Yvonne Turgeon
As the McDougall Creek Wildfire raged through the Central Okanagan, consuming over 180 buildings and displacing thousands, a remarkable display of resilience, solidarity, and compassion emerged along the Westside Wine Trail.
On Thursday, August 17, this devastating wildfire crept dangerously close to the region’s renowned tourist destination, putting the 14 wineries in its path on high alert. Vineyard owners and winery staff found themselves evacuating their properties alongside their neighbours with little warning.
In the face of adversity, several wineries offered refuge to evacuees. Mt. Boucherie, Grizzli Winery, Kalala Organic Estate Winery, and Rollingdale Winery opened their doors to those in need. At the same time, Ciao Bella Winery’s father-and-son winemaking team assisted neighbours and transported livestock; Quails’ Gate provided hundreds of meals each day to local firefighter camps.
The strength of that resilience and unwavering commitment to the land rang loudly in the voices of winery owners. “The most important thing that we’re doing right now is farming through all this to make sure we get the most and best grapes possible,” says Nigel Paynter of Off the Grid Organic Winery.
Harvesting bounty from the land often comes with shared struggles, and this season, those struggles forged unbreakable bonds among the growers. “We’re all in this together, connected by the force of nature,” says viticulturist and proprietor Karnail Singh Sidhu of Little Straw Vineyards and Kalala Organic Estate Winery. “Right now, our main focus is lending a hand wherever it’s needed most. Challenges will come, but we’ll bounce back stronger.”
Acknowledging the long road to recovery, Bobby Gidda, president of Volcanic Hills Estate Winery, remarked, “The coming days and months will be difficult for many, especially our local farmers and small businesses. I urge everyone to support Okanagan’s small businesses whenever possible.”
Roberto Fiume, founder and viticulturist for Ciao Bella Winery, emphasized the importance of unity during these trying times, saying, “In the midst of this chaos, sticking together and staying strong is crucial.
“Forza,” he urged.
Amidst the ominous, smoky skies, the community rallied together, and hope shone brightly. The Westside Wine Trail team shared a photo snapped just days after the fires began—an image we’ve chosen for the cover of our Fall issue of Orchard & Vine. The vineyards are those at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery photographed the morning of August 23.
“Tough times bring us closer together,” said Pebble Fehr, wineshop manager of Rollingdale Winery. “We’re all facing similar challenges—slow seasons, damaged vines, and now this disaster. But we’re not just sharing the struggle; we’re also sharing hope. These challenges may ultimately strengthen our unity.
“Hand in hand, we will overcome this—you can count on it.”