Painted Rock Estate Winery

John Skinner spent a career in the Canadian investment industry before turning to wine in his mid-50s. He and his wife Trish Skinner identified the bench above Skaha Lake (south of Penticton, on the east shore) as their target property in the early 2000s; the 56-acre site was historically known as The Blackhawk and had been the largest apricot orchard in the British Commonwealth before the orchard was pulled out in the late 1980s. The estate name Painted Rock references the 500-year-old First Nations pictographs (rock paintings) on cliff faces above Skaha Lake near the property; the name acknowledges the longer human history of the place. The property sits within what later became the Skaha Bench sub-GI, designated by the BC Wines of Marked Quality Regulation on May 13, 2019 alongside the Naramata Bench. The bench's lake-moderation effect (Skaha Lake provides thermal buffering), warm afternoon sun exposure on the west-facing slope, and rocky-and-gravelly soils combine to produce a terroir well-suited to Bordeaux variety ripening, with the structural cool-night freshness that the Skinners aimed to capture. The Skinners purchased the 56-acre property in 2004 and planted vines in 2005 and 2006. They approached the project explicitly as a single-vineyard estate model rather than as a multi-source operation: all wines would come from estate fruit, and the wine portfolio would be calibrated to the specific block-by-block character of the property. The primary planting strategy was to plant the five classic Bordeaux red varieties plus Chardonnay (with Syrah added as well); because Painted Rock is 100 percent estate, the Skinners planted two clones of every variety to provide the winemaker with the greatest breadth of blending options. The first commercial vintage was 2007 (the first significant harvest from the young vines), and the inaugural releases won Lieutenant Governor's Awards for Excellence in BC Wines, an unusual achievement for vines only three years old. The on-site winery and tasting room were built in stages during the following years.

• John Skinner spent his career in the Canadian investment industry before turning to wine in his mid-50s; he and Trish purchased the 56-acre Skaha Bench property in 2004
• Site was historically The Blackhawk, the largest apricot orchard in the British Commonwealth, converted from apricots in the late 1980s; estate name references the 500-year-old First Nations pictographs on cliff faces above Skaha Lake
• Property within the Skaha Bench sub-GI designated May 13, 2019 (alongside Naramata Bench) under the BC Wines of Marked Quality Regulation; west-facing slope with lake-moderation effect on the east shore of Skaha Lake
• Vines planted 2005-2006 on the 56-acre property; first commercial vintage 2007 with inaugural releases winning Lieutenant Governor's Awards for Excellence in BC Wines

John Skinner recruited Bordeaux-based French oenologist Alain Sutre as the estate's winemaking and viticultural consultant in 2006, before any commercial vintages had been released. Sutre's Bordeaux client list has included Chateau Beychevelle (the historic Saint-Julien Fourth Growth) and Chateau Petrus (the Pomerol icon), giving the consulting relationship unusual depth among New World producers. His role at Painted Rock combines vineyard-management advisory (canopy management, harvest timing, block-by-block fruit selection), winemaking advisory (extraction approach, oak regime, blending sessions), and quality-assurance oversight; Sutre travels to BC each vintage to participate in harvest and blending decisions alongside Skinner and full-time assistant winemaker Gabe Reis. Skinner has been explicit about Sutre's role in shaping the estate's stylistic identity toward structured, Bordeaux-influenced wines rather than New World fruit-forward styles. The Sutre relationship distinguishes Painted Rock from peer BC producers and resembles the international-consultant model used at other estates aiming for explicit international recognition: Michel Rolland's consultancy work at multiple Argentine and Chilean producers (Catena Zapata, Casa Lapostolle); Stéphane Derenoncourt's work at Bordeaux and California producers; Pascal Chatonnet's work at Argentina, Spain, and California producers. The Bordeaux-consultant model imports specific oenological judgement (extraction timing, blending philosophy, oak selection) and supports a structural-elegance stylistic register that contrasts with the bolder fruit-forward styles common to warm-climate New World production. Painted Rock's wines reflect this influence: structured tannin, restrained alcohol levels for the southern Okanagan (typically 14 to 14.5 percent rather than 15+), bright acidity from the cooler-than-Black-Sage bench-and-lake regime, and an ageing trajectory of 10 to 15+ years for the flagship Red Icon blend. Gabe Reis manages day-to-day operations between Sutre's vintage-time visits.

• Alain Sutre, Bordeaux-based French oenologist, recruited as consultant in 2006; Bordeaux client list has included Chateau Beychevelle (Saint-Julien Fourth Growth) and Chateau Petrus (Pomerol)
• Sutre's role spans vineyard-management advisory, winemaking advisory, and quality-assurance oversight; travels to BC each vintage for harvest and blending sessions alongside Skinner and assistant winemaker Gabe Reis
• International-consultant model resembles Michel Rolland (Catena Zapata, Casa Lapostolle), Stéphane Derenoncourt (Bordeaux and California), Pascal Chatonnet (Argentina, Spain, California); imports specific oenological judgement
• Stylistic outcome: structured tannin, restrained alcohol (typically 14 to 14.5 percent), bright acidity from the cooler bench-and-lake regime, 10 to 15+ year ageing trajectory for Red Icon

Painted Rock's 56-acre property sits on a west-facing bench above Skaha Lake; approximately 27 acres are currently planted to vines, with the remainder reserved as natural land, building footprint, and future expansion potential. The planted area is dedicated to the five classic Bordeaux red varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec) plus Syrah and a small Chardonnay block on a cooler upper-slope site. Two clones of each variety were planted to maximise blending options for the winemaker. The vineyard layout is calibrated to the Bordeaux blending model: each variety's block is sized to produce the proportions needed for the flagship Red Icon Bordeaux blend, with single-variety bottlings drawing from the same blocks. Skaha Bench averages roughly 1,450 growing degree days, with average daily temperatures slightly warmer than at the Penticton airport and a long frost-free period attributable to lake proximity and the west-facing slope aspect. The single-block estate-vineyard approach distinguishes Painted Rock from larger BC producers that source from multiple growing regions. The block-by-block character of the vineyard maps onto the wine portfolio: the Red Icon Bordeaux blend reflects the blended character of the property, while the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec single-variety bottlings express their specific blocks. The Syrah from the Painted Rock vineyard sits closer to the cooler-vintage Northern Rhône register than to the warmer Australian Barossa register, showing black pepper, dark cherry and fig, and savoury herbal notes; the cool-night Skaha-Lake-influenced micro-climate distinguishes Painted Rock Syrah from the warmer southern Okanagan and Similkameen Syrah expressions. The Chardonnay block is small and supports a limited Chardonnay program with restrained oak and structured acidity. The estate's allocation lists for the Red Icon and the single-variety reserve bottlings are typically oversubscribed, with a high-margin direct-to-consumer business model fitting the small total production volume.

• 56-acre property with approximately 27 acres planted; remainder reserved as natural land, building footprint, and future expansion; two clones of each variety planted to maximise blending options
• Planted varieties: the five classic Bordeaux reds (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec) plus Syrah and a small Chardonnay block on a cooler upper-slope site
• Skaha Bench averages ~1,450 growing degree days with slightly warmer daily temperatures than the Penticton airport and a long frost-free period from lake proximity and west-facing aspect
• Syrah register sits closer to the cooler-vintage Northern Rhône than to Australian Barossa; black pepper, dark cherry and fig, savoury herbs; cool-night Skaha-Lake micro-climate distinguishes from warmer southern Okanagan and Similkameen Syrah

The Red Icon is Painted Rock's flagship and one of BC's most-collected red wines. The 2021 vintage was assembled from 41 percent Merlot, 23 percent Cabernet Franc, 16 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 percent Malbec, and 8 percent Petit Verdot (exact proportions vary by vintage to suit the blending judgement of the season). The wine ages in French oak before bottling and additional in-bottle ageing prior to release, and is built for 10 to 15+ year cellaring from top vintages. Red Icon retails in the $75 to $85 range from current vintages. The 2017 Red Icon was named Decanter Canadian Wine of the Year with a 95-point score, and the wine has earned consistent top-tier reviews from Decanter, WineAlign, and the BC trade press across more than a decade of vintages. Single-variety bottlings include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and (for wine club members) Malbec, each from specific blocks with distinct varietal expression. The Syrah anchors the Rhône-variety side of the portfolio and reflects the cool-night Skaha-Lake-influenced micro-climate; the Syrah ages roughly 18 months in oak (typically around 80 percent French and 20 percent American). A Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon blend sits in the lineup as a stylistic bridge between the Bordeaux and Rhône sides. The Chardonnay (small-production, restrained oak) sits on the white side with structured acidity and mineral spine, and a structured Rosé rounds out the lineup. Distribution and allocation: Painted Rock operates a high-margin direct-to-consumer business model. The estate tasting room on the bench above Skaha Lake anchors the visitor experience. The wine club program supports the largest share of premium allocation; BC restaurant distribution covers the on-premise channel; selective national and international placement (including importers in the United States and elsewhere) completes the channels. Recognition has included two Lieutenant Governor's Awards for the inaugural 2007 vintage releases, ongoing top tier reviews from Decanter and WineAlign, and InterVin International Winery of the Year for 2018/2019. The single-property, single-family-estate model resembles boutique Bordeaux estates and high-end Napa Valley producers rather than larger volume-focused BC operations like Mission Hill (Mark Anthony Group portfolio) or Quails' Gate. Painted Rock's positioning as a small-volume premium estate that wins consistently in international competition has reinforced its identity as one of BC's most reliable Bordeaux-variety producers across more than a decade of vintages.

• Red Icon flagship: 2021 vintage 41% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot; aged in French oak with additional in-bottle ageing; 10 to 15+ year cellaring potential; 2017 vintage named Decanter Canadian Wine of the Year with 95 points
• Single varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec for wine club); Syrah aged roughly 18 months in oak (typically ~80% French, 20% American); Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon blend; Chardonnay and Rosé
• High-margin direct-to-consumer model: estate tasting room + wine club program (largest share of allocation) + BC restaurant distribution + selective national and international placement
• Recognition: two Lieutenant Governor's Awards for inaugural 2007 releases, Decanter Canadian Wine of the Year for 2017 Red Icon (95 points), InterVin International Winery of the Year 2018/2019

Painted Rock is a defining producer of the Skaha Bench sub-GI, which covers a roughly 10-kilometre stretch from the outskirts of Penticton along the eastern shore of Skaha Lake and was officially recognised on May 13, 2019 under the BC Wines of Marked Quality Regulation. The sub-GI joined Naramata Bench, Okanagan Falls, and Golden Mile Bench in the Okanagan Valley appellation hierarchy. Painted Rock sits among a small group of Skaha Bench wineries that includes Blasted Church, Black Dog, Pentage, and Crescent Hill; within that group, Painted Rock has carried the strongest international profile and has been the most consistent reference point for premium Bordeaux-variety production from the sub-region. Critical reception over the estate's first decade-plus has been unusually strong for a young Canadian producer. The inaugural 2007 releases earned two Lieutenant Governor's Awards for Excellence in BC Wines, an unusual achievement for vines only three years old and signalling the early arrival of the Sutre-Skinner program. Decanter named the 2017 Red Icon Canadian Wine of the Year with a 95-point score. The InterVin International Wine Awards named Painted Rock its International Winery of the Year for 2018/2019, recognising the consistency of the portfolio across multiple varietals and vintages. WineAlign gold medals and consistent placement in Canadian wine media year-end lists round out the recognition. The combination of single-vineyard estate model, Bordeaux consulting through Sutre, and disciplined small-volume production has made Painted Rock a frequent comparison point for what a premium Canadian wine program can look like at international quality standards, alongside producers like Le Vieux Pin (Black Sage Bench), CheckMate Artisanal (Okanagan Valley), and Mission Hill's Oculus program.

• Defining producer of the Skaha Bench sub-GI (officially recognised May 13, 2019); sub-GI covers a ~10-kilometre stretch along the eastern shore of Skaha Lake from the outskirts of Penticton
• Skaha Bench peers include Blasted Church, Black Dog, Pentage, and Crescent Hill; within the group Painted Rock has carried the strongest international profile
• Inaugural 2007 releases won two Lieutenant Governor's Awards for Excellence in BC Wines; Decanter named 2017 Red Icon Canadian Wine of the Year (95 points); InterVin International Winery of the Year 2018/2019
• Frequent comparison point alongside Le Vieux Pin, CheckMate Artisanal, and Mission Hill's Oculus program for premium Canadian wine at international quality standards