quail that inhabit the area and the gate that marks the entrance to the property.
The vineyards at Quails’ Gate span over 200 acres and are planted with a variety of grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Merlot. The winery is also home to a small experimental vineyard where new grape varieties are tested.
Quails’ Gate is known for producing high-quality, expressive wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Okanagan Valley. One of the winery’s most famous wines is the Old Vines Foch, a bold, full-bodied red wine made from the Marechal Foch grape variety. This wine has received numerous accolades and is highly sought after by wine collectors.
In addition to the Old Vines Foch, Quails’ Gate is also known for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. The winery’s Chardonnay is a bright, fruit-forward wine with notes of citrus and green apple, while the Pinot Noir is a delicate, elegant wine with flavors of red cherry and spice. The Riesling is a crisp, aromatic wine with flavors of green apple and citrus.
Quails’ Gate prides itself on using traditional wine-making techniques and focusing on quality over quantity. All of the winery’s wines are fermented in small batches using natural yeasts, and many of the wines are aged in oak barrels to add depth and complexity.
In addition to its wine production, Quails’ Gate also operates a popular restaurant and tasting room, where visitors can enjoy a variety of local dishes and taste the winery’s wines. The winery also offers guided tours of the vineyards and winery, as well as wine education classes and events.
Overall, Quails’ Gate Winery is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in high-quality wine and beautiful, picturesque surroundings. Whether you are a seasoned wine connoisseur or just looking to learn more about the wine-making process, Quails’ Gate has something for everyone.
Demi Brooker
2 weeks agoWhat a wonderful meal and location. We had three courses and a wonderful bottle of wine. We sat outside and were at first worried it would be a bit cold but the heaters were perfect and we were offered blankets also but didn’t need these! View was such a wonderful bonus and music and atmosphere was great. Food was absolutely amazing and our waitress Paige was just wonderful, she was so kind, friendly and attentive, making some wonderful choices/recommendations for us on the wine and dessert. We spoke at the table about how lovely she was! Thank you Paige and Quails gate for a fantastic evening!
Roy y
a week agoI was on a road trip with my small dog, so I deliberately sought out this winery because I heard here is dog-friendly. I was so pleased that I was allowed to hold my dog while doing a tasting and purchasing wine. I had been informed that dogs needed to be held while inside the building, so I was prepared with a cross-body dog carrier bag, which made it perfectly manageable. The staff member who guided us through the tasting was incredibly friendly and professional. Their kindness was a wonderful bonus. I would love to visit again next time I'm not the designated driver!
Doug Drew
a week agoWonderful experience at Quails Gate. We had lunch at the restaurant (separate review), then a stroll in adjacent vineyard, followed by a reserve tasting. We were guided through the tasting by a delightful lady Valerie, who it turns out had much in common. She not only introduced the wines but shared extensive background on the history of the winery. The tasting began with a Pinot Gris. They were sold out of top rated Riesling, chenin blanc, and gerwurstraminer. We then had a Pinot noir, which had very aggressive tannins, unusual for a Pinot. Next came a Marshal Foch, a non-vinus-venifera, and was a little funky, without much finish. The final was the queue, a red blend made from grapes from elsewhere in BC. The tasting was on the deck backdropped by the beautiful lake, hills and vineyards.
Kalie Gilbert
2 weeks agoWe celebrated our one-year anniversary here and it couldn’t have been more perfect! The view was absolutely breathtaking; truly unforgettable. The service was amazing, the food was delicious, and the wine paired beautifully with our meal. Everything about the experience was wonderful from start to finish. Such a special place, and we’ll always remember our night here. Highly recommend for anyone looking for great food and a beautiful atmosphere!
Nick Ainsworth
a month agoI've had the pleasure of visiting Quail's Gate numerous times over the years, including tasting, dining, and shopping at their on-site Market, with and without kids. The overall visitor experience across all of these locations is consistently excellent. Staff are enthusiastic, professional, and seem to really take pride in the work they do. The view from the tasting room, restaurant, and adjacent vineyard is gorgeous. Our kids have always felt welcome at the restaurant, which strikes a nice balance between being family-friendly and maintaining a fine dining atmosphere; in my experience, this is quite rare for a restaurant to do well. Their Wine Club is also good value, with a solid discount on all wines, reasonable shipping (even to the Lower Mainland), and some nice perks like complimentary tastings and early access to new releases.