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13 reviews for Mission Hill Family Estate
13 reviews in English
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Review from Alice B.
Calgary, AB
8/9/2011
Had an amazing dinner there. We told them about our special occasion when we made a reservation through OpenTable. We received amazing service throughout, and they treated us like a prince and princess the entire time. They made our special occasion incredibly memorable.
The food was delicious and plated well. The wine pairings were perfect as recommended. We will definitely come back when we are in Kelowna! -
Review from Dee B.
8/1/2011
I am not giving Mission Hill 4 stars. I'm rounding 3.5 stars up.
Wine: 4 stars. No major complaints, but I found some of the reds to be very... meh...
Food: 3 stars. I ordered the albacore tuna salad. For $18 I think they could have afforded to actually include some greens in this salad (Ok, ok, I'll admit, there were like 4 pieces of greenery on my plate) and make sure the tuna was not mildly fishy. Yes, I do realize albacore tuna is fish, however, when fish is served raw, it should not taste like it is 3 days old.
Furthermore, I think it is acceptable to complain about the amount of time it took for our food to arrive (2 sandwiches and a salad). ONE WHOLE HOUR. I was starving, completely buzzed off wine tasting at 3 wineries and an extra 1/4L of wine in my belly and waiting ONE WHOLE HOUR for my salad seemed absurd. I will also include the disclaimer that it was not very busy as we arrived after the lunch rush around 1:30 PM on a Sunday afternoon.
** We sat on the upper patio and the view was outstanding, but doesn't lead me to food delay forgiveness. -
Review from Allen W.
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
You'll see this winery perched atop a hill as you enter Kelowna. It offers amazing views and wonderful architecture. So, it's worth visiting for these elements.
We walked around the grounds and signed up for a tasting tour. And, this is where I started to lose interest in the winery. The tour guide was friendly and well spoken, however when ever anyone asked a question about the things on the tour (architecture, wine, etc), he often deferred the questions because he didn't know.
At the end, we are led into a tasting room to try several wines. The room is dimly lit, dark walls, dark floor with a deep red rug. So, attempting to look at the color of the wine was difficult at best. Then, the guide simply poured the next glass, asked what people smelled in the wine, then poured the next glass, then said "well, that concludes the tour". WTF?
I've never been at a winery where the tasting tour was so poorly executed and without any discussion about the wine being tasted. It was a waste of time and money. And, the wines weren't very good IMHO.
We went into the official tasting room where you could select wines to taste from behind the bar. However, no lists were available as to what could be tasted. One person asked for a particular wine and was told it wasn't available for tasting, then tried to decide what to ask for next. The counter worker never provided a list of what we could select from.
So, you know what? We left. -
Review from Evelyn M.
10/10/2010
Beautiful setting!
Nice tour! (Cellars were particularly interesting.)
HOWEVER...the $10 Heritage Tour was a missed opportunity to cultivate more of a following. It was good to re-learn about HOW to taste wine, but seriously... the wine was mediocre. Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and a Merlot. Pedestrian. If I hadn't already enjoyed incredible wines in my life, I might have decided to forgo the vine altogether. NO wonder the Asian tourists from Alberta poured much of theirs into the bucket.
The video was superlative: beautiful technique and aesthetic. Interesting information. The $5 coupon was a nice touch. So ok. A-OK. -
Review from Sheila W.
BC
1/30/2009
It is all about the wine at Mission Hill. Don't let the view from the top of Mount Boucherie, the rows of roses that guide you in from the parking lot or the massive bell tower distract you. The wine! Concentrate!
It is, without a doubt, the most stunning estate to visit in the Okanagan. I don't want to give too much away -- it's better for you to go there and let your own jaw drop. 360° of awe.
It's worth it to get in on their VIP tastings that take you through the caves. If you aren't that organized, the wine shop has ample room for tasting and you'll be guided through the flites by well-educated staff.
Dining on the terrace perched on the edge of the hillside with a spectacular valley-view is also a recommended experience. -
Review from Allison F.
7/13/2010
Have been on the tour here several times and find it not only a great way to beat the summer heat, but also an excellent way to learn more about the company.
Tours lead you to many areas of the property, with a full explanation of what each represents and any special features (ie the presence of pelicans or particular temperature rooms are kept at). The staff has their speech down-pat and are always happy to answer questions. Tastings provide sparkling juice for those who don't prefer wine (or are underage) and the wine shop also offers additional tasting options. Note that they do limit how many tastings you have, just to make sure everyone is safe.
The shop itself provides all of the wines you are informed about, complete with information about awards they might have won, or special tasting notes. There is also a full assortment of cookbooks, dishes, and wine accessories for you to check out. The restaurant on-site offers gourmet lunches and dinners, along with a gorgeous view of their vines and the lake below. Prices reflect but it's worth it just for a glass of wine and sampler of local cheeses. -
Review from Scott P.
7/5/2010
The most beautiful winery I have ever enjoyed! I have seen lots of wineries and this one blew my socks off! Apparently the winery owner got his start with his famous MIKE'S LEMONADE. Well when life gives you lemons make wine and he sure did!
The grounds a gorgeous and the wine is delicious. There are many different price points on the wine so there is a bit of something for everyone. I happen to enjoy the Merlot the most.
We went back a second day for lunch on the patio overlooking the Okanagan Lake. We did run into a bit of a snafu with the reservations but it was all taken care of by our fabulous waiter Yousef. He is ever bit the professional and made a bad situation perfect. Yousef will always be my waiter of choice when I return and that will be often! -
Review from Sarah M.
Vancouver, BC
7/4/2011
A M A Z I N G !
MUST GO!
It is very beautiful.
The gardens, the views! everything about it it's magical.
:) good gob Mission Hill Family Estate :) -
Review from John W.
Vancouver, BC
7/21/2010
This property is not to be missed. Wonderful character buildings in a picturesque setting on the west side of Lake Okanagan (is that Westbank or West Kelowna?).
They are definitely doing their part to continue to advance OK wines too! A great selection of wines are available to ask about, taste and buy.
Well worth the trip! -
Review from Peter W.
North Vancouver, BC
7/8/2010
Had lunch at this incredibly beautiful location. The food was fantastic, the staff was great and the location was excellent. A few days ago we had lunch at Quail's Gate nearby, and they are both great. Mission Hills is more opulent/grand, is a little more expensive and probably a touch more touristy.
An excellent experience. Have a nice lunch, sip some wine and enjoy the views. No negatives at all! -
Review from JC M.
Vancouver, BC
7/26/2011
This winery is absolutely spectacular. The architecture and landscaping are stunning, and the view is unreal.
You don't have to pay to see the building and eat at the restaurant or shop at the store, but we joined the Heritage Tour, which cost $10 per person. The tour started off with a viewing of a short video about the winery's heritage and the owner's vision. It was very professionally done, but my husband felt a bit put off by it... it did seem a little like an overly long commercial for Mission Hill. The tone was kind of boastful rather than informational or educational. Next we were shown some of the artwork being featured on the grounds, which had little to do with the winery or the wine. The best part of the tour (besides the tasting) was the visit to the cellar. The cellar is spectacular, huge and cavernous with incredibly high ceilings and exposed rock in the walls. There was a vault in the cellar with an impressive metal gate guarding the valuables within.
Lastly, the tasting. We were given a white, a rose, and a red to try. After the tasting, we each got a $5 (with a min. purchase of $15) coupon to use in the store. The store was really great, and one of my favorite parts of our visit. Besides the huge selection of wines and wine paraphernalia, there were various beautiful books, dishes and serving ware, and other lovely gift items.
We found ourselves wishing the tour had been a little more educational (it definitely did not last a whole hour), and the atmosphere was a little pretentious. But I definitely recommend you pay this winery a visit. The gorgeous grounds alone are worth it. -
Review from Antonia W.
Toronto, ON
7/12/2010
This place is beautiful!!!!
It's up on a hill and gives you an amazing view all around. The estate and area is so impeccably manicured ... it kind of feels like a fake set... everything is placed just so and the grass is so lush. It's a really nice place to just go and sit on their lawn, look up at the blue sky and watch the white clouds float by. Or you could do cartwheels across their lawn in bare feet like we did....
The four of us took the Discovery Tour, which was $20 and included 4 wine tastings, a food pairing, and a gift (it's a wine glass). There's a cheaper tour at $10 that includes just 3 wine tastings. There are also more expensive tours that include a meal out on their terrace.
The tourguide we had was knowledgeable about wines... there were no really complicated questions, but she sounded like she knew what she was talking about and appreciated wine herself.
We spent a really nice afternoon there, it's definitely a not-miss if you're in the Kelowna area and want to check out a winery. -
Review from Luke C.
6/19/2010 1 photo
They should train their staff a bit more. The tour was 8 minutes late and they tried to charge twice as much for the tour as it was supposed to cost at first. Otherwise very good. The archetecture and landscapes were more impressive than any of the other Kelowna wineries. Best tasting wine in Kelowna (but not organic).
