Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate Marks 25 years

Old Vines Restaurant Marks 25 years of Culinary Leadership in the Okanagan

From Modest Patio Roots to Okanagan Culinary Destination
Driven by the Stewart Family’s Passion for Hospitality

For 25 years, Quails’ Gate Winery’s Old Vines Restaurant has been shaping British Columbia’s food and wine culture. When Old Vines opened in 1999, it was one of BC’s first winery restaurants. From the very beginning, the restaurant championed local farmers, foragers, and producers – building menus around what could be grown or gathered nearby, and in doing so, helping many small suppliers thrive and grow alongside it. What began as a modest dining patio overlooking Okanagan Lake has evolved into one of Canada’s most celebrated winery restaurants – consistently recognized for its seasonally inspired cuisine, award-winning wines, and warm hospitality.

This milestone is also a celebration of the Stewart Family’s long-standing vision and legacy. As founders of Quails’ Gate, the Stewarts have shaped Old Vines with a deep commitment to hospitality, community, and quality, while contributing to the growth of West Kelowna through agricultural leadership and public service. Their tradition of welcoming guests like family continues to define the restaurant’s atmosphere. Today, Old Vines reflects both the evolution of winery dining and its deeper commitment to culinary and cultural leadership in the Okanagan.

That commitment, sustained over 25 years, has helped make Old Vines both an award-winning dining destination and a true gathering place for the region. The restaurant has earned national accolades, including spots on OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in Canada, Top 100 for Outdoor Dining in Canada, and Top 100 for Brunch & Lunch. Vancouver Magazine has also recognized Old Vines as one of the Best Okanagan Restaurants, underscoring its continued leadership in the regional culinary landscape.

“Our family believed that a winery restaurant could be more than just a place to eat – it could be a place to gather, to celebrate, and to connect over shared stories and flavours,” says Llane Stewart, Family Ambassador, Quails’ Gate Winery. “Old Vines is rooted in that vision of hospitality, and we’re incredibly proud of how it has grown into a place people return to year after year.”

The anniversary year shines a spotlight on the journey of Executive Chef Roger Sleiman— a 2025 BC Restaurant Hall of Fame  inductee for his role as Local Champion. Known for cultivating deep, long-standing relationships with local growers like Paynter’s Market, Wise Earth Farms, and 63 Acres, Chef Sleiman helped shape an Okanagan cooking style rooted in seasonality, simplicity, and trust. Long before “farm-to-table” became a trend, Old Vines was living it.

“From the beginning, our approach has been to showcase the best of the Okanagan—what grows together, goes together,” says Sleiman. “This restaurant is a reflection of the land, the people, and a philosophy of care and craft that goes far beyond the kitchen and beyond the plate.”

While the core menu changes with the seasons, staples like Yarrow Farm Game Hen, 63 Acres Beef Ribeye, and line-caught fish continue to appear in new forms, reflecting the restaurant’s dedication to Okanagan ingredients and thoughtful execution.

“For our team, this anniversary is about connection,” says Jennifer Davenport, Restaurant Manager. “Old Vines has become a place where guests return to mark their milestones and enjoy each season. We’ve had the honour of celebrating countless birthdays, anniversaries and seasonal traditions with our guests over the years. Seeing families come back season after season—speaks to how special this place is for so many, including our team.”

To commemorate the milestone, Old Vines is celebrating with a collection of seasonal offerings and anniversary highlights:

Culinary Reunion – This exclusive anniversary event brings together a distinguished lineup of alumni chefs who have shaped the restaurant’s storied legacy. Full details to be announced. Join the waitlist.

Vineyard Honey – Harvested from hives in West Kelowna, this limited wildflower honey captures both place and philosophy. Available for purchase in the wine shop and The Market at Quails’ Gate.

Preservatory Projects – Seasonal releases like quince paste at harvest and fermented cherries for the holidays underscore the restaurant’s commitment to sustainability and circular culinary practices.

Nostalgia Menu Items – Each month features a rotating dish from past menus. This month, guests have been enjoying the return of Roasted Spring Salmon with pommes anna, Armstrong asparagus, Okanagan morel mushrooms, and garden sorrel cream—a nod to the restaurant’s roots and evolving seasonal inspiration.

Old Vines Restaurant is open daily and offers seasonal menus for brunch, lunch, dinner, with panoramic vineyard and lake views. Reservations are recommended for summer and anniversary events.

About Old Vines Restaurant:
Located on the Quails’ Gate estate overlooking Okanagan Lake, Old Vines Restaurant has spent 25 years pioneering garden-to-table dining in British Columbia. Executive Chef Roger Sleiman leads a contemporary kitchen rooted in seasonal, local ingredients, sourced through long-standing partnerships with producers. Each dish is thoughtfully paired with Quails’ Gate’s award-winning wines. Committed to sustainability, Old Vines embraces circular-economy practices and in-house preservation projects—from fermented cherries to quince paste and estate honey – that deepen both flavour and community impact. Rooted in the Stewart family’s legacy of warm, genuine hospitality, Old Vines welcomes more than 70,000 guests annually to its iconic lakeside setting.