Lang Vineyards opened its doors in 1990 and has grown from its humble beginnings into one of the Okanagan’s most popular wineries. Guenther Lang and his wife, Kristina, purchased the vineyard when they immigrated to Canada in 1980. Guenther selected the property—high up on the bench—for its excellent soil conditions and micro-climate. Additional properties along the bench have added to the overall acreage available to the winery. During the 80′s, most of the hybrid varieties were pulled out and replaced with vinifera varietals; whites such as Pinot Auxerrois, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and more recently Viognier; reds such as Pinot Noir, Merlot and Pinot Meunier. The excellent location is cool enough to grow Gewurztraminer that retains refreshing acidity. The vineyard also benefits from good air drainage, which allows the vineyard to remain frost free well into autumn, enabling the Riesling to ripen for excellent late harvest wines. The winery has enjoyed great success with ice wines and a unique dessert wine known as “The Original Canadian Maple Wine”. The only hybrid varietal remaining is the Marechal Foch, which remains one of Lang’s most popular wines. In late 1989, the ‘Farm Gate Winery’ license was created permitting smaller growers to start their own operations. Lang Vineyards was the first in B.C. to receive such a license, opening in the spring of 1990. One of the winery’s very first releases was the 1989 Marechal Foch, which proved as popular then as it is today, winning a gold medal at the Atlanta International Wine Festival.Marechal Foch 1989 The small, but superbly equipped winery, has grown well beyond the farm gate concept since then. In 2005 Guenther Lang decided to sell the winery and retire after many years of success and seeing the small operation become one of the leading wineries on the Naramata Bench.