Summerland Strong

The entire Gismondi on Wine team sends its thoughts to the community and to everyone across the Okanagan affected by the Bald Range wildfire.

It's far too early to speculate about any long-term impact, and we shouldn't. The focus now is on immediate help, with wineries and an entire community evacuated. Charitable donations matter, but so does something simpler: supporting affected businesses. Victoria-based Vessel Liquor has made that easy through its online store, with Summerland wines and ciders in one place. With that in mind, we've assembled some recommendations to take you through the rest of summer.

We'll start with Okanagan Crush Pad, whose Christine Coletta has fearlessly carried Summerland's message across B.C., Canada, and beyond. Reach for the 2022 Haywire Gamay (right now only $27.99 – $2 off), sourced from 45-year-old vines on the East Kelowna Slopes. Fifty percent whole-cluster lends it a spicy, herbal edge, and it earned 91 and 92 points from every member of the Gismondi on Wine team.

Next up is Solvero. Based in Summerland's Garnet Valley and led by winemaker Alison Moyes, Solvero continues to hit it out of the park with excellent wines at remarkably reasonable prices. It's a rarity these days. The 2025 Pinot Gris ($29.99), drawn from two Summerland vineyards, was a standout among the early 2025 spring releases. Crisp, mineral, and citrusy, it's a serious take on Okanagan Pinot Gris. Plus, it recently earned a gold medal at the 2026 National Wine Awards of Canada.

From Lunessence, we're going Gamay again. The 2022 Gamay ($32.99) earned 90 points from Treve for its crisp, juicy expression of a variety that seems to perform exceptionally well in Summerland. We haven't tasted Pamplemousse Jus to date, but winemaker Jordan Kubek is no stranger to sparkling wine and pet nat specifically. The 2024 Pet Nat shows an alternate vision for the Okanagan, using the hybrid Léon Millot.

Summerland's cideries deserve equal attention. Dominion Cider Co. is one of the leading cideries in the Okanagan, making serious, classically styled ciders from a range of apple varieties. We'd be reaching for First Principles – more of an English take, sourced from English and French cider apples – which is solid value at $6.49 for a tall can. And for everyday sippers, you can't go wrong with Nomad's Semi-Dry Cider ($7.99 a tall can) or Summerland Heritage Cider Co.'s Tuesday's Original ($8.99 for a 500 mL bottle).

Of course, ordering from a retailer is just one way to support Summerland's wineries and cideries. Many are still accepting online orders, even if it's unclear when they will be safe to ship. We'd encourage you to shop generously from your favourites – and be patient.

Stay tuned for our newsletter on Thursday, August 27th for more recommendations and updates. You can sign up here.