A Private Festival of Trees Experience at Mission Hill: Winter Magic in the Heart of the Okanagan

This is the kind of luminous, atmospheric storytelling I love creating — where architecture, craft, and season meet in a single frame.

There are places in the Okanagan that feel less like landmarks and more like moments — places where architecture, light, and season come together in a way that asks you to slow down and breathe it in.

Mission Hill Family Estate is one of those places.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of experiencing something truly special: a private Festival of Trees tour and tasting inside Mission Hill’s iconic winery and underground cellar. With no crowds, no hurry, and no outside noise — just glowing trees, quiet stone, and candlelit barrel rooms — it felt like stepping into a winter storybook.

A Warm Welcome in True Industry Style

Our visit began with a full guided tasting, the kind that reminds you how deeply the Okanagan holds its place on the world wine stage.

Our guide — experiencing their first Canadian winter after moving from Taiwan — spoke about the vineyards, seasons, and culture here with so much joy and curiosity. Their enthusiasm wasn’t just refreshing; it added a layer of warmth to the entire experience.

A Cellar Alive With Scent, Story & Stillness

Walking into the cellar was like entering a living part of the earth.The air was cool and still, carrying the unmistakable scent of minerality — wet stone, ancient rock, and pure Okanagan soil. The cave walls glistened with dew, catching pockets of golden light and giving the space a quiet pulse.

In the barrels:

Merlot patiently resting, nearly ready for bottling in the coming weeks.

There’s something grounding about seeing wine at this stage — not polished, not poured, but becoming.

Without the usual flow of visitors, I had the rare opportunity to photograph the room exactly as it feels: reverent, architectural, warm, and deeply atmospheric.

A Terroir-Driven Tasting: Three Wines, Three Stories

Our tasting lineup was terroir-driven and beautifully expressive — the kind of wines that remind you just how much character this region holds.

2021 Oculus — Merlot Dominant, Silky & Surprisingly Clean

A flagship wine born in one of the worst wildfire years the Okanagan has seen — yet miraculously, no smoke taint.

Smooth, polished, and elegant, with a texture that feels almost weightless. Proof that great winemaking can overcome even the harshest seasons.

2020 Compendium — Cabernet Sauvignon Dominant, Structured & Refined

Full-bodied and architectural in its structure.Layers of dark blackberry unfold into a refined, almost sculpted finish.

A wine that commands attention while staying beautifully balanced.

2020 Quatrain — Syrah Dominant & My Personal Favourite

QUATRAIN refers to a four-line verse — a poetic name for a cuvée built from four varietals, each adding harmony and structure.

Crafted from meticulously managed vines in Osoyoos and fermented in small, custom-designed French oak fermenters, this wine is as intentional as it is expressive.

• Nose: dark plum, blackberry, lifted by subtle baking spice

• Palate: red currant, blueberry, vivid freshness

• Finish: structured, rich, and precise with a lingering, memorable close

A wine that feels like winter poetry — deep, resonant, beautifully composed.

A Sparkling Finish & a Little Something to Take Home

We ended with sparkling (because all perfect winter evenings should), and I couldn’t resist taking home a bottle — along with the most gorgeous set of vintage flutes.

Delicate, timeless, and perfect for future styled sessions.

There’s something special about bringing home a piece of a place you love. Each time I use them, I’ll remember this night.

Documenting the Space, the Season, and the Feeling

For me, photography is never just about taking a picture.

It’s about documenting the feeling beneath the surface — scent, silence, light, atmosphere.

Mission Hill in December feels like luxury rooted in earth.

Architecture meeting season.

History meeting holiday magic.

Photographing the estate privately, without the rhythm of visitors, allowed me to capture that feeling honestly — the way the trees glow, the way the barrels rest, the way the cellar breathes.

Thank You, Mission Hill

Thank you for welcoming us so warmly and sharing the beauty of the estate in such an intimate way.

I’m already looking forward to returning — to photograph, to taste, and to soak in more of the artistry that makes Mission Hill one of the most iconic destinations in the Okanagan.

Until then, here is a glimpse of the magic. ✨

In the stillness, I was able to line up to capture this perfect little twinkle at the top of the tower.