West Kelowna Rising

For nearly two decades, Mission Hill Family Estate and Quails’ Gate have defined the sort of micro-seasonal, hyper-local and wine-friendly cuisine for which the valley has become known. For that, we can thank executive chefs Michael Allemeier, who took the reins at Mission Hill in 2002, and Roger Sleiman, above, who joined Quails’ Gate in 2005. Now they are joined by new wineries and new dining experiences, and the crowds are following. “The amount of traffic that’s coming, it’s not just July and August any more,” says Gayler. Suddenly, West Kelowna has once again become one of the most dynamic places to eat, drink and visit in the entire valley.