Lake Country Success Stories: Visionaries Who Chose to Build Here

Dennis O’Rourke: From Construction Magnate to Wine Country Pioneer

Owner of Peak Cellars and O'Rourke Family Estate

Dennis O’Rourke spent decades in heavy construction, building roads, running gravel pits, and developing land. After the 2010 financial crisis hit, he bought Rainbow Market Garden in Lake Country, initially thinking that if the economy collapsed completely, at least he'd have a way to grow food for his family. What started as a practical decision evolved into one of Lake Country's most ambitious wine estate developments.

Today, Dennis operates both Peak Cellars and the sprawling O'Rourke Family Estate, having transformed raw land in the Carr's Landing area into a destination that attracts corporate events and wine tourists from across the Okanagan.

Why did you choose Lake Country for this investment?

I had purchased waterfront property and saw an opportunity to acquire more land and build something truly special. Lake Country sits on the best land in the Okanagan Valley. Surrounded by Okanagan Lake, which is a deep lake, Vernon to the north, Kelowna to the south. You've got the 9th busiest airport in Canada, UBCO, and the list goes on. The location is unmatched.

 

This represents a significant financial commitment. What drives that level of investment?

The size of investment I've made in Lake Country doesn't make financial sense on paper, but I have the resources and I want to create something special. Building something like the estate is more fun than looking at a pile of money. I wanted to keep the farm status on the property and decided to try planting grapes, eventually expanding into the full estate operation.

How do you see wine tourism developing in the area?

The estate hosts mainly private events and fundraisers now. The draw to Lake Country for corporate events and wine tourism will continue to grow. Both Peak Cellars and O’Rourke Family Estate will attract visitors coming to the Okanagan who want something beyond the typical winery experience.

 

What's the biggest challenge for businesses like yours?

Finding the right talent remains difficult, mainly because of housing costs and a lack of affordable accommodations. However, as the wineries become widely known and popular, I'm confident that talented people who want the Okanagan lifestyle will move to the area. We need to work with educational institutions to offer training that assists the wine industry. That's imperative to attracting the right talent pool.