Conveniently located closed to the northern end of downtown near the waterfront. We went in on a quiet Sunday and found the staff friendly enough. We went for the "Taste Of Okanagan Experience" which samples from five local sister wineries; a mix of white, red and sparkling from Sandhill, as well as Black Hills Estate, Gray Monk Estate, Red Rooster and Tinhorn Creek. For $25 you get the tiniest of pours from each, which then gives you $10 towards any bottles purchased. Although we've purchased from some of these wineries previously, none that we sampled in the showroom impressed us enough to make us want to buy. Particularly for the prices charged. $50 and up for what is at best a $20 tasting wine. There is a limited food menu if you want to order an actual glass of wine and some snacks, but it is mostly seafood, and again nothing appealed to either of us. read more

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! read more

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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 read more

Sandhill Estate Winery - Lounge area - Wineries Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

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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!] read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

Sandhill Estate Winery - Sandhill Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

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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!! read more

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 read more

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. read more

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!! read more

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! read more