Sandhill Wines

Great wine tasting experience with charcuterie Very knowledgeable and friendly host. We tasted 5 wines, 2 whites 1 rose and two outstanding reds. Highly recommend

Such an amazing winery and it’s in town! You won’t regret stopping here. Their Barrel Room tasting was unbelievable, highly recommend. You won’t be disappointed. Ask for Lauren she was AMAZING!! Definitely will be back!

We experienced a wine tasting here and were very happy with the offerings and just as importantly the friendly helpful staff. Can’t go wrong for a good glass of wine!

We recently tried out happy hour with the live music on Friday nights. Such a great venue and atmosphere. We had some bites and enjoyed some wine tasting. We will be going back for sure - Sara was working and she added to our enjoyment answering different questions wine and winery related and engaging in general conversation ~ she made it the 5 star.

Lauren was a breath of fresh air, from beginning to end. She was accommodating of our group’s needs (we had a baby and a wheelchair), the cellar tasting was quaint, educational, reasonably priced and informative. The wine and service was EXCEPTIONAL. Overall, very impressed with the experience and would absolutely recommend anyone to go! And have I mentioned Lauren? FABULOUS. Added bonus: Friday was happy hour and had live music.

Came for a tasting with my wife and 2 small children along with friends who also had small children. We were served by a lovely lady named Lauren who was absolutely spectacular. The wine was great with the rose being perfect on a hot day. Lauren was a great sommelier with a ton of knowledge about the facility and the wines. She also made it very comfortable for the kiddos. Highly recommend a visit to this place!

July 2024: Emily poured our wine today. They have a very spacious tasting area, and have gigantic photos high up on the wall of the different vineyards throughout the Okanagan where they source their grapes. My partner really enjoys white wine, and I have a preference for red. Their Merlot and Petite Verdot were very nice. Of particular interest for my partner was a white wine that we’ve never heard of before… Sovereign Opal. This wine was very bright and fruity when first smelling it. It smelled very delightful. Bright aroma of tropical fruit and melon, and tasted as good as it smelled. Sure, some people may not enjoy the sweeter white wines, but this one was good. I think it was the sweetest white wine they had on offer that day. Regardless, Emily was very friendly and knowledgeable, and the pace of the tasting was just right. I did appreciate how there is no vineyard in sight while you’re tasting their wine, but they can speak to the vineyards on the pictures on the wall, where the grapes are sourced. I suppose that was one thing that was missing, was driving through a vineyard or being beside one during your tasting Regardless, the overall experience was good. Early 2024: It was a sunny afternoon, and we finally got a bit of a break from the smoky skies, and decided to take it in a wine tasting at Sandhill wines. Kiara poured our wine today. And with just a few years in the wine industry, she answered our questions regarding the wine, and seems to have a genuine passion for the wine industry here in the Okanagan. We enjoyed some of the white wines, as well as the red. This location is close to Downtown Kelowna, and there is not a vineyard in sight. Don’t let that dissuade you from taking in a tasting here. It’s just a different tasting experience.

Food 1 star, wine 5! Axl was amazing and very knowledgeable about the wine which was good but our fries were cold and then we found a piece of hair in our plate (see the photo 🤢 they said sorry and gave us a 2 for 1 coupon card we’re never gonna use)

Last-Minute Wine Tasting? No Problem! Stopped by around 4:45 PM, knowing they close at 5, but I still wanted to check the place out. Despite the late arrival, the reception was incredibly welcoming--they even asked if I'd like to do a wine tasting! I mentioned that they were closing soon, but they encouraged me to stay and enjoy since there were still other guests tasting. Even though it was a last-minute visit, I never felt rushed. Instead of quickly pouring whatever was available, they asked what type of tasting I preferred--white, red, or the happy hour selection. A nice touch! Five minutes before closing, they were still welcoming new guests, which made me feel much less guilty about showing up late. The Wine Experience Chardonnay - I'm picky about Chardonnay, but this one was surprisingly buttery and smooth. A great choice for both beginners and experienced wine lovers exploring new Chardonnay profiles. Rosé - A perfect Happy Hour pick! Light, fruity, and refreshing--exactly what I needed to unwind after a long day. Cabernet Merlot - A touch spicy and slightly chewy. If you love Cabernet with good tannins but not too overpowering, this is a great option. Location & Atmosphere Unfortunately, I was too late to try the food, but the location is super convenient--right in downtown with its own parking lot (which is a huge plus for wine tasting in the city!). No stress about parking! If you're with a group, this spot is even better because after wine tasting, you can easily switch things up--there are breweries nearby, so everyone can split off based on their drink preference. I'll definitely be back to try the food and fully experience the chill, hangout vibes. Can't wait for round two!

Outstanding winery. It's doesn't look much on the outside but very sophisticated ambiance in the inside. My husband and I went here on a Friday afternoon and it's the best time to go as no one is there. I love the location as well as it is in the downtown area. We had a Small Lot wine tasting menu and have a small bites menu. The staff is very well educated of their wine. I recommend this winery to anyone who is visiting Kelowna

Our third winery was Sandhill Estate, another fairly well-known winery.  The interior wasn't elegant and classy like that of Mission Hill, but it had its own charm, with its spacious interior and modern look.  We had booked a tasting, and were seated at our own bar.   Initially I wasn't too impressed -- the host wasn't very friendly, and she seemed annoyed when I asked to see the wine list that I could see behind the bar, but was out of reach -- how odd not to have given us the wine list in the first place.  We were allowed to taste four wines and we chose the Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Syrah, and Sangiovese, all of which were quite nice.  However, during the tasting, the host started talking about a particular wine and really building it up, the "Sovereign Opal".  Naturally we were interested in trying it, only to be told that it is not available for sampling.  WTF.  However, when she came back after attending to another group (she was going back and forth between groups -- not very impressed with that when we booked an appointment), she happened to have a bottle of Sovereign Opal, claiming that someone had accidentally opened it, and we were allowed to sample it.  I wouldn't be surprised if this was a ruse, but whatever, the host was right -- it was good "hot tub wine", and we purchased a few bottles.  The wine tasting was $10 a person, but if you purchased a bottle of wine, you got $10 off, so we ended up getting the Sovereign Opal for a very reasonable $8 a bottle.   Overall it was an OK experience -- nothing spectacular, but better than Quails' Gate.  But I wouldn't place Sandhill on your "must see" list, as there are plenty of other, and better, wineries in Kelowna.  [Yelp collections: Kelowna 2020; Wine Time!]

Unlike all the other wineries on our extensive journey through the Okanagan, Sandhill is not located atop a hill surrounded by picnic tables, vineyards, and tour busses. Instead, it's nestled at a corner on the edge of the industrial area of central Kelowna, an extended walk from the beach. No vines. No picnic tables. No view. Just a brutalist piece of architecture you'd think was just a bottling depot rather than a winery, one with not just one but several tasting lounges. On our second and longest wine trip (there's been three), Sandhill was on the tail-end of 60 wineries and 120 bottles purchased. On our recent trip, only a few weeks ago, it was revisited given my friends and I literally walked by it. It was then we picked up a bottle of 2016 Hidden Terrace Sauvignon Blanc. It didn't last, as we drove out to a picnic and downed it to the last drop against a homemade charcuterie. It was an honorable death to such a bottle. Sandhill feels like a corporate winery, regardless if it is or not. It features numerous labels all sharing space in a colossal lounge. The first time we visited, we were guided into a small chamber draped in dark tones and dim lighting, bottle bottoms sticking out from the wall behind the tasting bar. Apparently, this wasn't Sandhill...or maybe it was. It's all very confusing. There's a huge sign outside showing Sandhill, but inside, you'll find Wayne Gretzky (his wine, because I'm sure he has better places to be), Calona Vineyards, Conviction, and Peller Estates, the majority I think are all owned by Calona. The only conclusion I could come up with is that Calona leases a boutique outlet in the Sandhill Winery building, but how do you review one if not reviewing them all? I know we were standing at the Sandhill tasting counter because we bought a Sandhill wine a few weeks ago, but the previous year, it must have been Calona we had been visiting. This is one of those strange occurrences where you have one building with two entrances leading into the same space but two different addresses and two different companies. So, you can end up entering Sandhill and having a tasting at Calona (like we did last year) or enter through Calona and end up at a tasting at Sandhill (which happened this year). So, check that...it wasn't 60 wineries; technically it was 61. I guess this is a great location then, as you can wander from one tasting to another without going outside. And here I thought Naramata was tightly packed. Sandhill is certainly the larger of the two tasting rooms. It also has the better wine. Conviction is not bad, but I'm not a fan of the Gretzky wine. Maybe it pairs well with wings; I don't know. Sandhill is a beautiful location with above average wine that is easy to access from anyone in town. Despite its lack of a view, it is still a good visit.

A winery downtown eh? Well think about it. It kinda makes sense. Lovely location where you wouldn't expect one to be. In fact there are two located here. Calona and Sandhill. Sister wineries providing the same but vastly different product of wine. Like all wines, it comes to personal tastes and requirements. The tasting was simple effective and we got to try a nice Ice wine. I do prefer the whole location location location thing when visiting winery's but this was different. More urban and off the path. Glad I came.

The wines at Sandhill were the most refined we tried in Kelowna. They informed us that they were the first to start operations in the area and it's obvious in their sophistication. The reds were outstanding! The small lot Syrah was out of this world. And we ended up having to come back a second time to buy another bottle of Barbera after we 'accidentally' drank the first one (which was supposed to be a gift). The tasting room was cool and modern. Our host was very knowledgable and provided ample samples with a great introduction to each. I really liked that there was no 'set cost' for tasting. I understand why some wineries do this, but I find it kind of cheapens the experience. Most people are probably going to end up buying a couple bottles anyway if your wine is this nice. It was a great time and although it doesn't offer your typical winery views, it's a very convenient stop from the waterfront.

If you are staying downtown and want to taste wine....don't NOT miss this place. You are going to pay $60-80 per bottle at other wineries to match Sandhill's $35-40 bottle. Their small lots lineup is fantastic. No vines, but great facility. Friday's they have happy hour and live music. Go tomorrow for live music by Jeff Piatelli. Excellent cover soloist. The wine tasting alone is worth it.

Sandhill was beautiful to look at and the wines were perfect if you're looking for something great to cook with or maybe sip while cooking. The staff (or at least the one who helped us) maybe wasn't on the top of her game. She wasn't sure about a lot of the questions we had and seemed bored or distracted. The estate itself is beautiful but I wouldn't go back.

We stopped at the Sandhill Estate tasting room in Kelowna on our cross-country journey, and enjoyed not only the wines, but the lovely tasting room and conversation with the tasting room staff. Sandhill's small batch wines are particularly interesting - from a dry but fruity reisling to viognier and sangiovese, each grown in unique lots in south western British Columbia. Large photos illustrate the different vineyards, and the staff is well-versed in the differences in climate that help produce the delicious and unique wines. A very modern tasting room echoes the forward thinking winemakers. And adjacent is the Colona Vineyards tasting room as well as Tree Brewing, so a visit to Richter Street in Kelowna is a super efficient beverage tour!

Being from Northern California we love our wineries and tasting rooms. I came here on several recommendations. Wine was very good as evidenced by the 18 bottles I left with. Very slick atmosphere, comfortable couches and chairs. Would be really nice if you could sit in the chairs and couches and enjoy your tasting. Let me explain why I withheld one star. The woman that was pouring for me wanted me to join a group of 4 so she could conduct the pouring for her convenience. She didn't appreciate my questions and wanted me to stay on pace with the other 4 people. If I was drinking slower than the others she told me to dump the rest of the wine in my glass do she could pour the next wine. After her "presentation" I asked to revisit a white wine from earlier and she told me so was " tasting backwards". So who cares!! I want to revisit the wine before I make a purchasing decision!! ( I bought 6 bottles by the way). My advice to the tasting room staff is "lighten up". Wine tasting should be fun! I shouldn't feel like I'm being scolded by the teacher!!

I Loove this place. I wish there membership shipped to the USA. I have never wanted to join more. I loved all their wines. The staff there is knowledgeable and friendly

Sandhill's small lots program is the future of the BC wine industry. They have produced some spectacular wines by handling the grapes they produce as individual lots this is much harder than batching everything together but they use the method to express terroir. Their Barbera and Sangiovese show their daring and the Syrah from Phantom Creek I believe is one of the best reds in BC.

Knowledgeable staff, friendly, and welcoming. Grace is great! We tasted and bought way more than expected. Learned about their sister wineries and didn't know Conviction is related (love). Just outside of downtown also so super accessible. Highly recommend!!

Fantastic wine with even better service! We went to both sides of the building to try all the brands. All the wine we tried was exceptional. Both clerks did a superb job of explaining each wine and they gave off warm and friendly vibes. It really felt like they wanted us to be there and they were excited to tell us all about wine!