Arrowleaf Cellars

Arrowleaf is a family-owned and operated winery founded in 2001 by the Zuppiger family. In 1986, Joe and Margrit Zuppiger and their five children immigrated to Canada from Switzerland (the Zurich area) where they had been operating an organic orchard and dairy farm. They continued dairy farming in Alberta, settling south of Edmonton. After 10 years in the dairy business they moved to the Okanagan and purchased Suncrest Vineyard and two years later, the Carter Farm, the current location of the winery. For the first five years they grew grapes for Gray Monk Winery with the eventual goal of establishing their own winery.

With this plan in mind, their eldest son Manuel returned to Switzerland to complete a three-year apprenticeship program in wine making. After his studies, Manuel gained additional industry experience by working as a cellar hand for three seasons; the first season in the Barossa Valley (Australia), and after that, in the Okanagan at Hillside Estate Winery under Eric von Krosigk and Tinhorn Creek under Sandra Oldfield. In the meantime, construction of the winery building began, and Arrowleaf Cellars officially opened its doors in 2003. Arrowleaf Cellars became the second winery in Lake Country (after Gray Monk) and started out modestly, initially producing six different wines (Auxerrois, Barrique, Pinot Gris, Bacchus, Merlot, Zweigelt) with a total of 3500 cases.

The business grew over time with the commitment of dedicated, local growers. Arrowleaf now has 16 acres at our estate vineyard and oversees another 30 acres in the area. The Arrowleaf wine portfolio has almost quadrupled since the beginning, now producing more than a dozen wines per year, with an annual production of approximately 16,000 cases.

Our Tasting Room, designed by award-winning architect Robert Mackenzie, opened in 2014.