Stoneboat Vineyards

The story of Stoneboat begins many decades ago, in 1979, when the original founders, Lanny and Julie Martinuk, left their careers in Vancouver, packed their dog, their savings, and some furniture into an old Ford truck, and drove to the Okanagan where Julie had grown up.

Following his hopes to plant a vineyard, Lanny was one of the first growers in the Okanagan to convert orchard over to vinifera in 1983. In 1998, Lanny purchased the Orchard Grove vineyard on a handshake, where the winery is now located. This site would be planted primarily in Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Pinotage. This vineyard gave Lanny and Julie the resources to finally unite their grapes in their own bottle in 2005.

Our vineyard is located on what we call The Black Sage Gravelbar.

The defining characteristic of the Black Sage Gravelbar soils is the rocks that lie beneath them. Two to three feet of sandy, gravelly loam give way to hundreds of feet of rounded, similarly sized stones that were deposited by ancient glacial meltwater. They provide excellent water drainage and keep vine vigour in check. Most importantly, these stones are frosted with a coating of calcium and other minerals, known as carbonate skins, which integrate with the soil. Because of their southwestern exposure, the vineyards take full advantage of the South Okanagan’s desert sun & heat, which develops rich, earthy flavors in the grapes.

Winemaker, Bill Adams joined the Stoneboat family following a year as a cellar master at Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars. His discerning approach to winemaking, coupled with his extensive experience with Pinot varieties, uniquely aligned with Stoneboat’s commitment to crafting quality and expressive wines.