Moon Curser Vineyards

Moon Curser Vineyards is a boutique winery located in Osoyoos, in British Columbia's South Okanagan Valley, just north of the Canada–United States border. The winery takes its name from the gold-smuggling history of the border town: during the gold rush, miners returning to the United States under cover of darkness tried to evade customs agents, and a bright moon would sometimes expose their clandestine travels. The brand leans into this outlaw lore with a playful, secretive tone across its marketing and tasting-room experience. What distinguishes Moon Curser commercially is its grape portfolio. Rather than focusing on the Okanagan's more common plantings, the winery has built its reputation on old-world varieties that had not previously been widely planted in the region — notably Touriga Nacional, Carménère and Tempranillo — alongside Syrah, Malbec, Dolcetto, Roussanne and Marsanne, and Bordeaux-style blends. These varieties are grown on the Osoyoos East Bench, whose distinctive terroir the winery credits for its world-class interpretations. The winery operates a tasting room in Osoyoos that is open daily from April 1 to November 1, offering guided tastings of its portfolio and a seated premium experience called Smuggler's Sitting at The Hideout. It also runs a wine club with member benefits including allocations, first access to new releases and small-lot wines, discounts and free shipping on larger orders. Moon Curser has earned recognition seven times on the Top Winery lists at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada, and its wines — including a 2022 Malbec, 2022 Touriga Nacional and 2022 Dead of Night — have collected multiple gold medals and positive press from Canadian wine critics. The winery remains a privately held, independent producer.

Moon Curser Vineyards is a winery in Osoyoos, British Columbia, in the South Okanagan Valley. Its name is drawn from the gold-rush history of the border town: Osoyoos was long celebrated for rich soil and brilliant sunshine, but during the gold rush it was the dark of night that brought commotion, as gold-smuggling miners returned stateside by the hundreds or thousands, trying to avoid customs agents. The light of the moon would sometimes foil their plans by exposing their surreptitious travels — hence the winery's name. While the name pays tribute to that smuggling lore, the winery's commercial focus broke from Okanagan tradition. From its early days, Moon Curser concentrated on premium wines made from old-world grape varieties that had not previously been planted in the Okanagan, such as Touriga Nacional, Carménère and Tempranillo. These varieties were not historically part of South Okanagan viticulture but, according to the winery, thrive in the distinctive terroir of the Osoyoos East Bench and deliver unique, world-class interpretations. Over the years the winery built a portfolio spanning reds, whites and rosé, including Malbec, Syrah, Dolcetto, Roussanne and Marsanne, and blends such as Dead of Night. It has been recognized seven times on the Top Winery lists at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada. Recent vintages have drawn critical attention: the 2022 Malbec, 2022 Touriga Nacional and 2022 Dead of Night each earned multiple gold medals, and critics including John Szabo MS and Christopher Waters have highlighted the winery's Carménère and white wines. Christian Scagnetti serves as winemaker and has represented the winery in Canadian wine media, including BC Food and Wine Radio and Tasting Room Radio. The winery operates a tasting room in Osoyoos open daily from April 1 to November 1, offering a main-bar tasting and a seated premium experience, Smuggler's Sitting at The Hideout, along with a wine club. It remains a privately held, independent producer.

• Moon Curser Vineyards is established in Osoyoos, British Columbia, named after the town's gold-smuggling history.

• The winery focuses on old-world grape varieties not previously planted in the Okanagan, including Touriga Nacional, Carménère and Tempranillo.

• Moon Curser earns recognition seven times on the Top Winery lists at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada.

• 2022 vintage wines — Malbec, Touriga Nacional and Dead of Night — collect multiple gold medals.

• Winemaker Christian Scagnetti represents the winery on BC Food and Wine Radio and Tasting Room Radio.

Boutique, independent Okanagan winery specializing in premium, unconventional old-world grape varieties grown on the Osoyoos East Bench, with a playful outlaw-smuggler brand identity.

• Touriga Nacional 2022

  Multi-award-winning red from the Portuguese variety, earning 5 X Gold+.

• Malbec 2022

  Multi-award-winning red, earning 8 X Gold+.

• Dead of Night 2022

  Multi-award-winning blend, earning 4 X Gold+.

• Carménère

  Red wine from the Bordeaux variety, praised by critic John Szabo MS.

• Roussanne Marsanne 2024 / 2025

  White Rhône-style blend highlighted by critics.

• Dolcetto 2025

  Red wine recommended to be served chilled.

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