Closet Canuck: Black Hills Estate Winery Introduces Joy Road Vineyard Kitchen in Oliver, BC

I was first introduced to Black Hills Winery while on an AUDI road trip with Eric Pateman of Edible Canada. It was a unique and fun way to experience the Okanagan Valley, BC's largest wine growing region. One of my favorite stops was Black Hills Estate Winery. Established in 1996, the 40-acre vineyard's terroir is comprised of desert earth, long hours of sunlight and cool nights. The Bordeaux grapes are hand-picked by the Black Hills team.

The winery has expanded since my visit in 2007, with the addition of its highly acclaimed Wine Experience Centre. And this weekend, they're introducing the Joy Road Vineyard Kitchen, where guests can enjoy a glass of wine paired with locally sourced food. Joy Road is a catering company that started out selling pastries at farmers' markets. Today, it's known for its Cuisine du Terroir, and they work closely with regional farmers and producers in sourcing fresh, in-season ingredients.

The unique partnership between Black Hills and Joy Road features a shipping container kitchen repurposed for the patio restaurant. It's equipped with a full kitchen that includes a pizza oven, and is located beside the patio in the vineyard -- hence the name Joy Road Vineyard Kitchen.

The seasonal kitchen features a menu that includes hand-tossed pizzas with house cured salumi, local cheese and produce, and Black Hills' wines. The menu will reflect the seasonal offerings, and the hours of the Joy Road Vineyard Kitchen are 11:30AM to 5:00 PM on these dates:

June 14 - 29 | Friday-Saturday-Sunday
July 3 - September 1 | Thursday - Monday
September 4 - October 12 | Thursday-Sunday

The Wine Experience Centre is also launching a Sunset Happy Hour series of special events on Thursday-Saturday nights during the summer. From July 1-September 1, guest DJs will spin music by the poolside cabanas from 4-7PM. 2 for 1 wine tasting will be offered to guests along with special food offerings.