One of our favourite places to take friends and out-of-town visitors is SpearHead Winery. Perched on a quiet rise in southeast Kelowna, the winery offers an inviting patio, sweeping views of the Okanagan Valley, and a relaxed atmosphere that encourages guests to slow down and enjoy a tasting.
Owned by Bill and Marina Knutson, SpearHead opened in 2010. Originally named SpierHead because of its location on Spier Road, the winery changed its spelling in 2018 following a trademark dispute with South Africa’s Spier Winery. The new name also proved easier for customers to remember and spell.
From the beginning, SpearHead has built its reputation around two varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The winery’s location in southeast Kelowna provides an ideal climate for these Burgundian grapes, allowing them to ripen while maintaining the balance and acidity that make them so appealing. Alongside these flagship wines, SpearHead has also earned praise for its Pinot Gris and Riesling.
Rather than relying solely on estate fruit, the winery sources grapes from six carefully selected vineyards across the Okanagan, including two in Naramata, two in Summerland, and its own estate vineyards in Kelowna. This approach gives the winemaking team access to a range of growing conditions, producing wines that combine regional character with the distinct qualities of individual vineyard sites.
Pinot Noir enthusiasts will appreciate SpearHead’s attention to Dijon clones, with wines produced from clones 777, 828, 943, and 115. Its Chardonnay is made exclusively from Clone 95, which has become a favourite among many local wine lovers. Rather than blending everything together, many of the winery’s bottlings are produced as single-vineyard wines, allowing each site to express its own personality. The clone used is often identified on the label, reflecting the winery’s commitment to understanding which combinations of site and clone produce the finest results.
Visitors are welcomed by Wine Shop Manager Jenny Simpson, whose enthusiasm for wine is immediately apparent. Friendly and knowledgeable, she enjoys sharing the stories behind the wines while continuing to expand her own education. Simpson holds WSET Level 3 certification, International Sommelier Guild Level 2, Canadian and French Wine Scholar designations, an Alsace Masters Certificate, and is currently enrolled in the Bordeaux Master’s program. Her passion for wine education adds another dimension to the tasting experience, whether guests are seasoned collectors or simply curious to learn more.
Behind the wines is winemaker and General Manager Grant Stanley, whose experience has helped establish SpearHead as one of the Okanagan’s leading producers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Born in Vancouver, Stanley developed his winemaking skills in New Zealand, first in Marlborough and later in Martinborough, where he discovered a lasting passion for Pinot Noir. After spending 15 years in New Zealand and Oregon’s renowned Willamette Valley, he returned to British Columbia, drawn by the growing recognition of the Okanagan Valley’s potential to produce world-class Pinot Noir.
Stanley’s focus on matching grape clone to vineyard site, combined with careful vineyard selection and restrained wine making, has resulted in numerous award-winning wines. His philosophy is to let the fruit and the vineyard speak for themselves, an approach that is evident across the winery’s portfolio.
Like many British Columbia wineries, SpearHead faced significant challenges following the devastating cold snap that severely reduced the province’s 2024 grape harvest. To maintain production, the winery crafted its 2024 vintage using grapes sourced from Oregon and Washington. These wines are clearly labelled as “Dual Citizen,” providing transparency while allowing loyal customers to continue enjoying SpearHead’s winemaking style despite the extraordinary circumstances.
Fortunately, the 2025 growing season marked a welcome return to normal production in the Okanagan. With healthy vineyards and an excellent harvest, the vintage is already being recognized as one of the region’s strongest in recent years.
Whether you’re introducing visitors to Okanagan wine for the first time or returning to revisit familiar favourites, SpearHead Winery consistently delivers thoughtful wines, knowledgeable hospitality, and one of the most enjoyable tasting settings in the valley.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)