I had heard some buzz that a new winery had taken over the former Singletree spot on Naramata Road and wondered who the new players were. Abbotsford-based Singletree Winery opened its doors in 2015 and three years later they established a second location in Penticton to be closer to where they were sourcing some of their grapes. However, in July 2021, they made the hard decision to close it down. The pandemic, labour shortages and the challenges of maintaining operations in both locations proved to be too challenging. It became obvious the right thing was to focus on their primary location.
After sitting empty for a few years, the property was snapped up. The opening of High Note completes the trilogy of wineries for the Montalvino family of wines which includes gadZook and Uppercase. Montalvino was founded by Bert Evertt and utilizes the talents of Ruth Hanbury as Director of Operations, and Levi Gogolinski taking on the role of Director of Marketing.
As an accomplished opera singer, Bert travelled extensively through Europe and fell in love with its Mediterranean vistas and with wine. Later in life, he spent decades operating quality retirement homes throughout the Lower Mainland and often spent holidays in the Okanagan’s wine country. It had long been a dream to own a winery and in early 2020 he began to pursue his passion. This resulted in the acquisition of 20 acres on the Black Sage Bench and he soon developed three wineries each focussing on distinctive styles – something for everyone.
The desire to be self-sufficient and not have to rely on growers for grapes led to Bert purchasing even more land to supply the needs of his three wineries.
gadZook is meant to be light-hearted and fun with lower price point wines with lively, eye-catching labels. Uppercase focuses on the terroir of the south Okanagan and offers the most extensive offerings.
gadZook can be found on Hwy 97 in Oliver and Uppercase has two locations, one in the District Wine Village in Oliver and a second newly opened spot on Eastside Road in Okanagan Falls. The Eastside Road location will likely focus on Italian varieties not typically found elsewhere
High Note’s Mediterranean-styled facility comes with 4 acres of vines that surround the facility and are planted with Pinot Gris, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and one-half acre of Chardonnay. The winery is bright and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows that take advantage of the location offering views of vineyards and the lake beyond.
As a businessman, Bert believes that success comes from surrounding yourself with the right people. “High Note is the culmination of a lifelong dream, and we are thrilled to share it with everyone,” said Bert Evertt, founder of the winery. “Our wines echo the beauty of the Okanagan Valley with a nod to the Mediterranean – places that inspired a life surrounded by fine wines –– and each bottle is a tribute to our exceptional terroir and places that inspire our dreams.”
Bert’s love of art, and music in particular, helped inspire the wine names and musical note artwork.
Tasting notes provided by the winery:
2022 Soubrette Pinot Grigio ($25) only 385 cases made
Our Pinot Grigio is like the soubrette of an opera: playful, charming, and vivacious. From estate vineyards in the South Okanagan, we take our inspiration from Italian-style Pinot Grigios, which are light, refreshing, and delicate. They make the perfect supporting character for long, relaxing lunches and fresh summer produce, offering bright lemon, pear, and melon fruit that’s lifted by fragrant honeysuckle.
2022 Capriccio Riesling ($28) only 192 cases made
Capriccio is all about feeling. The music is improvised and free-form, allowing the musician to lead the piece with their virtuosity. The same philosophy guides our Riesling. We give room for the varietal to shine while providing structure from aging in a combination of concrete and stainless-steel eggs. The result is an intense, expressive dry Riesling with verve and tension, bursting with orchard blossoms, fresh lime, and chalk
2022 Continuo Rose ($25) only 212 cases made
A Continuo is a song’s undercurrent, a constant, rhythmic base that elevates a melody. That’s how we view our Rosado. It is the soundtrack to elevate any occasion – from beach days to al fresco summer dinners with friends – while beautifully expressing our estate Okanagan vineyards. Balanced and dry, it is elegant and restrained with pristine aromas of pink grapefruit, watermelon, and wild strawberry.
2021 Verismo Syrah ($35) only 126 cases made
The Verismo tradition is honest, raw, and uncompromising. It reflects a turn inwards, capturing the power of each fleeting moment. Our Syrah follows in that path, boldly and transparently expressing the elegant, mineral-driven Golden Mile Bench in the South Okanagan. From the luscious dark brambly fruit to the perfumed violets and desert sagebrush, this full-bodied, suave wine could only come from one place.
2021 Cadenza Red Blend ($40) only 164 cases made
A Cadenza is a culmination. The music subsides as if to slow down time, and the coda belongs to the soloist. The same artistry guides this blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon. We capture a moment in time, beautifully interpreting the growing season through the mastery of our craft. The 2021 vintage offers layers of juicy dark berries and fresh sweet herbs, finishing with a skillful accent of oak.
Seated tastings of five wines are available at $10 per flight on a first-come-first-served basis, with reservations available later this year.”
The highly respected and well-known Pascal Madevon is the consulting winemaker and his deft touch shines through on these elegant wines. I found all of them to be elegant and refreshingly different.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
