A taste of the Okanagan.

The new Wine Experience Centre at Black Hills Estate Winery is designed with visitors’ enjoyment in mind. Opened in June 2012, the new building adds to the strong design heritage of the existing Black Hills Estate Winery—designed by CEI Architecture’s Nick Bevanda—the recipient of a Lieutenant-Governor’s Award of Merit for Architecture in 2008.

The new facility provides bright space for visitors to sit down and learn more about the wines they are tasting. It also offers fantastic views of the surrounding countryside, a major attraction for guests, and room for additional events and activities.

The building design highlights the character of its location, with its desert climate and picturesque views. It is constructed from a similar palette of materials as the existing winery building, with a steel structure supporting precast concrete panels. Interior spaces are softened by the use of wood, and deep overhangs and low-E2 glazing offer relief from the harsh summer sun. A pool was added to provide a place to cool off when the heat gets a bit too hot, which happens in the Okanagan from time to time.

As the name suggests, the Wine Experience Centre helps visitors make the most of the entire tasting experience. The wine is central to that, of course, but so is the ability to gather socially, to recognize the stunning surrounding environment and to take the time to enjoy everything the region has to offer. It’s all part and parcel of the flavour of the Okanagan.