As pop-ups tend to do, this one just popped up.
It's the Ailm Estates temporary set-up for the summer to taste exceptional sparkling wines with a view and a story.
This article is headlined 'Most elusive and exclusive' because the Ailm pop-up opened with no fanfare so it wouldn't be overwhelmed too quickly.
Consequently, it seemed elusive, and the focus on sparkling wine makes it exclusive.
The hilltop location at 950 Crawford Road in Southeast Kelowna also tends to be elusive.
At the bottom of the hill there's a chainlink fence, small sign and gate that opens only when you pull up in your car.
The long gravel driveway up to the pop-up meanders and finally reveals a black sea can, four outdoor tables and spectacular 180-degree views of vineyards, the Kelowna skyline and Okanagan Lake in the distance.
For a while, its pin location didn't work so well, but now you can easily route it on Google Maps.
And, now that the word is out anyone can make a reservation to come up and taste for $35 each, Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 4 pm.
Do so at: https://ailmestate.com/
As such, everyone can now experience the elusiveness and exclusivity.
"We're elevated, but approachable," Ailm ambassador Nora Waria told my wife, Kerry, and me when we dropped by on soft opening weekend.
The elevation is evident, literally, right off the bat with the property's perch high above the Valley.
And it continues with the sit-down tasting, surreal views and four sparkling wines arriving in the 'Champagne tree' -- an elegant, tiered glass holder.
The signature tasting is Ailm's four Champagne-style sparklers -- Non-Vintage Brut ($45), 2021 Blanc de Blanc ($65), 2021 Rose Brut ($65) and 2020 Reserve Brut ($85).
Champagne, or traditional style, means the wines achieved their bubbles during second fermentation in the bottle as yeast eats sugars creating alcohol and carbon dioxide.
The method results in sparkling wines that are elegant, bright with aromas and flavours of apple, pear, lemon and textured and complex warm croissant.
Ailm is a new winery from the Stewart family that owns and operates renowned Quails' Gate Winery in West Kelowna.
The Ailm's 200 acres with vineyards (mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) are at 950 Crawford Road, but the sparklers are made at Quails' Gate for now.
The property at 950 Crawford has been in the family since 1950 when Dick and Bill Stewart established a tree nursery there.
Dick left the business in 1956 to grow grapes in West Kelowna and Dick's son, Ben, started Quails' Gate Winery there in 1989.
The former tree farm was planted in grapes in 2015 with a vision of a sparkling-focused winery.
Ailm's first two bubblies were released in 2024 as a teaser, Quails' Gate offered some tastings at its West Kelowna winery and the wines were for sale through Quails' Gate.
Now, Ailm has a dedicated website, the pop-up and plans, probably four or five years out, to build its own winery and restaurant at 950 Crawford.
Ailm also makes three still wines -- a 2025 Rose ($38), 2025 Chenin Blanc ($38) and the Bordeaux-style red blend Cannemara ($100), which used to be bottled under the Quails' gate label.
