Grizzli Winery — Attraction in West Kelowna

Worst Wine Tasting Experience Ever!

We followed the winery’s rules, made a reservation, and paid for our wine tasting session in advance. However, when we arrived today, we were told that an ad hoc large group had shown up, and the staff were too busy serving them to properly accommodate us.

LONG WAIT TIMES & FEELING IGNORED: Our group of four adults and two kids, was seated at the back of the tasting room where no staff were stationed. A staff member named Clara briefly came over, poured some wine, and provided minimal information about the wine notes before hurrying back to serve the large group.

We were left unattended for a long time. When I walked to the front, I noticed the staff focused on receiving cash payments from the larger group. Despite standing nearby to catch Clara’s attention, there was no indication she felt the need to return and continue serving us. Meanwhile, my family sat idle, feeling completely ignored.

When I finally approached Clara to remind her we were waiting, she brushed us off, saying she needed to finish processing payments first—even though another staff member was already attending to the large group. Clara seemed visibly annoyed that I brought this up. Being seated at the far side of the room, left waiting with no attention, made us feel disrespected and undervalued as customers.

DISRESPECTFUL ATTITUDE & RUDE TO KIDS: When Clara eventually returned, my child asked politely for more water. Clara poured the water so quickly into the small glass that it overflowed, spilling onto my child’s hands and onto my mother’s phone, which was sitting nearby. Instead of apologizing, she smirked in a teasing manner, leaving my child visibly upset.

OVERALL: The wines were mediocre at best, and the treatment we received was unacceptable. The lack of professionalism, disrespectful attitude, and disregard for customers ruined our experience. I strongly advise against visiting...

Beautiful Building however wines were off the mark.

Old whites, some should not even be sold ! I am not sure they know what they are doing with wine.

As a former wine industry person I understand how wine is made & preserved. There are some basic things that are flawed at this winery. Generally wine has to be a minimum of 12% to preserve itself, otherwise the wine should be consumed within a year or 2, 3 maximum. Low alcohol wines can also be a sign that the grapes were not properly ripe at harvest. Because we are a cooler climate for wine grapes In BC wineries are allowed to add sugar , which is inexpensive to get the wine ferment to 12% where it will remain moderately stable for several years. Most whites and reds are 13% or more these days.

We went to this winery to look at the art show which was excellent.

After seeing it was $15 per person to just sample the wine, we thought we should just buy a bottle and walk around checking out the art

When we got the Vionier it was a 2017 which was surprising, we expected something only a year or 2 max for a white. 5 years was a red flag for a white.

Upon smelling it it was clear it was oxidized. We could not drink it, I took it to the counter and explained it was oxidized, the staff person said "your not the first to say that today". Anyways they brought another and it was even worse. We asked for anything that was not oxidized, they gave us another 2017 white that was only 11% , server said it was 13.5% but when checked on the label it was just 11% it was barely ok to drink but by the end of the glass it was going off. Simply put they should not be selling old oxidized wine. .We did not try any reds so maybe those are better.

Sorry to have to write a review like this as the building is nice and...

Not even worth one star.... Grossly overpriced swill is about the best way I could describe the wine here...... Seriously,... $70++ for a Cab Franc that was so bad I nearly choked on it. I could name dozens of wineries with far, far superior wines at HALF the price or less. Never set foot in there again.

EDIT: ..... Following the response from this winery below, I must now clarify,.... Instead of $70 ++ (which indicates well MORE than $70 ....) The sticker price of the wine we almost choked on was in fact $91.85 per bottle...... You have got to be kidding.

Seeing as how I'm back in here,..... The 2017 Riesling we tried was NOT an Okanagan Riesling in any way, shape or form. OMG people,... Go try a Riesling at Quails Gate, 8th Generation, La Frenz, Monster, Wild Goose, or for the absolute King of BC (or all of Canada for that matter) Riesling go to Synchromesh,.... Anywhere but here.

& the 2015 Muscat we were served was easily 4 years past its prime,.... This has most likely gone bad in the bottle....... Since when does any winery in the Okanagan offer 6 year old semi sweet white wine at their...