Bench 1775 takes its name from its own address, 1775 Naramata Road, on the Naramata Bench above Okanagan Lake.
The fruit comes from several sites rather than one: Oxbow Vineyard on the Golden Mile at Osoyoos, and Paradise Ranch and Soaring Eagle in the Central Okanagan. That spread is deliberate, since the valley runs through several distinct climates from one end to the other.
The name is the address. Bench 1775 sits at 1775 Naramata Road, on the Naramata Bench above Okanagan Lake near Penticton. It took the name in 2011, on the site of the former Soaring Eagle winery.
Behind it is a group with deep roots in Okanagan icewine, going back to lakefront vineyards first picked for late-harvest fruit in the 1990s.
An Okanagan icewine specialist
Icewine is the calling card here. Bench 1775 is one of BC's larger icewine producers, and its bottles travel well beyond the province under names like Whistler and Paradise Ranch.
The wines carry the VQA seal, made from grapes left to freeze on the vine and pressed while still frozen. A table-wine range rounds out the Naramata Bench portfolio for everyday pours.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bench 1775 known for?
Bench 1775 is best known as an Okanagan icewine specialist, one of BC's larger icewine producers. It sits on the Naramata Bench near Penticton and also makes a range of table wines.
Why is it called Bench 1775?
The 1775 is simply the street number, 1775 Naramata Road, on the Naramata Bench. It is one of the more literal winery names in the Okanagan, tying the brand straight to its address on the Bench.
What is icewine?
Icewine is a sweet dessert wine made from grapes left on the vine until they freeze, then pressed while still frozen. Canada is the world's leading producer, and the Okanagan and Niagara are its two great homes.
