Nk’Mip Cellars

Wow, I’m not sure how this place isn’t rated higher!
There are two options for tastings here — a basic tasting of their basic wines for something like $ 3, and a tasting of their reserve wines for $ 10. GO FOR THE RESERVES. You’re here, you’re in a famous wine region — so try the good ones ;)
I’m a red wine person, and the reds were amazing — especially the pinot noir. I’ve never, ever, EVER enjoyed a white wine or a dessert wine, but their dessert icewine was part of the reserve tasting list, so I gave it a shot… and ended up buying a $ 70 bottle of it.
Please do yourself a favor and hit up this winery for their reserve tasting. Get ready for that icewine, it’s insane!
(I didn’t know this before — Icewine is wine made from frozen grapes.)

Delicious food with a gorgeous view on a summer afternoon. One of the best restaurants in Osoyoos.

Had a reservation for lunch at this incredible venue. Setting was pure Alfresco and the view was spectacular.
Service was poor but the servers were friendly and hard working, just overwhelmed and knowingly kept apologizing for the delays.
The meal was average and if not for the venue it would have ranked below average. I believe this restaurant has eminent possibilities and the food could easily overcome the shortfalls we experienced and as previously stated, the setting is phenomenal.

Vegetarian’s review — Delicious Italian fare with incredible views and friendly service. Kids were given high chairs and coloring pages. I found our waitress a little uptight though. Between us, we ordered 3 glasses of wine, wild mushroom gnocchi, chef’s pasta of the day, a cheese platter for dessert and fries for the kids. All for $ 100 including tax and tips. We were there for an occasion and very happy with the experience. On our way out we sampled two wines and they even gave my 4 yr old a sparkling cherry to give us company! This restaurant is a must visit and we will remember this forever!

Excellent service, view and outstanding food. Truly enjoyed the tasting platter, refreshing, savoury and generous, Didn’t have an entrée so four stars. I will be back.

Excellent service, amazing location, food was extremely good… worth making a booking to go here

This is a great winery. Go for the Q’ Q’ Chardonnay and their ice wine.
We had lunch on the patio. 5 stars. Yet affordable.
What a treat!
Lorne

Talons restaurant review:
This place was pathetic. I asked the waitress if they had vegan options. She said «I think so». Then, everything went downhill from there. I ordered the chef’s salad. The greens were brownish and looks like some kids just throw it altogether. Menu said it has sauteed mushrooms but that was nowhere to be found. We also had chicken caesar salad. Again, brownish lettuce and drenched with dressing. The pappardelle pasta was worse. It was overcooked to the point where it was soggy.
We asked for extra plates when t
Worst place ever.

The food was amazing — although maybe everything is great when you have a view like that. Paired with a flight of their whites (including the yummy Pinot Blanc), is was damn near heaven.

We stayed at the Resort in an owner rent unit for my Birthday early in the spring of this year. We checked in, found our room, where warned that a hockey team was on the property. We were planning to attend their Oyster Party that night, so a short nap was in order.
I pulled back the white bedding to find a long black hair and a short grey hair. «yah» way to kick it out of the park — dirty sheets.
After housekeeping had changed the beds, we napped and then went to the tasting room. It was lovely, the wines, light for my pallet; however, the architecture is beautiful.
I am impressed with the business model. With a background in art I find the resort check-​in building visually cluttered. I do understand what they had intended.
The on-​property restaurant was nice, great service, however the décor did not flow with the property.
When the front desk advised us about the hockey team. .. I will not stay with a hockey team booking ever again.
The Oyster Party was excellent, wonderful people, great food, wine and local beer. The venue was great.
All in all — change the sheets and compensate those with reasonable complaints.

This beautiful cellar is located next to the Mica Restaurant balcony at Spirit Ridge. I sampled the Nk’mip 2011 Talon and an icewine, which were both delicious. We were served our lunch & vino outside on the most breathtaking balcony over looking the vineyard and beauty of the South Okanagan.

Beautiful. Loved the spacious bright tasting room with probably one of the most stunning views of Lake Osoyoos that you can hope to see.
You can sample two wines without a fee, and tasting fees always miff me. I’m not likely to buy what I haven’t tried am I? The two wines I tasted were very good, but not enough to tempt me to buy a bottle of either. My friend was raving about the Chardonnay, but that was one I hadn’t tried, and not a wine I’m generally crazy about. I would be happy to come back for a meal on the patio sometime and sample another one or two wines, maybe to stumble upon whichever one of their offerings I like best.

This review is only for the wine tasting cellar. It was a positive experience, like those I’ve enjoyed in Napa and Sonoma before they got crazy busy.
My pourer was friendly and accommodating, especially when he realized that I was truly interested in tasting (not gulping/​drinking) his offerings. We had a good conversation on several of the wines. He poured extra tastes for me at no charge, so I didn’t pay anything for the entire experience.
The setting and views are truly outstanding, and if the waether is complimentary, you can have lunch or dinner outside on their patio.
The wines were all pretty good though some were truly excellent.

Excellent red blends that stand up to anything grown in Calfornia. On the pricier side, but if you’re looking for Canadian wines you can cellar, make sure you stop here.

Sommelier was my least favorite of the inner-​BC portion of my vacation, and probably the only one that rubbed me the wrong way. Tasting fee yielded tiny tastes, and they were out of icewine.
My winemate almost always buys stuff. The fact that he bought nothing said something about the experience. Stunning view, though.

We were looking to find a place to stay in Osoyoos while going around and checking out a few winerys… just happened that the place we were staying was part of this resort (we really didn’t know…). We had planned to come to this place, so it worked out well for us.
We went on a tour (was a few dollars, but included a 4 wine tasting, + the icewine), and found out a bit more about the organization, the operation, and the two groups… Osoyoos Indian band, and Vincorp.
Tasting wise… we really liked their Riesling, the QQ Merlot, and especially the icewine. I’m never a huge fan of icewine because it is so syrupy sweet it just coats my tongue like I’m drinking honey… their icewine is based on Riesling grapes and maintains enough of their acidity to make this stuff feel much lighter, and really enjoyable. I had no problem buying a bottle of this stuff… and would again!

My favourite place to go for wine. I really enjoy the wines from this region and from this winery. Even though the founder of this place and I share the same last name. We’re not from the same family.
In the summer this place is vibrant and hot and popular. In the winter, you can come and enjoy the same wine, but at a much easier pace of enjoyment. Challenge is you have to make the drive all the way to Osoyoos to try it.
A few Unilocaler friends have been here for their wine and for the Spa services. All of which are excellent.
Read these other fantastic reviews and you’ll get an idea why I keep coming back.

Where Disneyland meets a winery.
As a winery, they are solid and have produced some very successful vintages. We really enjoyed their Syrah and their Red Meritage and were happy to take some home. My problem is essentially with everything else.
You have to drive into this large complex that contains a campground, condos, a cultural centre, a restaurant, a meeting centre plus who knows what else. The tasting room itself is the size of a convention centre and the environment lacks any type of warmth or intimacy. The lady conducting our tasting was completely devoid of energy or enthusiasm. She didn’t charge us the tasting fee because she said she couldn’t be bothered. Yawn.
We certainly didn’t click with Nk’Mip.

Nk’Mip Cellars is a joint project between the Osoyoos Indian Band and Vincor International and enjoys the prestige that comes with being North America’s first Aboriginally owned and operated winery. The winery site looks over Lake Osoyoos and is located in what remains of the Pocket Desert– the only desert in Canada.
The winery building’s design is influenced by aboriginal culture and the desert locale, and the interior décor features works by local band artisans as well as numerous displays that recount the evolution of the winery and vineyards.
Visitors may enjoy lunch on the winery’s front patio while taking in the view of intermingling desert and vineyards on the shores of Lake Osoyoos.
Recently completed as part of the Nk’Mip development project, is Sonora Dunes, a nine-​hole golf course, and Nk’mip Campground/​RV Park. Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa is soon to be completed along with a Desert and Heritage Centre. Visitors may also explore the Pocket Desert. Wines aside, the buildings and amenities alone demonstrate the great commercial presence of this winery and make for an interesting visit.
The tasting room at Nk’Mip is spacious, and has two tasting bars. During busier months be prepared for some line-​ups. Visitors may also browse some of the displays and local artwork, clothing, and other accessories for sale while they wait. Tastings are $ 2.00 each for wines from the Qwam Qwmt series.
Last Word :
The events at Nk’Mip are well worth planning ahead for — especially the Traditional Salmon Feast.

You have to go out on the patio that is attached to the tasting room while you are here. You will be rewarded with the most amazing view of the vineyards with the lake and Western mountains as a backdrop.
You can taste a lot of the wines at Nm’Mip for free. There are a few that you have to anti-​up $ 2 for. Paying the $ 3 to taste their Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine is worth it, even if you can’t afford a $ 60 375-​ml bottle.
Qwam Qwmt is their higher line of wines ($ 24.99 to $ 34.99). The regular winemaker series ($ 17.99-$ 22.99) comprises most of their tasting line up. The 2007 Riesling ($ 18.99) was our favourite. It’s sweet, yet there’s a balancing acidity that makes it such a reward to sip.
There’s some shopping to be done here — in addition to their wines for sale, there is also a selection of jewellery, art, books, wine accessories, glassware and other related products.
The Osoyoos Indian Band has a lot going on in very close proximity to the wine shop. In addition to the patio restaurant, there’s the Pasa Tempo restaurant, the suites, a golf course, the Desert centre, and just down the street is the campsite and riding stables.