Gehringer Brothers

Oliver, BC, Canada


Located in the Okanagan’s premier grape growing region, Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery (VQA) is nestled in the heart of the well-known Golden Mile Bench, south of Oliver, British Columbia. The dream of an estate winery goes back to 1973 when Walter and Gordon Gehringer’s father Helmut & his brother Karl completed a seven-year microclimate evaluation of the Okanagan, finally purchasing the current vineyard site in 1981. In 1985 the winery was built and the first vintage produced! The past 30 years of passionate winemaking on the Golden Mile Bench has been reflected in the unparalleled level of consistency and excellence of the Gehringer Brothers wines.

Helmut’s eldest son, Walter Gehringer, started his career in the wine industry as a young man when he moved to West Germany after high-school to attend the world renowned University of Geisenheim. After five years of study he graduated with an Engineering degree in viticulture and oenology, and brought his newly sharpened skills back to Canada. Walters younger brother, Gordon, also spent four years in West Germany studying the wine master’s art, graduating with a degree from the State College and Research Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture in Weinsberg.

The vineyard’s southeast aspect and gentle slope gives the vines excellent exposure to sunshine, while the elevated location on the bench keeps the vines safely above the fall frost zone on the valley floor. The high mountain slopes to the west, behind the vineyards, provide evening shade resulting in a rapid cooling-off during the summer months, which in turn prevents grape acid levels from falling. This is what shapes the Gehringer style: a fine balance between ripe, expressive fruit and firm clean acidity.