Nothing Pairs Better with Wine than Food and Friends. 

That is exactly why Holman Lang is always trying to marry this trio at its seven wineries. 

If it’s a wine tasting education you want, walk into anyone of their wine shops and you will be greeted like an old friend by one of their smiling and knowledgeable staff. It's all part of Holman Lang's focus on customer service as a key component of its success. Proprietor Keith Holman, who can often be found behind the counter at any one of the wineries, said offering friendly service helps to keep customers relaxed, as wine tasting can be intimidating.

"The wine tasting experience should be fun and educational," he said.

To make it even more enjoyable, the Holman Lang group has added some exciting promotional offers for its guests, including the passport program. The program rewards guests who visit at least five of the seven Holman Lang wineries and get their passport stamped with a beautiful canvas carrying bag that holds six bottles and a voucher for the Lake City Casino.

Customers visiting the Holman Lang locations will also have a chance to enter a draw to win two nights’ accommodation at Spiller Estate Bed & Breakfast, dinner for two at the Front Street Bar and Bistro, a $100- gift certificate towards a wine tour with Nixdorf's classic cars and one night accommodation at the Summerland Waterfront Resort.

Continually rewarding their customers and friends of the wineries is just part of the reason the winery has seen an increase in traffic in its wine shops — up 15 per this summer. The other reason is the selection of award-winning wines being produced by Holman Lang winemakers Bernhard Schirrmeister and Laurent Lafuente. Take Stonehill Winery for example – when Head Winemaker Bernhard and Master Distiller Laurent combine their talents the result is the winery's port style wines getting more and more attention, with sales up 65 per cent. 

"Consumers are really waking up to the new generation of port style wines," Keith said. But it’s not getting all the attention. Zero Balance, one of Holman Lang's newest offerings also opened its doors this summer and its premiere product Project 743 is getting excellent reviews from everyone, and anyone, who tastes it. Also getting noticed for its variety of offerings is K Mountain Winery.

The popular fruit stand-cum-winery along Highway 3 in Keremeos is the first location where the Holman Lang has married its combination of good wine and food, with everything from home-made pies to fresh fruit and vegetables, locally grown.

Next year the Holman's will continue to bring food, wine and friends together with both at tapas-style restaurant at Lang Vineyards and brand new wine tours.

The tours, which will be offered twice daily, will allow customers to not only taste Holman Lang's broad portfolio of styles, but also see how they make it. The package will include a tour of five wineries, a light lunch plus a cellar and distillery tour. 

"We are really excited about the tours," said Keith, adding that the trips will be both fun and informative. 

"People will really get a whole education."

~ Tracy Clark