[Wine] TIME Winery & Kitchen, Penticton

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[Wine] TIME Winery & Kitchen, Penticton

July 6, 2018 by Joyce

It was two years ago during our visit of Evolve Cellars, we learned from Christa-Lee that her family winery business ENCORE Vineyards had acquired the PenMar Theatre in Penticton and was converting the space into a winery. Now, we just got a sneak preview of the soon-to-open TIME Winery & Kitchen.

At the time this was written, the winery was just one inspection away from getting the permit needed to open its door to the public. So during our visit, the staff was still putting on some finishing touches.

The PenMar Theatre was a four-auditorium theatre, originally built in the 50s with just one auditorium. Harry McWatters, CEO of ENCORE, has some fond memories of the theatre. He pointed to a corner of the now winery, and told us that’s where he sat on a date decades ago, as a boy, when the movie and popcorn was just 25¢.

The reconfiguration from movie theatre to winery took longer than expected.

They kept the original wood beams and ceiling, sanded them down to remove the vibrant purple and blue paint to unveil the natural wood texture. Using state-of-the-art technology, TIME was able to improve operating efficiency and reduce waste. Some of the features are: individual temperature-controlled tanks that can be adjusted remotely, hanging hoses to create walking space and eliminate clutter, underground heating pipes to minimize temperature change that may impact wine production, and limited distance between drainage to reduce the use of water.

We found their wine very interesting. The “Double Gold” Viognier had a citrus yet floral note. The “Canadian Wine of the Year” Riesling was not your typical off dry German varietal. It reminded me of granny smith apples but in a more refreshing way. Crisp, juicy, with tartness that makes your mouth water. Usually one would describe Chardonnay as “buttery”, but the McWatters Collection Chardonnay had a tropical note. It’s oaked in French Oak, of which 1/3 was new oak. I got to try a White Meritage for the first time. Little did I know that Harry was the one who introduced the Meritage blend to Canada. The White Meritage was made up of 73% Sauvignon Blanc and 27% Semillon. The typical mineral finish in Sauvignon Blanc was mellowed out and the wine became more rounded. The Rosé is made with 100% Syrah and there’s prominent strawberry note. Cabernet Franc was bold and fruity with whopping 14.9% alcohol. Lastly, the Meritage was of 2013 vintage, with 39% Merlot, 36% Cab Sauvignon and 25% Cab Franc. Even though it’s been a few years, you can tell this would make a great addition to your wine cellar for the next 5-10 years.

The space will include a tasting room, a full service kitchen and eatery, patio, and event space (they have kept one of the auditoriums!). It’s spacious, modern yet you can see traces of history throughout the winery. A TIME-less piece, shall we say?