Lunessence Winery & Vineyard sits on the Summerland Bench, an Okanagan Valley sub-GI known for its gravelly soils and vineyard elevations between 425-540 meters. The gentle slope and proximity to Okanagan Lake bring cool nights, steady airflow, and a long, balanced growing season. With undulating terrain and high-altitude vineyards, Summerland is home to a range of microclimates that influence grape-growing. Though the sub-region is small, its soil is surprisingly diverse, with more than ten distinct compositions found throughout the area. Like much of British Columbia’s terrain, the retreat of ancient glaciers has shaped Summerland in dramatic ways. Some vineyard pockets feature wind-blown fine sands over glacial till, while others contain gravel or sandy deposits from ancient meltwater streams. This geological variety lends itself to complex, expressive wines that share the story of the land.
Summerland’s vineyards bounced back in 2025, much to the relief of wine growers after the devastating 2024 vintage. This was the first normal growing season since 2022 with a mild winter that rolled into a long, warm vintage. While summer temperatures weren’t sweltering, the earlier start to the growing season in combination with the warm fall meant that Summerland shattered its record for GDD (Growing Degree Day) accumulations. However, thanks to the diurnal shift between day and nighttime temperatures, Summerland’s characteristic acidity is present right alongside ripe fruit notes.
At harvest, Merlot and Syrah were soaked on their skins for 1 hour before being divided up into processing parcels. 50% was destemmed while 25% was foot trodden. Barrel fermented in neutral French oak, the wine was then aged five months on lees in stainless and neutral French oak.
Tasting Note
Super juicy peach and grapefruit on the nose with a palate full of mouthwatering pink grapefruit and cranberry, streaked with savoury, scrubby sage notes. Lunessence’s 2025 ESV Blanc de Noirs concludes with a brilliant mineral finish.
Food Pairing
Late summer tomatoes are at their peak so we can’t resist pairing a tomato tart with Lunessence’s 2025 ESV Blanc de Noirs. Add a little goat cheese and some sage and you’ll be picking up on the wine’s more subtle savoury notes. Perfect for soaking up the last bit of summer.