Marionette Winery

Marionette Winery sits on the Broadview Bench just minutes from downtown Salmon Arm, bringing a touch of European winemaking pedigree to BC's Shuswap region. The winery is run by Amanda Eastwood, originally from France, and Jamie Smith, a Salmon Arm native, who studied viticulture and oenology in Brighton, England, and worked at wineries in France, Portugal, and England before putting down roots here. The winery's whimsical name comes from the property's own history: years ago a family of artists and performers lived on the land, travelling in beautifully painted horse-drawn caravans to stage shows featuring handmade marionettes. Today, marionettes decorate the tasting room walls and a marionette figure graces the wine labels, a charming thread connecting the estate's past and present.

True to its cool northern setting, Marionette works with grape varieties that lean German and Austrian, including Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Ortega, and Zweigelt, alongside Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. Distinctive bottlings have included a Sur Lie white blend, the Entwined Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris blend, a Zweigelt called Pulcinella, and dessert wines under the Lumière d'Hiver name. Visitors will find a cozy tasting room for wet days and ample outdoor seating overlooking the vineyards, with mountain and valley views beyond, and the winery has become known for weekend events with live music and food trucks, food offerings, and even fruit-based refreshers like strawberry rhubarb and ginger lemongrass drinks. With brunch service on Sundays and late hours on weekends in season, Marionette doubles as a social hub for the Shuswap, and it makes an essential pairing with nearby Larch Hills on any Salmon Arm wine itinerary.