Our Philosophy

From the earth, gentle and tended to.

At the heart of Terravista Vineyards is the desire to be outside, make and share great wine with friends and have fun! We are interested in simplifying viticulture practices and reducing our footprint. One might call it sustainable practices, but we are learning from our vineyards and our land about what stewardship and sustainability means. We are adding alternative energy sources to our homes, reducing consumption and reducing interventions in the vineyards as much as possible. What does this translate into: 4 Solar Arrays installed at En Terre Vineyards, Electric utility vehicles when possible, manual canopy management, manual hedging and weeding, livestock integration, reducing pesticides and herbicides. 

Our Vineyards

Our home vineyards are in the Sub GI Area known as the Naramata Bench with over 50 wineries in the area as our neighbours.

Our Estate Vineyard, Lone Hand Ranch, is the home to the wine we call "FANDANGO". Spanish varietals, Albariño and Verdejo, typically grown in northwestern Spain and Portugal, were planted here in 2008. The southwestern slope of till sediments and stony soils of this vineyard above Naramata Road are optimal conditions for these aromatic whites with crisp acidity.

En Terre Vineyards is the future home of our Estate Syrah, as well as an acre of Pinot Noir planted in 2019. En Terre Vineyards is below Naramata Road and is characterized by mostly silt loam soils. Red wine varietals were carefully selected to suit the soil characteristics and higher average temperatures of this vineyard. 

Naramata Outlook, established in 2021, spans roughly 6 acres of planted vines sloping towards the cliffs that frame Okanagan Lake. Spanish varietals, Albariño and Verdejo were planted here, alongside Garnacha and Mencia (a first here in Canada). We also planted Marsanne for "FIGARO"

Our three vineyards benefit from the temperature moderating influence of Okanagan Lake which results in longer frost-free periods on the Naramata Bench and their aspect allows for excellent air drainage and the ability to hang fruit for ideal ripening making for beautifully intense, balanced wine. 

Grapes purchased from a select few dedicated growers allow for the production of the other white wines; like a delicious blend of the grape varieties Roussanne, Viognier and Marsanne. We call this blend: "FIGARO"! We also produce a single varietal Viognier with fruit sourced from both the Similkameen and the Naramata Bench.

 

Our People

Every special place has a story, and ours would not be possible if not for long time industry favourites and Okanagan wine pioneers Bob and Senka Tennant. They have been key players in the industry for the past 23 years: Senka as Winemaker and Bob as Vineyard and Business Operator. They sold their first project, Black Hills Estate Winery, in 2007. Not wanting to leave the industry, they sought out and established a vineyard and winery on the Naramata Bench that was best suited to Albariño and Verdejo and Terravista Vineyards was born! 

In Spring 2019, Terravista Vineyards was handed over to locals, Eric and Dallas Thor. Bob and Senka had been easing into retirement, consulting for the Thors and advising and mentoring newly appointed Wine Maker, Nadine Allander, formerly of Time/Evolve and Poplar Grove Wineries. 

Together our new team produced our first award winning vintage in Spring 2020 and our third vintage is being released May 2022. 

Eric and Dallas Thor, Proprietors and Jack and Jill of all things grape farming and winery business.

Winemaker: Nadine Allander
Read more about Nadine

Vineyard Manager and Sustainable Farming Guru: Bobby Ercego
Read More about Bobby

Lena Stelkia

Operations & Hospitality Manager: Sinéad Burns

Consultants: Senka and Bob Tennant and Pascal Madevon

 

We hope that you can experience this beautiful place we are so lucky to farm by sipping our wine at a favourite local restaurant or visiting us at our tasting room on the Naramata Bench. Click here to find our wines or contact us at info@terravistavineyards.com. Book your tasting here.