"Omne trium perfectum - Everything that comes in threes is perfect." ~ Aristotle
‘Good things come in threes’ is a common saying. But what happens when three meets three? Does good then become great? That seems to be the case with Three Sisters Winery.
"There are three sisters in each of our families and we knew they'd be there to help along the way. We're very family oriented and wanted a name representative of that. Hence Three Sisters. We see ourselves as a family business that makes wine to bring family and friends together."
Rebecca Mikulic is the co-owner, overseeing the day-to-day and behind-the-scenes operations. Her husband and business partner, Matt Mikulic, is the winemaker and viticulturist.
"We're a family-owned winery that makes approachable, award-winning wines and exudes laid-back luxury in the heart of the Okanagan on the stunning Naramata Bench."
Originally a smaller operation, Three Sisters is a shining example of planting a seed and helping it grow.
"We have a sister farming company, and some vineyard owners expressed interest in making their own wine. So, Matt began making wine for them. We received such great feedback that we decided to launch the Three Sisters label. Our first vintage was in 2014. We started in my dad's barn next to the original vineyard. It was all hands on deck in those days, with the whole family pitching in bottling and labelling by hand. We were producing about 400 cases at the time, but things have since progressed. In 2016, we bought this property and now, we're producing around 10,000 cases."
Despite moving the operation from her father's barn to somewhere larger with a big production facility and tasting room, Rebecca takes pride in keeping things simple and rustic.
"When you drive up the hill and enter the tasting room, you'll see a lot of natural products, which kind of bodes to who we are. We have a lot of untreated materials like the iron in our gates and our big sign, as well as natural cedar bartops, barn doors and so on. We like to keep everything we incorporate as natural as possible to compliment the landscape surrounding us."
And what a breathtaking landscape it is.
"It's so beautiful! The view is awesome, especially from the patio. Up here you're looking out over Munson Mountain and both lakes. Okanagan Lake is on one side and Skaha Lake is on the other. So basically, you get 360 degree views whichever way you face. It's pretty perfect."
Jazzmyn Kahgee is the Hospitality Manager, overseeing the tasting room, patio, events, wine club and more.
"It's a small business so we all end up wearing many little hats."
Having moved to the Okanagan five years ago, Jazzmyn is still blown away by the majesty of the region she now calls home.
"It doesn't matter what time of year it is, your eyes are never bored. Wherever you look you're met with a magnificent, stunning view. I think that makes all the difference when going to work every day. If it's a lovely environment then it's exciting to come in. Even driving here is gorgeous."
As Spring kicks off in the Okanagan, Jazzmyn's excitement is growing.
"When the orchards start blooming, the blossoms smell so fresh. I love a vineyard, don't get me wrong, but seeing the diversity of fruit that grows here has to be my favorite thing about the Okanagan. The pink peach blossoms and white apple blossoms are so pretty."
The blossoming trees may be a sign of fruit on the way, but they also hint at more time outdoors.
"You can't beat a classic Okanagan day when the weather suits drinking wine on the patio. The Naramata Bench has many options, over 50 actually. So, when our patio is full of people having a good time, it puts a big smile on my face. It's also great watching our team get involved, enjoying themselves and spreading good vibes to our guests. I think that really speaks to what we do and why people are attracted to coming up here."
And is there ever a lot to enjoy at Three Sisters. According to Jazzmyn, the tasting room has twenty-two different wines to choose from.
"We definitely have a lot to offer in our tasting room. And the patio that I've already mentioned is a great spot if people want to stick around a little longer. We put up a big shade sale during the Summer and offer light snacks from May to September. Just some quick, easy options because after a long day of wine tasting, you get hungrier than you think. We can accommodate vegetarian and gluten free diets if needed. Also, we're licensed so we serve wine by the glass or bottle, wine slushies, and even beer for anyone not into wine. There are also nonalcoholic options, including slushies."
These wine alternatives exemplify how friendly Three Sisters is to all sorts of visitors.
"We have a bike rack right outside our venue. It's accessible from the road and the KVR. So we definitely welcome cyclists. And we love when people bring their dogs. We're obsessed with petting them, so we always encourage that."
Two children followed close behind when Rebecca and Matt opened the winery in 2016. So, bringing young ones along while you're tasting isn't a problem.
"Matt and I have two kids that are normally up here causing havoc, so we have quite a few options to keep children entertained while their parents are tasting or enjoying some wine. We have a colouring table, games and a playhouse. People love it!"
Along with the drinks, snacks and child entertainment, there is also some handcrafted merchandise available that Rebecca's quite fond of.
"A friend of Matt's makes handcrafted quails that we sell in the tasting room. I just love the little quails that run around everywhere. The babies come out every year and they're so cute. They all stay close and the parents look after them really well. They're amazing little creatures! So nice and family oriented. That's why we include Quails as part of our tasting room artwork and merchandise because their family values really tie in with ours. I love them!"
Rebecca and Matt's values also extend to their adaptive approach to wine production.
"Viticulture is what drives us. We make wine from the ground up. That's always been our story. And since Matt is a very hands-off winemaker, our selection changes from year to year. There aren't any additions or anything like that. He just lets the grapes speak for themselves. So, if there’s a plot or something that really showcases a rare characteristic, or something that tastes extra unique, we bottle it separately. We don't tend to blend things that we think stand out. Again, we're very driven by the vineyards and the actual fruit itself based on the vintage, rather than keeping a specific set of varietals."
This hands-off approach to wine production also leads to quite a low environmental impact, which is wonderful to see.
"Alternative energy is important to us. There are solar panels both at the winery and up here at the tasting room. We practice sustainable farming, and we also contribute all of our grape derivatives to a company that creates food ingredients from agricultural byproducts. Incorporating sustainable practices into each step of the winemaking process is something that we put a great deal of thought into. We're proud of making a conscious effort to minimise our footprint."
At Three Sisters, there's much to be proud of in general. From humble beginnings to a thriving family business, it's easy to see why Rebecca and Matt love what they do.
"Having a busy wine room where people enjoy something that you've made from the heart is really incredible. It's so great to be a part of it and makes it all worthwhile."
What more do you need to know? The tasting room's open, so pop in to see Rebecca, Matt, Jazzmyn and the family soon. Three Sisters Winery is located at 1250 Munson Ave, five minutes outside Penticton on the Naramata Bench. See you there!
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