Our winery opened in 2008 as an extension of Summerland Sweets, which was founded in 1962. Both Summerland Sweets and Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery are still family-owned and operated. Our wines are made with 100% fruit – sourced from the Okanagan as much as possible (no grapes involved!). Our tasting room is located inside Summerland Sweets country store, which features a selection of local artists and potters, and is walking-distance to the popular Trout Creek Trestle Bridge. 

The roots of Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery start with Summerland Sweets founder Ted Atkinson. His passion for processing fruit was passed down from his mother, who was well-known for her dried, candied Okanagan fruits. After graduating with a degree in food science, Ted began working at the Federal Agricultural Research Station in Summerland where he became head of the food processing lab. Summerland Sweets’ first product, fruit jelly candies, were developed as a fundraising effort for the local Rotary Club. From there, fruit syrups, jams, and other fruit products were developed. Ted’s success was due to his dedication to quality. He believed in using only top-quality tree and vine ripened fruit, picked at the peak of maturity. The fruit was then processed quickly to capture maximum flavour and maintain fruit colour. 

The company, still owned and operated by Ted’s family sixty years later, now offers nineteen table wines, twelve dessert wines, and four sparkling wines and boasts the largest selection of fruit wines in the Okanagan Valley.