How we selected this winery
On the glorious pre-pandemic day when we finally promoted Antelope Ridge to our must-visit-wineries list, we drew to the winey address, diligently recorded back in the day. However, to our dismay, the winery was nowhere to be found. We reviewed our directions, confirming the presence of Road 13 and the picturesque poplars lining the road. Despite our efforts, the winery seemed to elude us, leaving us feeling as though we were on a quest to uncover the elusive platform 9 ½ from Harry Potter’s world, destined to encounter similar results as mere non-wizarding folk. As we were not too keen on the visit, to begin with, we quickly stopped dwelling on our failure and gave up on the plans to visit Antelope Ridge Winery for good.
Fast forward a couple of years.
Finally, as the Covid pandemic became a distant memory, we eagerly made our way back to the Okanagan Valley, filled with a sense of adventure and curiosity to uncover the new and noteworthy wineries that sprung to life in the region. Remarkably, every person we asked pointed us in one direction for noteworthy – CheckMate Winery.
When we discovered that they mastered a Chardonnay that got a perfect 100 points award, it was a sign that we had to experience it for ourselves.
Winery Metamorphosis : Antelope Ridge’s Vanishing Act, CheckMate’s Rise.
Founded in 1993 by the tenth-generation winemaker from France, Olivier Combret, the winery was first established as Domaine de Combret Estate Winery. This grand enterprise even boasted its own bombastic coat of arms, featuring two upward-pointing lines, a sword, and the resolute Latin phrase “Semper Recta Via,” meaning “Always the right way.” (You can even find evidence of this on the trademark records if you’re curious!)
In 2002, the Combret family set out on a rebranding adventure. Oh, the intriguing names and trademarks they considered! From the playful “Cancan” and the boldly enthusiastic “2 Thumbs Up,” to the quirky and unforgettable “Freeze My Butt,” they sure were not shy when exploring the world of possibilities. Thankfully, their rebranding journey ended with the perfect choice. An “Antelope Ridge” became the new name of their winery.
Antelope Ridge carried on for another 17 years, crafting wines ranging from good to merely average. For reasons unclear to us, they also started to sell their grapes to von Mandl Family Estates, a.k.a. Mission Hill Winery in Kelowna. And here’s an interesting tidbit: it’s through this grape partnership that CheckMate’s Chardonnay vintages were first made, even before the CheckMate winery itself was born.
Fate seemed to be inscribing the future on the walls of Antelope Ridge. Trademark records show that on October 7, 2021, the Antelope Ridge trademark stopped existing. But while Antelop Ridge Winery is no more, the legacy of the Combret family endures. It is in the no-longer visible cinderblock structure that has since been renovated and transformed into a CheckMate Winery. It is also in the vineyards that our wine guide affectionately called Papa’s Combret vineyard.
So, what about the CheckMate Artisanal Winery? With an impressively modern new facility, several vineyards to source the finest grapes from, and the full support of von Mandl Estates, CheckMate arguably has everything it needs to deliver a first-class winemaking and wine tourism experience. Using a chess analogy, CheckMate finds itself perfectly positioned to play its ultimate Armageddon game.
CheckMate Winery visit: what to expect
Designed to blend bold architecture with the surrounding environment, CheckMate Winery stands out with its sharp and clean lines that create an elegant contrast to the natural curves of the landscape. The new building expands on the pre-existing cinder block facility of Antelope Ridge Winery. Its black and white metal façade creates a striking visual appeal that hints at the experience that awaits inside.
The promenade leading to CheckMate Winery is framed by symmetrical water features and a striking bronze entry door, creating a grand entrance that is sure to impress. The reception is adorned with a custom wooden screen that resembles an abstracted, textural chessboard. Inside, the tasting room is decked out with floor-to-ceiling windows that give the winery guests a full-on view of the gorgeous vineyards and valley and a glimpse of the production facility downstairs. So, not only can you sip on some delicious wine, but you can soak up the amazing environment too! Talk about a win-win situation.
Guests who are CheckMate club members can also venture out to the exterior tasting room, which cantilevers across the landscape and is protected by metal fins that shield guests from strong winds.
Throughout the upper-level hospitality spaces, exposed structural steel celebrates the craft and engineering of the facility’s dramatic roofline. And for VIP guests, a hidden stairway leads to a lower-level tasting room as well as a room that hosts four French oak foudres used for aging their Queen’s Attack Chardonnay. The wine-tasting area features Italian furniture purposefully made for CheckMate’s hospitality lounge and an art display.
The staff we interacted with was knowledgeable, courteous and eager to make our experience a perfect 10.
Wine tasting at CheckMate, you get what you pay for
You can choose one of three wine-tasting options at CheckMate Winery:
- Lounge Tasting: This option includes a tasting of two wines. At the time of this writing, it is priced at $22 per person, plus liquor tax.
- The Scholar’s Mate Experience: Billed as “guided and educational,” this option includes a tasting of CheckMate’s four wines. At the time of this writing, it is priced at $40 per person, plus liquor tax.
- The Grandmaster’s Table: This curated tasting experience features a select lineup of CheckMate library Chardonnay and Merlot. Every Grandmaster’s Table Experience is unique and tailored to the interests of the guests. When we booked this tasting, it was priced at $60 per person, plus liquor tax. The prices have since increased, and currently, this experience will set you back $75 plus liquor tax.
To participate in any of these wine tastings, you are required to book your appointment online and pay in advance.
CheckMate Winery specializes in Chardonnays and Merlots. All of their wines are made classically, meaning they undergo oak aging and malolactic fermentation.
While CheckMate guarantees a unique experience for every Grandmaster’s Table wine tasting, the lineup of wines we tasted should give you a good idea of what to expect.
Here is the lineup of Chardonnays and Merlots we sampled:
- 2019 “Attack” Chardonnay: A blend of Chardonnay from Jagged Rock and Vista vineyards. It is the only CheckMate Chardonnay aged in foudres, resulting in a more subtle oak influence on the wine’s flavour.
- 2020 “Queen’s Advantage” Chardonnay: Made exclusively from grapes sourced from the Combret vineyard. It is 100% aged in French oak barrels.
- 2020 “Queen Taken” Chardonnay: CheckMate’s flagship wine from the Dekleva vineyard. It is also 100% aged in French oak barrels.
- 2019 “Little Pawn” Chardonnay: This wine received a 100-point score and is sourced from the Jagged Rock vineyard. It was aged 100% in French oak barrels.
- 2015 “Fool’s Mate” Chardonnay: Grapes from Jagged Rock, Sunset, and Deklava vineyards contribute to this unique Chardonnay, which is aged in Concrete in addition to French Oak, setting it apart from the other four Chardonnays we tried.
- 2019 “Black Rook” Merlot: Grapes sourced from Black Sage Bench, and this wine is 100% aged in French oak.
For your convenience, we have prepared detailed tasting notes and curated food pairing recommendations for all the wines featured in our tasting lineup.
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CheckMate Winery. The wine we took home with us
If you’ve read our wineries chronicles before, you’re likely familiar with a fundamental principle we live by.
Our rule is to never purchase more than one bottle of wine from any given winery. This self-imposed rule serves as a vital compass, ensuring we remain grounded even when the plethora of wines we sample during our winery visits tempts us to succumb to excess. By sticking to this rule, we pick the wine that we know we will enjoy when the excitement of the visit is no longer clouding our judgment. The pick is hardly ever the most expensive or the most popular wine. Usually, several factors play into our decision. Firstly, we consider the potential food pairing for our selected wine. Secondly, we consider the occasion when we may enjoy it. And yes, the price tag does play a role.After about one hour of sniffing and sipping the six wines that were in front of us, we had to make a decision.
Call us unoriginal, but we were not going to miss an opportunity to buy a bottle of a 100-point-rated Chardonnay!
Was it expensive? You bet! By most people’s standards, $110 is not a small change. But guess what, it is not every day that we get an opportunity to buy a 100-point-rated wine. After all, we are only human. Just like all humans, we splurge sometimes!
We look forward to having this wine sit in our wine cabinet till the very special occasion, some 3-10 years down the road.
Bottom Line
When the wine bug bites, the excitement of planning winery visits becomes palpable. Yet, it’s not uncommon to feel a tinge of anticipation mixed with apprehension when planning the winery visits. Will it be worth your time? Here’s our honest opinion.
If you count yourself as a wine enthusiast or connoisseur, a visit to CheckMate Winery is a must.
You will get an opportunity to witness a remarkable transformation of the previously unassuming winery, indulge in the tastings of exceptional wines, and engage with knowledgeable staff, ready to share their invaluable insights and captivating tales. Not just that, you will get an opportunity to buy the 100-point rated Little Pawn Chardonnay, the wine that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
However, if you are among those who smirk at the mere mention of oaked Chardonnay or deem Merlot to be uneventful, it’s important to recognize that CheckMate Winery may not align with your preferences.
Keep in mind that CheckMate’s wines and tastings come at a premium price, so budget-conscious visitors should be prepared.
Ultimately, the choice to visit CheckMate Winery or any winery depends on your personal taste and circumstances. Exploring different options that align with your passions is equally valid. Remember, the world of wine offers diverse experiences to cater to various preferences.
