Two women smiling and toasting with wine glasses outdoors.

Meet the Makers Part 2: Life at The Perch Winery

At The Perch Winery, you'll find chilled wine, sweeping vineyard views, and the kind of warm hospitality that makes you want to linger on the patio a little longer. For part two of our summer series introducing you to the makers of Vernon, we asked owners Mary and Michael to take us behind the scenes of a day at their winery.

What’s happening at your winery on a typical summer’s day?

On a typical summer's day, we oversee the tasting room and attend to the vineyard's needs.  We receive many phone calls requesting reservations, bookings for larger groups, and inquiries about participating in Vernon events. For example, we just participated in the Silver Star Wine Fest; it was a lot of fun meeting both Vernon area locals and travellers from abroad. However, most of our time is spent tending to the 5500 vines planted on our property, which requires pruning, irrigation checks, mowing, etc. 

couple looking at grapes on vines at a winery

What's your favourite part of welcoming visitors to the winery?

Our favorite part of welcoming visitors is hearing their stories, sharing our story, and seeing their smiles. We host guests from all over the world who share how they found their way to Vernon. It's beautiful when our guests get a chance to relax and enjoy chilled wine in our picnic area on a sunny day.  

What makes Vernon different from other wine regions in the Okanagan?

As the only winery in Vernon, we provide an immersive, unpretentious space for locals and travellers staying in the area to enjoy wine without needing to travel half an hour north or south to reach a winery. Regarding the vineyards, it was important to us to properly research and then plant the modern flavourful, cold-hardy and naturally disease-resistant varieties suitable for our ever-changing climate. This allows us to greatly reduce pesticide sprays, which is better for the environment as a whole. We found out that Vernonites love to support local businesses, and we are very grateful for everyone who visits and returns. 

Woman in a green dress holding a drink, standing in a flowery field with hills in the background.

When do you think is the best time to visit Vernon & area wineries?

We think the best time to visit is between May 1st and September 30th. This timeframe encompasses the beauty of the vineyard growing season, warm temperatures, and the ability to pleasantly enjoy chilled wine on patios or picnic areas.

Visit The Perch Winery for: 

✔ Estate-grown wines

✔ Vineyard views and picnic area

✔ Relaxed, intimate tasting room

✔ Meet the owners and winemakers

 

This interview is Part 2 of our Meet the Makers of Vernon series - to meet more local craftspeople, click here for Parts 1 and 3. 

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