8th Generation Vineyard

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8th Generation Vineyard We are a hands-on family winery who grow and produce fruit driven balanced wines! It is still in operation today making Bernd a true 8th Generation winemaker.

A little bit of our history...
Enriched by the remarkable tradition of our respective families we wanted to create a new chapter in our family’s history. We ventured across the Atlantic to the New World and started an ultra contemporary winery in Summerland/BC’s Okanagan Valley. “A wonderful wine starts in the vineyard.” That’s what our ancestors have taught us with love and pride.
8th Generation Winemaker, Bernd Schales was born and raised in Germany working in the Family Estate alongside his Father and Uncles. The Schales Family history of wine making dates to 1783, in the small Rheinhessen Village of Dalsheim. Outside of the winery, Bernd’s wish list includes time on his beloved BMW motorbike, or sailing on the Okanagan Lake – with a glass of Riesling in hand of course! Now a bit of Stefanie's - the proprietor of 8th Generation history. Stefanie grew up in a family with a grape growing history, dating back to the 1600s. At an early age she learned that farming isn’t an easy trade. This was one of the reasons she went in a totally different direction and did an apprenticeship as a draftswoman, finished in 1994 and worked for one of the 10 best architects in Germany. Meeting her husband Bernd, immigrating to Canada with their then one-year old daughter, brought her back to farming, grapes and wine.
“Most gratifying to us is our ability to expose our children to the importance of taking pride in our craft, and how we care for the land that we are fortunate enough to make a living from.”
Bernd & Stefanie Schales

Is there a third generation of Winnie-the-Pooh and friend roaming our vineyard & orchard at night?
10/05/2026

Is there a third generation of Winnie-the-Pooh and friend roaming our vineyard & orchard at night?

A growing year which started in January with pruning comes to an end with picking in end of September. As we use these P...
09/28/2026

A growing year which started in January with pruning comes to an end with picking in end of September. As we use these Pinot Meunier grapes for the Blanc de Noir and Rosé, we pick them when the acidity is still lively. This crispness creates the backbone you are used to in our refreshing w**es.
There are many more factors which determine the picking date and acidity levels is just one of them.

Picking is on its way, all goes into a packinhouse and from there it gets distributed to the grocery stores. Top notch q...
09/28/2026

Picking is on its way, all goes into a packinhouse and from there it gets distributed to the grocery stores.
Top notch quality is harvested from local orchards like ours, please make the effort to look for at your next grocery run. BC orchadists compete against a world full of apples, but local freshness tastes so much better! Thanks for supporting when you buy a box at the local fruit stands or farmers markets. The apples easily store (in your garage or basement) for weeks and months.
Enjoy a crunchy snack!

While we press whole bunches this season, we can only get 4 bins into our press. For comparison, if the grapes are deste...
09/24/2026

While we press whole bunches this season, we can only get 4 bins into our press. For comparison, if the grapes are destemmed (stems removed prior) and it's just berries, we could load 10 bins into it. This means more press days, longer work days but at least the weather is cooperating and we have no pressure picking faster.
Whole cluster pressing eliminates skin/juice contact.
"If" there are smoke components, most of them are in the grape skins. And for that reason we play safe, press whole cluster and avoid any extra risk with skin contact.
So far it tastes promising but we are just at the beginning.

Yes, 8th GEN w**e shop/ tastingroom is open daily 💛 Thanks to everyone who is visiting Summerland these days. Every frui...
08/23/2026

Yes, 8th GEN w**e shop/ tastingroom is open daily 💛 Thanks to everyone who is visiting Summerland these days. Every fruitstand, cidery, brewery, w**ery and business is very happy that you support us.
Approx half of Summerland is open, just check online or via phone to verify the hours. We all appreciate your support.

we are slowly getting our head around of what happened to our hometown. All of a sudden a casual "how are you?" hits d...
08/16/2026

we are slowly getting our head around of what happened to our hometown.
All of a sudden a casual "how are you?" hits deep. While we are officially able to get back, we should feel happy.

But there is no happy here, half of your brain is still shellshocked, uncertain about friends places, staff, about the hometown. Worried about whats next for your business, the three grape growers and your own fruits for vintage 2026? The other half of your brain puts you on autofocus and keeps you busy with getting back. That side of the brain tells you not to worry, things will happen, we will work it out, could be worse,...-
While we are coming back- its just not back to normal. Normal is a long way away for Summerland and all other communities which face (and faced) similar scenarios.

Please be kind, stay safe and give everyone some room - not everyone wants or has the need to tell their story.

Address

6807 Highway 97 N
Summerland, BC
V0H1Z9

Opening Hours

Monday 10:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 10:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 10:30am - 5pm
Thursday 10:30am - 5pm
Friday 10:30am - 5pm
Saturday 10:30am - 5pm
Sunday 10:30am - 5pm

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