Slow moments, thoughtful stops, and all the ways to celebrate

Mother’s Day weekend is one of those times when Naramata really comes into its own.

The blossoms are out. Patios are filling. There’s a natural rhythm along the Bench—people moving from place to place, running into familiar faces, making a day of it without needing much of a plan.

This is what Naramata does best.

"There is no new world that you make without the old world."

~ Jane Jacobs

When Penelope Roche talks about wine, she isn't just describing a product. She's telling the story of a life that's moved across hemispheres, seasons, and generations, finally finding its home on a sun‑drenched slope along the Naramata Bench. 

"My husband, Dylan, and I are co-owners and co-winemakers at our lovely little winery just below Campbell Mountain. We're basically the third winery on the Bench, just where the vineyards become visible when leaving Penticton. It's very well located in a small loop of four wineries, and there's a nice view of the lake from the top of the vineyard."

Penelope, who was born and raised on her family's vineyard in France, speaks in a calm, lightly accented voice that carries flavours of Bordeaux, New Zealand, and the Okanagan all at once.

“Indeed, to be simple is to be great.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

On summer mornings in Naramata, before the village is fully awake, the first sign of life is often the magical glow from a special little kitchen on the main road. Inside, the counters at Just Baked are already full of freshly baked goods, and owner Ashley Selwood is in her happy place.

"My days start at about 7 am. The bakery fairy has been and gone by then, so I make myself a coffee and arrange everything so it looks pretty when people arrive."

What began as a late-night craving and playful idea evolved into something real, and in 2019, Just Baked was open for business.