A Perfect Pairing
Some people spend their entire lives chasing one dream. Murray Jones and Fiona Duncan decided that wasn’t nearly difficult enough.
After moving from Winnipeg, Murray left behind a career completely unrelated to the wine industry with one goal in mind: open a winery. But there was one catch. He wasn’t willing to settle for just any piece of land.
The property had to be within four kilometres of what he and his friends believed was the perfect location for growing premium wine grapes. After patience, preparation, and a little good timing, that perfect property became available, and in 2012 Platinum Bench Estate Winery was born.
Most people would have stopped there. After all, opening a successful winery isn’t exactly considered a relaxing hobby. But why have one impossible dream when you can have two?
While Murray immersed himself in the science of viticulture and winemaking, his wife Fiona travelled to San Francisco to study another craft that takes just as much patience and precision – artisan bread making. And if you’re going to learn how to make sourdough bread, there are few better classrooms in the world than San Francisco.
Today, all those years of hard work have resulted in one of the South Okanagan’s most unique experiences: a winery where the bread is every bit as impressive as the wine.
Located at 4120 Black Sage Road, Platinum Bench Estate Winery isn’t just another stop on the area’s famous wine trail. With outdoor seating, private gazebos, and a balcony overlooking vineyards stretching across the valley, it’s equally suited for tourists exploring wine country or locals simply looking to escape town for a relaxing afternoon. And honestly, that’s exactly how I think people should experience it.
You don’t have to book an elaborate wine tour or spend an entire afternoon tasting dozens of vintages. Sometimes the best afternoons are the simplest ones.
Pick up a loaf of freshly baked artisan bread, choose a selection of carefully curated cheeses, pour yourself a glass of wine, and sit overlooking the vineyards while appreciating one of the most beautiful landscapes British Columbia has to offer. It’s amazing how satisfying simplicity can be.
One of Murray’s favourite combinations is double cream Brie paired with pear preserves alongside Jersey Blue cheese from Golden Ears Cheesecrafters in Maple Ridge. Having lived in Maple Ridge myself, I can happily endorse that choice 100 percent. But the real surprise for me wasn’t the cheese. It was the bread.
I’ve eaten bread all over the world, and Fiona’s sourdough immediately stands out because of its texture. It somehow manages to develop that satisfying artisan chew while remaining remarkably soft inside—a balance that’s much harder to achieve than most people realize.
Then I tried something I wasn’t expecting. Chocolate Strawberry Balsamic bread. If someone had described those ingredients to me before I tasted it, I probably would have questioned their sanity. After one bite, however, I was already wondering how soon I could justify buying another loaf.
It’s unlike anything else I’ve found anywhere in the South Okanagan and easily one of the most memorable breads I’ve had in recent years. For Seinfeld fans, this is the kind of bread that replaces the famous marble rye.
In fact, I’d probably have no problem stealing a loaf from an unsuspecting grandmother if the situation became desperate enough. Thankfully, buying one is significantly easier – and considerably less likely to involve the police.
One thing that also deserves mentioning is the value. People often assume the words “estate winery” or “artisan bakery” automatically translate into premium pricing. Fortunately, that’s not the case here.
For only $15, you can enjoy a tasting featuring four wines paired with four different breads, making it one of the better values you’ll find anywhere along the South Okanagan wine trail.
Whether you’re entertaining visitors, needing a break from visitors or looking for a quiet afternoon escape over the ever bustling summer weekends, or simply want to remind yourself why so many people travel here every summer, Platinum Bench Estate Winery & Artisan Bread Company is well worth the visit and give you the answer you are looking for and when you do, tell them Sheldon sent you
Platinum Bench Estate Winery & Artisan Bread Co. is located at 4120 Black Sage Road, Oliver, BC, and is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit platinumbench.com.
Sheldon Herman is the author of the multi award-winning, international best-selling book “The Tortured Traveller: How I Survived the Worst Vacation Ever,” and has eaten his way through over 60 countries. This review was written independently and without compensation. Have a restaurant you’d like featured? Email [email protected].
