Winery Showdown: Kelowna
Celebrate the art of food & wine pairing, through the lens of some of the industries finest wine professionals.
THE EVENT: Two leading wineries compete to pair the perfect wine with each course at a decadent 4-course dinner. You vote to pick the winner, who proceeds to the final showdown.
WHERE: La Bussola, 1451 Ellis St., Kelowna, BC
THE DINNER: Reception with canapés, 4-course dinner, and 9 beautiful wines.
WHEN: Round 1 – January 31, Round 2 – February 28, The Final Showdown – April 4, 2027
$175 per person plus taxes and gratuities
THE SHOWDOWN
The wineries’ mission is to pair the perfect wine from their portfolio with each of the 4 courses designed by La Bussola’s Chef Lauretta Coccaro. Your mission is to be the judge. After each course, you’ll mark your ballot card with the wine you felt paired best with the dish. The votes will be tallied, culminating in a winner. The winning winery from each of the first two dinners will proceed to the final showdown.
THE DINNER
At 6 pm we begin with a reception of bubbly and canapés. The 4-course dinner will begin at 6.30 p.m. with introductions to each winery and the Chef. Since 1974, La Bussola has been a cornerstone of Kelowna’s dining scene, proudly serving traditional Italian cuisine. Come and meet other food and wine lovers at this exceptional celebration of food and wine.
YOU VOTE
Ballot cards are collected and tallied, and the results revealed after each course, culminating in a winner.
Kelowna Dates
Kelowna
January 31, 2027
Tantalus vs. Quails’ Gate
$175 CAD per person
Plus taxes and gratuities
Kelowna
February 28, 2027
Frind vs. Summerhill
$175 CAD per person
Plus taxes and gratuities
Kelowna
April 4, 2027
Finale
$175 CAD per person
Plus taxes and gratuities
ABOUT WINERY SHOWDOWN
The Venue
La Bussola
Since 1974 La Bussola has been proudly serving traditional Italian cuisine in downtown Kelowna, made with love, passed-down recipes, and a passion for hospitality. It is located at 1451 Ellis St., Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A3, Canada.
The Food
The night begins with a pre-dinner reception, with sparkling wine and canapés. A 4-course dinner is then served showcasing the Chef’s talents. We cannot accommodate allergies because everyone needs to taste the exact same food and wine for the votes to be fair.
The Wine
You will enjoy 9 different wines during the evening. There are two different wines served blind with each course, wine A and B. You pick and vote for your favourite. The wines are revealed after each course and each winery will explain their choice.
The Format
Doors open at 6 pm for a reception. Enjoy some canapés and bubbly while you mingle with other guests. At 6:30 pm you will be seated and we will introduce the event and the two competing wineries. With each course, two wines are served blind. Simply pick the wine that pairs best with the dish and vote. Then all will be revealed!
The Finale
At the final event the winners of the first two events will compete for the crown in the grand finale of the Winery Showdown Kelowna.
All sales are final and non-refundable but you can transfer your booking to someone else for free. Just give us the new names for our reservation list. We cannot accommodate allergies as everyone needs to taste the exact same food and wine for the votes to be fair.
Meet your wineries
Our Winery Showdowns in Kelowna feature four of the Okanagan’s leading wineries.
Established in 2004, Tantalus is a respected Okanagan Valley winery dedicated to producing authentic, terroir-driven wines with a strong commitment to responsible land stewardship. Located on the eastern slopes of the valley, overlooking Lake Okanagan and Kelowna, the estate is home to one of British Columbia’s oldest continuously producing vineyards. Originally planted to table grapes in 1927 by horticulturist J.W. Hughes, the site was later known as Pioneer Vineyards.
Proprietor Eric Savics recognized its exceptional potential and focused the winery’s production on Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. The estate’s historic 1978 Riesling and 1985 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines form the foundation of its portfolio, complemented by newer plantings and diverse clones. Today, Tantalus is recognized in Canada and internationally for its distinctive, high-quality wines.
Since 1989, Quails’ Gate has been crafting exceptional wines rooted in a deep commitment to vineyard excellence. Founded by a fourth-generation Okanagan farming family with more than a century of local history, the winery remains guided by its founding principles and values. Through ongoing research, innovation, and dedication to quality, Quails’ Gate produces wines known for their character, flavour, and consistency.
The estate farms 160 acres of vineyards, including some of Canada’s most mature vinifera plantings, and has played a leading role in advancing Canadian viticulture. With a focus on continuous improvement across both its vineyards and winery, Quails’ Gate continues to pursue the production of world-class wines that reflect the distinctive character of the Okanagan Valley.
Frind Estate Winery is located on a historic lakefront property in West Kelowna, British Columbia. Once home to former BC Premier Bill Bennett and his family, the estate also connects to the legacy of W.A.C. Bennett, who served as the province’s longest-standing premier and was president of Calona Wines, the Okanagan’s first winery. Frind Estate Winery honours this heritage while leading through innovation and advanced technology to produce smooth, fruit-forward wines.
The winery is equally committed to sustainability, integrating permaculture principles and organic practices throughout its vineyards and buildings. Long-lasting infrastructure, compost-based vineyard care, water-efficient systems, and a sophisticated tertiary wastewater treatment facility reflect its environmental responsibility. Through its combination of technical expertise, ecological stewardship, and warm familial hospitality, Frind Estate Winery offers guests a distinctive world-class experience.
Perched above Okanagan Lake in Kelowna, British Columbia, Summerhill Pyramid Winery is a family-owned estate founded in 1986 by Stephen Cipes, who moved from New York to the Okanagan with a vision of wine grown in harmony with nature. A pioneer of organic grape growing in Canada, Summerhill began its organic transition in 1988 and in 2012 became British Columbia’s first Demeter-certified biodynamic vineyard. Its signature landmark is the pyramid cellar, the world’s first wine cellar designed around sacred geometry, where the wines are aged.
Summerhill is best known for its traditional-method sparkling wines under the Cipes label, which have earned international honours including a trophy for best sparkling wine at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London and the title of Canadian Wine Producer of the Year. Today it is one of BC’s most visited wineries, with tastings and an organic farm-to-table bistro supplied by its own gardens, all with sweeping lake views.
Kelowna
January 31, 2027
Tantalus vs. Quails’ Gate
$175 CAD per person
Plus taxes and gratuities
Kelowna
February 28, 2027
Frind vs. Summerhill
$175 CAD per person
Plus taxes and gratuities
Kelowna
April 4, 2027
Finale
$175 CAD per person
Plus taxes and gratuities
