Cindy White A winery of epic proportions is taking shape on a hillside in Lake Country with spectacular views of Okanagan Lake. Castanet got a sneak peek at O’Rourke Family Estate Winery , ahead of one of its first public events. It will be unveiling an outdoor amphitheatre with a concert series featuring Barney Bentall and Jim Cuddy on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6.
Work is still underway on an indoor amphitheatre at the site above Carr’s Landing. “It seats 500 people, full staging, green room, box seating. It will be very much like a London West End threatre,” said Peak Cellars general manager Ian Scromeda.
He adds that the tasting room will be incorporated into the indoor amphitheatre space. The massive complex is the brainchild of Peak Cellars founder Dennis O’Rourke. It takes what he began in 2009 with O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars and expands on it in spectacular fashion, combining winery, event spaces and accommodation, built into the side of a mountain.
There will be several dining areas, with multiple patio spaces. O’Rourke even repurposed some of the timbers from the old packing house in Kelowna to build an expansive pergola. Dozens of people are working to complete his vision and when O’Rourke Family Estate fully opens it is expected to employ hundreds more.
Dennis is also giving back to the community. He hopes to raise $1 million for the Kelowna Child & Youth Advocacy Centre at a special event on July 11..
