Spaswinefood first Okanagan Valley winery stop was the Gray Monk Estate Winery and Vineyard 1055 Camp Road, North Kelowna. Gray Monk is British Columbia's oldest estate winery. It has been owned and operated by the Heiss Family since 1972. The winery takes its name from Pinot Gris, which in Austria and Hungary is called " Grauar Mönch" meaning gray monk. The winery introduced the blue-gray colored Pinot Gris grape to Canada. The Heiss's also helped establish British Columbia's VQA designation. British Columbia participates in a Vitners Quality Allicance (VQA), an appellation of origin that is modelled after the European system. An Okanagan VQA certifies a wine is from this region and meets the quality standards. British Columbia's appellation has four "designated viticultural areas" (DVA's). These DVA's include Okanagan Valley, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Similkameen Valley.
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery & Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery & Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery & Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood |
Gray Monk Estate Winery has a beautiful view of the lake and vineyards. Fifty acres of vineyards surround the winery.
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery & Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood |
Grapevine Restaurant
Gray Monk is home to the award winning Grapevine Restaurant. Okanagan Valley Life 2010 Readers' Choice Award for Best Winery Restaurant went to the following:
1. Grapevine Restaurant (Gray Monk Estate)
2. Old Vine's Restaurant (Quails' Gate Estate Winery)
3. Summerhill Bistro (Summerhill Pyramid Winery)
The Grapevine Restaurant also made the list in 2011. Found Locally lists the top five Okanagan winery restaurants as Old Vines Restaurant (Quails' Gate Estate Winery), Mahdinas Restaurant ( Lake Breeze Vineyard), Sunset Organic Bistro and Veranda Restaurant (Summerhill Pyramid Winery), Terrace Restaurant (Mission Hill Family Estates) and Grapevine Restaurant ( Gray Monk Estate Winery).
The culinary team at Grapevine Restaurant is lead by Chef Willi Franz, 2010 Okanagan Chef of the Year. Also, it was just announced that Chef Willi Franz was named Canadian Chef of the Year, by Canadian Culinary Federation of Chefs and Cooks (CCFCC).
The culinary team at Grapevine Restaurant is lead by Chef Willi Franz, 2010 Okanagan Chef of the Year. Also, it was just announced that Chef Willi Franz was named Canadian Chef of the Year, by Canadian Culinary Federation of Chefs and Cooks (CCFCC).
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery & Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood |
The food prepared at the Grapevine Restaurant uses ingredients from local farmers and producers. Spaswinefood visited this award winning winery restaurant for lunch. During the Spring Wine Festival the Grapevine featured a special wine pairing menu. John ordered the featured menu. It included:
 |
Salad Greens , with Cheese and Citrus at the Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood
|
 |
Duck Confit at the Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood
|
I ordered a salad and pasta off the regular menu.
 |
Salad Costini with Goat Cheese at the Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood
|
 |
Pappardelle Pasta with Mushrooms and Vegetables at the Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood
|
For dessert we shared a Chocolate Torte.
 |
Chocolate Torte with Sorbet, Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood
|
Spaswinefood would agree with the restaurants description of its food as being simple, fresh, elegant; pleasing to eye and palate. The Grapevine Restaurant gets great reviews on reviewblue, Tripadvisor and Urbanspoon. Even on a grey May day the Grapevine Restaurant has a beautiful view to accompany your dining experience. It is easy to see why it was awarded Reader's Choice 2011 Best Patio Dining and Best Restaurant with a View.
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery & Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery & Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery & Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood |
Gray Monk Wines
After a delightful lunch, we visited the tasting room. Gray Monk's wine portfolio has three tiers (Estate, Latitude 50 Series and Odyssey). Gray Monk's wines are 100% VQA. The winemakers are George Heiss, Jr. and Peter Wong. When Spaswinefood visited we selected their red wines for tasting.
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery, Merlot 2008 © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery Merlot 2008 © Spaswinefood |
One of our favorites was 2008 Merlot, which we decided to buy. It comes as no surprise that Gray Monk gets Reader's Choice 2011 for Best Pinot Gris. Snooth has reviewed Gray Monk's wines.
 |
| Gray Monk Estate Winery & Grapevine Restaurant © Spaswinefood |
Gray Monk Estate Winery and Grapevine Restaurant is well worth a visit. If you are a Pinot Gris (Gruar Mönch) fan then Gray Monk is a must! Also, Chef Willi Franz was named Canadian Chef of the Year, by Canadian Culinary Federation of Chefs and Cooks (CCFCC). Congratulations Chef Franz!
Sharon
May 2011
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
© Spaswinefood
© Spaswinefood
Other Spaswinefood posts on the Okanagan Valley include:
No comments:
Post a Comment