Mission Hill Family Estate, West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley

The future is nothing new for Anthony von Mandl, owner of Mission Hill Family Estate in British Columbia. The winery's signature bell tower is visible from both sides of Okanagan Lake, whether you're entering British Columbia's third-largest city from the Connector from Vancouver or the airport northeast of the city. As a result, it has acted as a signpost to the British Columbia wine country since it was built two decades ago.

Before opening the landmark winery in 2002, the Okanagan Valley was more famous for its beaches and peaches. Von Mandl saw beyond the fruit stands, boat rentals, and ice cream stops, launching a European-style estate that set a much-needed visitor standard for the region. Since that time, BC wine country has flourished with wineries, wines and a rich and unique wine and food culture.

While many think they have reached the summit, Mission Hill is forging a new visitor experience in 2020 that involves replacing the 50-year-old drop-in, stand-up, tastings with more focused and personal interactions. Storytelling and reserved experiences are the new standard, with personal tours that begin in the vineyard or the cellar and can include food pairings. It's similar to how wine critics have engaged with wines for decades, and it makes sense that the people who buy the wines get to do the same. In this video, we sit down with Mission Hill President and Winemaker Darryl Brooker to take you on a visit to the winery, its vineyards and offer a glimpse at how you can experience them all.

For extensive tasting notes of Mission Hill Wines, visit https://gismondionwine.com/blog/missi....

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