20623 McDougald Rd.
Summerland, BC
After selling grapes since 2000, Lawrence Hopper opened a 464-square-metre winery and restaurant, taking advantage of the stunning vista of Okanagan Lake from his vineyard. “We have a pristine view,” says Hopper, an Ontario-born salesman who has become enthralled with the vineyard lifestyle.
On his property, he grows merlot, gewürztraminer and pinot gris. He has planted more pinot gris on an adjoining property. He is also offering pinot noir and chardonnay grown in a Summerland vineyard owned by Krimo Souilah, an Algerian-born California winemaker and barrel salesman.
The Spanish-speaking Hopper honoured his two daughters in the winery’s original name, Hijas Bonitas, or “beautiful daughters.” Recognizing that the pronunciation challenged consumers, in 2009, he trimmed the name to Bonitas.