Iced Out No Longer: Okanagan Valley Warms Up to World-Class Wines
Hester Creek Earns Four 90+ Scores in James Suckling’s Landmark Okanagan Review
Hester Creek News: June 25, 2026
From the Golden Mile Bench in Oliver, British Columbia with content from jamessuckling.com
When world-renowned wine critic James Suckling visited British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley in May, it marked a turning point for Canadian wine on the global stage.
A bird’s-eye view of the Okanagan Valley wine region in Canada. (Ryan Chau photo – jamessuckling.com)
After more than 45 years traveling to wine regions around the world, the influential editor and his team tasted over 200 wines during their five-day trip. We’re honored that four Hester Creek wines earned scores in the 90s.
Our 2025 Viognier led the way with 95 points and a place in the Top 20 wines of the entire region.
What the Critic Said
Viognier 2025 — 95 Points, Top 20
“Wow. A brilliant, focused, aromatic and linear wine that’s rich in flavor and balanced to a T, showing notes of lemon blossoms, magnolias, spiced apples and rose petals on a light body. So arresting, fresh and vivid on the palate and long in the finish. Drink now.”
Our Viognier earned the highest score among the Hester Creek wines reviewed, along with recognition as one of the top wines Suckling’s team encountered across the valley. We think this aromatic white captures what our Golden Mile Bench terroir does best: intensity, precision, and a real sense of where it comes from.
Old Vine Pinot Blanc 2025 — 94 Points
“A really snappy, fresh and pure-tasting white made from some of the oldest vines in the Okanagan, planted in 1968. Crisp green-apple, ripe golden-apple, tangerine and mineral flavors are brilliant and vivid. Great acidity, so energetic and appetizing. Drink now.”
These vines are over 55 years old and among the oldest in the region. They’ve been through a lot, and they give us something that younger plantings just can’t. We’re proud to see Suckling’s review of our Old Vine Pinot Blanc recognize what makes this wine so special to us.
Undici 2022 — 94 Points
“This impressive wine is a super-Tuscan-style blend of sangiovese grapes with red Bordeaux varieties. It is full-bodied and well structured, offering vivid red-cherry, black-olive, black-pepper and rosemary flavors. Medium tannins add a nice snap to the texture, helping extend the lingering finish. Drink now or hold.”
Undici reflects our belief that Mediterranean varieties belong here in the South Okanagan. Sangiovese loves our warm, dry climate, and this blend shows the structured, balanced style that Suckling noted throughout his review of the region’s evolving reds.
Garland 2022 — 92 Points
“A brooding Bordeaux-style red blend that’s generous in oak-spice, dark-plum and dark-chocolate flavors on a full body. Made from 77% cabernet sauvignon with cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec. Drink now or hold.”
Our flagship Bordeaux-style blend shows what the South Okanagan can do with these classic varieties. Warm days, cool nights, and patience in the vineyard give us the depth and structure we’re looking for in a wine built to age. Earning it’s namesake from our late founder, Curt Garland, that’s exactly what the 2022 vintage of Garland accomplished.
A Region Finding Its Voice
Suckling’s article paints a vivid picture of a wine region ready for its moment. He compared the landscape to New Zealand’s South Island and the approach into Zurich, describing “the mix of lakes, mountains, clean towns and expensive houses along the water” as striking. But it was the wines that made the lasting impression.
He called the Okanagan’s best wines “excellent” and highlighted the qualities that define the region’s new generation of producers:
- Freshness and definition shaped by our dramatic temperature swings
- Terroir-driven winemaking that prioritizes balance over power
- Long summer days at 49 degrees north latitude
- A move away from overripe, heavily oaked styles toward precision and elegance
“The idea of terroir and listening to what the vineyard tries to tell us is very important now,” one winemaker told Suckling. That’s always been our approach at Hester Creek.
The Golden Mile Bench, Hester Creek Estate Winery
Why the Golden Mile Bench Matters
Suckling’s team noted that many producers now source grapes from both the northern and southern parts of the valley, with the north contributing acidity and the south delivering richness and body. We farm exclusively on the Golden Mile Bench, one of British Columbia’s most celebrated sub-appellations and the heart of South Okanagan wine country.
Our location gives us the warm, dry conditions that allow varieties like viognier, sangiovese, and cabernet sauvignon to thrive. The elevation and cooling evening breezes help preserve the freshness and aromatic lift that we look for in every bottle.
The review also touched on the Okanagan’s resilience after a difficult 2024 vintage. Suckling found the vineyards “rejuvenated quickly” and tasted “many excellent 2025s,” including two of our whites that scored 94 and 95 points. It’s been a challenging few years, and results like these mean a lot to our team.
The World Is Taking Notice
“When you say you produce wine in Canada, people either laugh or think you make ice wine,” one Okanagan winemaker told Suckling. “But I will get the last laugh. There is so much great wine to be made in the Okanagan Valley.”
We couldn’t agree more. With four wines scoring 90 points or higher and a Top 20 finish for our Viognier, we’re grateful to be part of the story that’s putting the South Okanagan on the map.
Hester Creek’s Vineyard
Come Taste for Yourself
These wines are available now at Hester Creek Estate Winery in our tasting room in Oliver, BC. We’d love to share them with you.
