Called “Off the Grid,” a West Kelowna winery is living up to its name by going off the grid.
The winery opened in November 2015 and is now a leader in the local sustainability movement.
“Whether it’s farming or livestock or animals or fruit or vegetables, all those things, we have to look toward more sustainable practices or it won’t work long term,” Roberts said.
Off the Grid’s sustainability initiatives include its 600 square foot wine shop, which was built using straw bale construction.
“The walls are built out of straw bales which is basically double what a standard building would be for insulation value,” Paynter said.
The roof also features solar panels so that the winery can produce its own energy.
And the sustainability efforts don’t stop there. Instead of using herbicides, grazing farm animals are used to eliminate weeds in the vineyard.
The property that houses Off the Grid Winery is on Glencoe Road. It has a rich history and has been in the Paynter family for more than a century.
It was once a cattle farm and then a fruit orchard before being converted to an organic vineyard several years ago.