“If Painted Rock is going to compete with the best in the world, we must have confidence in our terroir and allow it to express its uniqueness. That’s why we are 100% estate.”
John Skinner
From our family to yours
John and Trish envisioned Painted Rock Estate Winery as a family legacy. In 2004, they purchased a 56-acre bench in Canada’s Okanagan Valley, selecting the unique west-sloping site in Penticton, British Columbia, for its ideal combination of elements to bring their shared vision of an ultra-premium Okanagan winery to life. They named it Painted Rock in honour of the 500 year-old pictographs that were discovered behind the property. The estate is dedicated to producing terroir-driven wines from its single vineyard, renowned for bold single-varietal reds and it’s flagship blend, Red Icon.
Our journey at Painted Rock began in the late 1990s with John and Trish Skinner’s belief in the Okanagan Valley’s enormous, yet largely unrealized, potential. While the region had long been known for producing some of the world’s finest fruit, the wines emerging at the time convinced them that the Okanagan could one day be an internationally recognized wine region.
The goal was simple: find the best property and apply the most aggressive mandate for quality. After an exhaustive search, John discovered a spectacular 56-acre bench overlooking Skaha Lake in Penticton. In 2004, our family purchased what was once the largest apricot orchard in the British Commonwealth, left fallow since the 1980s.
Over the next year, the team conducted detailed site analysis while preparing the land for planting in 2005. The data confirmed what we had hoped—this was a site with the potential to produce world-class wines, and it was our responsibility to deliver on its promise. From expertise to equipment to mandate, the commitment was, and remains, uncompromising.
Envisioned as a family legacy, Painted Rock is built on family values and a shared pursuit of excellence. But here, “family” extends beyond blood relations—it is a team united by a common goal and a deep understanding of our family’s vision. Building a like-minded, passionate team has been one of our greatest achievements.
At Painted Rock, we believe that by aiming highly and working collaboratively, British Columbia wines can stand among the finest in the world—a belief reinforced by the awards and international recognition we’ve received since our first release in 2009.
2017 Red Icon named a “Wine of the Year” in Decanter Magazine
Winemaking
Our approach to winemaking is an uncompromising pursuit of quality, driven by a deep respect for our estate vineyard and its potential. From the beginning, we made a conscious decision never to cut corners—every step of our process is designed to express the unique character of our site.
Each vineyard block is individually hand picked and destemmed with individual berries sorted to ensure only flawless fruit is kept.
We produce 100% single-varietal wines, ensuring each bottling is a pure representation of its grape. All fruit is hand-harvested, with only pristine clusters selected, gently destemmed, and hand-sorted. With our winery located onsite, there is no transportation delay, preserving the integrity of the fruit and eliminating environmental impact from grape transport. Our red wines are never filtered, allowing for the fullest expression of their depth and complexity.
Sustainability at Painted Rock
Sustainability is at the core of our philosophy. We are continually seeking ways to enhance our sustainability efforts through the three pillars: environmental impact, economic development, and social equity. Our commitment extends beyond the vineyard, ensuring that we make environmentally responsible choices while building a viable generational business that actively supports our community.
Environmental Impact
Since 2010, we have eliminated all non-organic farming measures, though we do not pursue organic certification at this time. Instead of chemical herbicides, we use a ‘grape hoe’ to till under the vines, a practice made possible by the strength of our established vineyard. Each year, we reduce irrigation levels, encouraging deep root growth and natural water sourcing. In 2009, we transitioned to eco-glass bottles, reducing our carbon footprint and cutting shipping weight by 20%. Our solar panel system, installed in 2017, now generates enough energy to power the winery, with surplus energy returned to the grid.
Economic Development
As part of a young and growing British Columbia wine industry, we recognize our responsibility to maintain a strong, sustainable business for those who depend on us. John Skinner has been actively involved in industry growth, championing key initiatives and contributing both time and resources to help strengthen the sector. He regularly travels internationally to raise awareness of Okanagan and Canadian wines, believing that collective success will always outshine individual efforts.
In addition to promoting Okanagan wines abroad, we are committed to fostering local economic growth. Painted Rock proudly collaborates with local artisans, suppliers, and tradespeople, ensuring that our success is shared with the community that supports us.
In addition to promoting Okanagan wines abroad, we are committed to fostering local economic growth. Painted Rock proudly collaborates with local artisans, suppliers, and tradespeople, ensuring that our success is shared with the community that supports us.
Social Equity
At Painted Rock, we believe sustainability goes beyond the land—it includes the well-being of our team and our broader community. We invest in our employees’ personal and professional growth, fostering a supportive and rewarding workplace. In 2024, Lauren joined the Board of Directors for Wine Growers BC as a representative for Small Wineries, volunteering her time to help shape an equitable future for all wineries. Additionally, we are proud to contribute to several non-profit organizations each year.
Sponsorships
Painted Rock Estate Winery has been proud to sponsor a number of charitable organizations and support the meaningful work they do.
Arthritis Research Canada
BC Children’s Hospital
Lion’s Gate Hospital Foundation
Okanagan Chef Association
Backpack Buddies
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada
Mama’s for Mamas
Parkinson Canada
BC Women’s Health Foundation
Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society
Ronald McDonald Children’s Charity
Pacific Autism Family Network
Visit Our Estate
Join us to explore our terroir-driven wines, crafted exclusively from our single vineyard.