Tantalus Vineyards Collection

The Living Artifact of Southeast Kelowna Perched on the eastern slopes of the Okanagan Valley overlooking Lake Okanagan, Tantalus Vineyards is universally recognized as one of Canada's most elite cool-climate wine estates. While officially founded under the Tantalus name by Eric Savics in 2004, the property boasts deep historical roots as the oldest continuously producing vineyard site in British Columbia, with original agricultural plantings dating back to 1927. Tantalus has built a fierce global reputation by strictly limiting its focus to just three flagship varieties—Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay—proving that the northernmost frontiers of viticulture can yield wines of profound mineral structure and immense cellaring potential.

The Heritage Blocks & Glacial Soils The true anchor of the 75-acre estate is its exceptional vine age, a rare luxury in western Canadian viticulture:

• The 1978 Old Vine Riesling: Planted to the historic Clone 21B, these are some of the oldest Vitis vinifera vines in the country, yielding fruit with a deep, authoritative voice.

• The 1985 Blocks: Mature plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that provide the structural backbone and layered phenolic complexity for the winery’s top-tier reserves.

• The Glacial Terroir: The vines are planted on sloped silty benches deposited over deep gravels by ancient glacial meltwaters. This nutrient-poor soil forces the roots deep, imparting a distinct stony structural framework across the entire portfolio.

The Philosophy of Precision and LEED Innovation Under the direction of general manager and winemaker David Paterson, Tantalus practices a non-interventionalist approach in both the vineyard and the cellar. The grapes are entirely hand-tended, and the winery operates with native yeast fermentations and minimal inputs to allow the vintage to express itself cleanly. This eco-conscious philosophy extends to the physical architecture as well: in 2010, Tantalus opened a state-of-the-art facility that earned the distinction of becoming British Columbia's very first LEED-Certified winery (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), setting a green standard for the Canadian wine industry.

The Masterwork Portfolio Our collection highlights the highly sought-after, single-vineyard releases from this northern oasis:

• Tantalus Riesling: The flagship expression that originally put the winery on the international map. Driven by a striking natural acidity, it features intense lime zest, white peach, and orange blossom notes balanced by a signature dry, chalky minerality.

• Old Vines Riesling: An elite, small-allocation bottling crafted exclusively from the 1978 plantings. It is a profoundly intellectual wine, balancing petrol and beeswax complexities with a searingly pure citrus frame built to age for decades.

• Tantalus Pinot Noir: A delicate, perfumed red that showcases the best of cool-climate mastery—bursting with crunchy wild strawberries, sour cherries, and an earthy undertone of forest floor.

• Tantalus Chardonnay: Elegant and texturally rich, utilizing wild fermentations and neutral French oak puncheons to deliver toasted hazelnut, bright lemon curd, and a long, saline finish without being weighed down by heavy wood flavors.

A Gastronomic Powerhouse Because of the intense diurnal temperature shifts in Southeast Kelowna, Tantalus wines retain a piercing, vibrant acidity that makes them flawless culinary companions. The Rieslings cut cleanly through the richness of pan-seared duck breast or spicy Asian cuisine, while the Chardonnay serves as an immaculate match for butter-poached lobster, and the Pinot Noir elevates wild mushroom risottos and cedar-planked salmon.

Shop Tantalus Vineyards at ZYN Discover the depth of our Tantalus collection in-store at ZYN Calgary or browse our curated inventory online at ZYN.ca. We offer expert-led selection for collectors and enthusiasts looking to secure western Canada's ultimate cool-climate benchmark.