This local winery is top rated on TripAdvisor in all of B.C.

• Local winery highest rated in B.C. by consumers
• Owners focus on positive experience

For one Kelowna winery, its online reviews are as vibrant as its name.

On TripAdvisor, Vibrant Vines is the number one rated winery and vineyard in British Columbia. They also placed fourth on the list of things to do in all the province.

“You walk in here and you are surrounded by us. And it’s not a sales strategy. I want you to have a good time,” Vibrant Vines Owner Wyn Lewis told Kelowna10.

There are over six hundred five-star reviews for the vineyard on TripAdvisor. It also tops a list for 97 Things to Do in Kelowna.

Lewis credits the impressive performance on the site to a singular focus on customer service and ensuring clients have a good time.

Having visited wineries throughout France, Germany, and other parts of Europe, Lewis felt they lacked a personal touch and wanted to make sure his did not follow suit.

“For most people they would have felt talked down to. And so, I decided when my son and I opened this, that was not what we were going to do,” Lewis said.

“[Instead], we were going to have great wine, we were going to surround it by a great experience. And that myopic focus on customer experience, that’s what our niche is.”

Hamish Melrose is the wine shop and retail manager. He said the enjoyable experience extends to the staff.

“It’s fun [working here]. Fun is at the heart of everything here and it’s really top down. It comes from Wyn and Marian. … They built this place with the idea of being somewhere they would want to bring their friends,” Melrose said. “So, it feels like we’re inviting people into their home whenever we welcome a guest. We say it right at our front door, ‘Welcome to our home.’”

Vibrant Vines is a family business, with the owners living on the premises. The winery houses a gallery, featuring brightly coloured art pieces painted by their son, Phil. His art decorates every bottle of wine too.

The team at Vibrant ensures all guests are greeted at the door by a circulating staff of concierges.

Each visitor is given a complimentary pair of 3D glasses to change the viewing experience of the artwork. Each year they give away about 50,000 pairs. The winery also features Jacko’s Lounge, which hosts live musical shows and has a shop selling art prints and other souvenirs.