Summerhill Pyramid Winery at ARC Harvey
Organic Okanagan Wines with Personality, Purpose, and a Little Magic
Some wineries make memorable bottles. Summerhill created an experience all its own.
Founded by the Cipes family in Kelowna, Summerhill Pyramid Winery helped pioneer organic viticulture, traditional-method sparkling wine, and destination wine tourism in the Okanagan.
From aromatic whites and expressive reds to the unmistakable bubbles of Cipes Brut, its wines are made from organically grown Okanagan grapes and shaped by a winemaking philosophy rooted in nature, patience, and a genuine sense of place.
At ARC Liquor Harvey, our Summerhill selection includes seven distinctive wines: Cabernet Sauvignon Sekhon Organic 2021, Cabernet Franc, Cipes Brut, Alive White, Ehrenfelser, Gewürztraminer, and Vispering Vines Riesling.
Together, they offer something for almost every table—from patio whites and celebration bubbles to smooth, dinner-ready reds.
A Kelowna Winery That Helped Shape the Okanagan
The Summerhill story began when the Cipes family purchased its Kelowna vineyard in 1986. The property was soon transitioned toward organic farming and replanted with European wine-grape varieties selected for the Okanagan’s growing conditions.
Summerhill completed its first experimental wine crush in 1990, the same year BC VQA was formed. The family participated in those early conversations while pursuing an ambitious vision: to demonstrate that the Okanagan could produce world-class organic wine with a character all its own.
Traditional-method sparkling wine became an important part of that vision. Cipes Brut grew into one of Summerhill’s signature bottles, helping introduce generations of wine drinkers to polished, food-friendly sparkling wine produced here in British Columbia.
Today, Summerhill remains one of the Okanagan’s most recognizable winery experiences—bringing together organic farming, expressive wines, a destination overlooking Okanagan Lake, and its famous pyramid cellar.
Our Summerhill Picks at ARC Harvey
ARC Harvey currently carries seven Summerhill wines, offering a generous introduction to the winery’s range. Explore crisp bubbles, aromatic whites, refreshing patio bottles, and polished organic reds for dinner, gifting, and special occasions.
Cabernet Sauvignon Sekhon Organic 2021
A confident organic Okanagan red with dark fruit, cassis, savoury herbs, pepper, and smooth structure. Bring it to grilled steak, roast beef, lamb, aged cheese, or any dinner that calls for a red with depth and presence.
The Structured Organic Red
Cabernet Franc
A smooth, characterful red with blackberry, raspberry, savoury sage, and a subtle mineral edge. Its combination of ripe fruit and freshness makes it a natural match for roast chicken, smoky sausages, charcuterie, mushroom dishes, and aged cheese.
The Smooth Savoury Red
Cipes Brut
Emily’s classic celebration sparkling selection. Green apple, pear, lemon meringue, citrus, and light toasted notes meet fine bubbles and a creamy mousse. Serve it with seafood, appetizers, brunch, or as the first bottle opened when guests arrive.
Emily’s Summer Select
Alive White
A juicy, vibrant organic white with lime peel, crisp apple, yellow melon, grapefruit, bergamot, and orange. Light and refreshing with a gentle touch of sweetness, it is an easy patio companion for salads, fresh fruit, lighter appetizers, and sunny afternoons.
The Easygoing Patio White
Ehrenfelser
A wonderfully aromatic Okanagan white filled with apricot, citrus, and tropical fruit. Its smooth texture and fruit-forward personality make it welcoming on its own and especially useful beside spicy Thai dishes, curries, glazed pork, or relaxed patio food.
The Aromatic Fruit-Forward White
Organic Gewürztraminer
Floral rose petal and lychee aromas meet crisp green apple acidity in a dry, refreshing style. Try it with spicy tuna rolls, pork chops, fragrant Asian dishes, grilled prawns, or anything with a little heat and plenty of flavour.
The Dry Aromatic White
Vispering Vines Riesling
A light and refreshing organic Riesling with bright lemon, lime, and mineral character. This is an easy bottle to reach for with seafood, sushi, summer salads, fresh cheeses, or a warm afternoon when crispness matters more than ceremony.
The Bright Refreshing Riesling
Organic by Conviction, Not by Fashion
Organic winemaking has been part of Summerhill’s identity since the Cipes family arrived in 1986. The winery believes that working without synthetic vineyard inputs encourages healthier biodiversity while allowing the grapes to express their Okanagan surroundings more honestly.
Summerhill’s home vineyard became British Columbia’s first vineyard to receive Demeter Biodynamic certification. Flowering plants between the vines encourage beneficial insects, while natural springs, wetlands, gardens, and protected habitat help turn the property into a living ecosystem rather than simply a place where grapes are grown.
Twenty acres of the property are protected through a conservation covenant, and the winery’s environmental commitments reach into its packaging, composting, purchasing, hospitality, and winemaking. Summerhill also produces its wines without animal-derived fining agents, making its range suitable for vegan wine drinkers.
For the customer, that philosophy adds meaning to what is already in the glass: expressive, food-friendly Okanagan wine made by a producer that has spent decades connecting quality with care for the land.
Where Organic Winemaking Meets a Remarkable Okanagan Landmark
Summerhill begins with organically and biodynamically grown grapes from vineyards throughout the Okanagan Valley. Rather than forcing the fruit into a predetermined style, the winery emphasizes attentive handling and natural fermentation to retain freshness, character, and a sense of origin.
The wines are then connected to the most distinctive part of the Summerhill story: its pyramid cellar. Built using precise sacred geometry and aligned with the stars, the cellar was created as a quiet, harmonious environment for ageing wine.
Whether visitors arrive for the wine, the organic philosophy, the pyramid, or the view across Okanagan Lake, they discover a winery unafraid to follow its own path.
ARC Harvey’s seven Summerhill selections reflect that adventurous spirit—from the celebratory polish of Cipes Brut and the aromatic personality of Ehrenfelser to the darker structure of organically grown Cabernet Sauvignon.
Not Sure Which Summerhill Wine Fits? Ask Emily.
Tell Emily what you are serving, whether you prefer dry or fruit-forward wine, what the occasion is, and how much you would like to spend.
She can help you choose the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon, the smooth savoury character of Cabernet Franc, the bright refreshment of Vispering Vines Riesling, or the aromatic personality of Gewürztraminer and Ehrenfelser.
For patios and casual gatherings, Alive White keeps things relaxed. When the evening deserves bubbles—or simply needs to start properly— Cipes Brut is waiting in the wings.
You do not need to know every grape or winemaking term. Tell Emily what would make the bottle right for your table, and she can guide you toward the Summerhill wine that fits.
Emily’s Summerhill Pick
Hosting friends, planning brunch, serving seafood, or looking for local bubbles that feel polished without becoming overly formal?
Ask Emily why Summerhill Cipes Brut earned its place as the classic celebration sparkling wine in her Summer Selects Collection.
Discover Summerhill Through ARC Harvey
At ARC Harvey, we want customers to understand the story behind a local producer without having to leave the ARC experience to find it.
Our Summerhill collection allows shoppers to discover the winery, compare seven distinctive styles, ask Emily for guidance, and choose the bottle that best fits their food, taste, occasion, and budget.
From refreshing Riesling and aromatic Ehrenfelser to organic Cabernet, easygoing Alive White, and the celebratory bubbles of Cipes Brut, Summerhill offers seven different ways to bring a little Okanagan personality to the table.
Explore Emily’s Summerhill Cipes Brut Explore All Emily Selects