Driving along Naramata Bench Road, the familiar green and black logo pointed me up the hill to Laughing Stock Vineyards. I stepped out into the cool, overcast air, taking in the view. Beautiful. The vines are sloping toward Okanagan Lake. There is a quiet hum in the distance.  I had not visited before and now I was asking, "have I missed out?"
Right away I notice the building is modest and the vibe unpretentious. In a region where some wineries have gone full opulent villa, you know - fancy gates, big egos and pretentious hosts? Laughing Stock feels different. The focus here isn’t flash or façade, but fruit. The energy feels grounded in the vineyard, guided by the calm precision of one of the valley’s leading female winemakers. The mood is relaxed. The rhythm is unhurried. Time for tasting. Time for talking.