Howling Bluff Estate Winery
Where old world vines meet next world terroir.
Howling Bluff Estate Winery is a small family-owned estate winery that is the culmination of Luke Smith’s life long passion for great wines. After giving up his career in the investment industry, Luke, with his 21 year old son Daniel, is producing award-winning wines which started with their first vintage in 2006. Dedicated to producing small lots of fine wines, Luke and Daniel are building a legacy, a family winery for their future generations.
Luke & Jennifer Smith
From Luke Smith....
I started my wine journey early; my mother was the secretary of the Vancouver chapter of the International Wine and Food Society. By my late teens I was enamored with the history of wine and food. In 1981 (pre-history according to my kids) I sat across from a kindred soul at our workplace. Craig Walker was also an avid student of fine wine and great food. We dreamed of vineyards in Napa and evenings with friends as we poured wine made from our grapes. To this day I am sure some of our co-workers remember our Friday wine and food pairings in the office, especially when Craig discovered a new cheese we had to pair with that new wine.
And like a newly planted vine, that desire to grow remained unchecked for 22 years. In 2003 we bought a fallow piece of land on the then sleepy Naramata Bench. Now, as I write this in 2021 my vineyard and others on the Bench are considered the most exciting wine producers in Canada and we are being recognized worldwide.
And even now, as I write this my passion keeps asking me “what can we do next to make memorable wine?”
Jennifer, the real brains behind Howling Bluff. Jen is an RN at the Penticton Regional hospital, and seemingly for ever Jen worked in the ER there. In her spare time, she raises 4 kids, one of which is me and is by my side for as many wine events as possible. Jen is the foundation on which all of this relies.
| Website | www.howlingbluff.ca/ |
|---|---|
| Address | 1086 Three Mile Rd., Penticton BC V2A 8T7 |
| Wine Maker | Luke Smith |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Okanagan Valley |
From this Producer
Life is a marathon, we all deserve a Second Wind. We brought this wine back from a bit of an absence because, like Luke says, 'nobody will make a movie or write a book about Pinot Gris'., but it makes a great food-pairing wine that is perfect after a workday.
A spectacular marriage of Merlot and Petit Verdot, this rare blend for the beautiful Okanagan Valley combines the remarkable terroir of Howling Bluff Winery with the likes of a traditional Bordeaux blend.
With deep ruby tones and an intense, complex nose, this wine offers notes of dried plums, caramel, chocolate, and leather—and a long, velvety finish like none other.
This bold Pinot Noir begins with aromas of ripe plums mingled with hints of forest floor. On the palate, the flavours are dramatic & profound, showing notes of cherry & plum with a savoury and earthy note on the finish.
