Crown & Thieves

Crown & Thieves is the most theatrical winery in West Kelowna, housed in a deliberately crumbling four-story faux-ruin tucked into the vines, a building designed to look like a decadent old-world estate gone gloriously to seed. The project comes from winemaker Jason Parkes, on whose vineyard property the winery sits, and everything about it reflects a rule-breaking philosophy: the wines are small-batch and boundary-pushing, handcrafted in the Okanagan, as the winery puts it, for those who drink with curiosity, a little grit and a healthy disrespect for convention. For visitors weary of identical tasting bars, this is the antidote, a place where the architecture, the labels and the pours are all part of one immersive story.

Tastings cost $20 per person and feature a flight of four bold, small-batch wines inside the ruin-inspired tasting room, surrounded by vineyard views, with reservations recommended though walk-ins are accommodated when space allows. The experience extends well beyond the flight: the building conceals The Broken Hearts Club, a speakeasy-style bar that hosts live music, comedy and cabaret performances, and a rooftop patio offers views over the West Kelowna vineyards. The combination makes Crown & Thieves as much an evening destination as a daytime tasting stop, and it has quickly become one of the Okanagan's most talked-about visits for travellers seeking atmosphere along with their wine. West Kelowna's wine route puts the property within easy reach of the region's established estates, so visitors can balance a day of classic tastings with something completely different. Booking ahead is wise, particularly for weekend visits and performance nights, and guests should come prepared to linger, since the building itself rewards exploration as much as the glass in hand.