Sleeping Giant fruit winery — Attraction in Summerland

I guess technically this is called a winery, even though that aspect of it appears an afterthought. The area reserved for wine tasting is secluded away from the rest of the business. It’s empty most times save for one forlorn employee staring at us past the glass door like a puppy in a pet shop window.

And it’s not even a grape winery. I’m not stating that to be insulting—just a disclaimer that should be acknowledged. Sleeping Giant is part of Summerland Sweets, thus working with fruit in every form. This includes wine, jams, jellies, syrups, and ice creams—basically all phases of matter.

They’re probably working on fruit plasma in the back. I’ll discuss Summerland Sweets in their own review, as they are separated for some reason. I honestly have no idea why—they’re in the same building, only divided by a glass door. But sure, why not, separate reviews; here we go—reviewing 100 square feet of a larger store because of a liquor license. This won’t take long.

So, in a nutshell, the wine isn’t very good. Will I give the location top marks? Of course, it’s one room in an amazing store. And you can partake in a tasting; it’s right there. The wine isn’t great, but that not because it’s fruit wine. It’s because it tastes like it doesn’t want to be fruit wine. I’ve had fruit wine from numerous places, and have purchased my share of bottles. I come from a town with a single winery, Northern Lights, who utilize fruit (at that latitude, grapes are not sustainable, but wait a few years). The first year they were open, the wine was fine, but not great. Their second year was amazing, and that was because I could taste the fruit past the alcohol. With Sleeping Giant, I couldn’t, and their selection is nearly identical to Northern Lights. Apricot, Saskatoon, Blackberry, Strawberry-Rhubarb. Northern Lights matches and supersedes on every bottle. And that’s not loyalty, Elephant Island in Naramata does a better job as well. But once again, Sleeping Giant is inside Summerland Sweets, and the latter is certainly worth the visit in Summerland. Despite most of their stock being found in both Save-On and Superstore, I love the idea of visiting the source. Just...

This winery stole my heart out of a the ones I went too! The place feels cozy, the ice cream is so good, but the wines are special and the service we got from Darlene was exceptional. She guided us through some recommendations based on our preferences and top sellers, but her personality is a lively warm embrace that welcomes you to the winery to create a unique tasting. I have never felt so relaxed and welcomed into winery until then. My only regret is I didn't buy enough wine, but I will definitely be back before my last bottle of strawberry rhubarb is empty!

Thank you again Darlene and everyone at the...

We had a wonderful experience ! The wines were fantastic — we absolutely loved the selection, each with its own unique character. To our delight, the also offers ice cream, which was a lovely surprise — both delicious and refreshing.

A special mention goes to the staff, who were incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and attentive. They made us feel truly welcome throughout our visit. We especially appreciated the warmth and hospitality of the team — it really made the experience memorable. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy great wine, a sweet treat, and exceptional service in a...