There’s a new place to grab a drink in Lake Country, but it’s not just for adults.
Folktale Cider’s stunning new taproom in Oyama was a labour of love and full family effort, with owners Blain and Christine Weber pitching in on much of the construction work under the tutelage of Christine’s dad.
“We are just a family business. He came out and he lived with us and built this thing for us,” Christine said of her father Brent Taylor, owner of Project Eight Construction. “We were his crew, we built it all.”
They received help from tradespeople for things like plumbing, electric and HVAC, of course, but all of the woodwork, walls and the rest of the custom build was a product of her dad’s handiwork.
“He had a vision for the trellis and all the curves and all the really natural organic elements," Christine told KelownaNow. "We wanted to really bring the outside in."
The result of Taylor’s design work and Christine’s finishing touches is a gorgeous interior that lives up to the hype of the red barn’s beautiful exterior and surrounding outdoor space.
It’s an overall vibe that will surely be appreciated by adult patrons when they visit, but there’s also a lot to like for kids and pets.
Christine explains that they wanted to create a space where the entire community, of all ages, can come together.
The patio area is dog-friendly and there are plenty of activities for kids, both inside and outside, including a “huge jumbo jumper” for them to expend some energy on.
“There aren't many places you can go that kids can run around and you can kind of sit and relax, have a coffee or a flight, and not be telling them to sit down the whole time,” Christine said with a laugh.
While that was an important element for the couple, as they have young children themselves, Christine notes that the kid activities shut down at 6 pm.
“Whole families are still welcome,” she clarified, “but it’s not a loud, rowdy place.”
It’s been two years since the Webers secured the lease to the beautiful red barn in Oyama that Folktale now calls home, but the journey to this point started well before that.
They moved to the Kelowna area around a decade ago when Blain, who had a background in beermaking and distilling, secured a position at a local cidery.
While he perfected his craft, winning awards during his time at Upside Cider and spending time at Wards, BC Tree Fruits and Truck 59 as well, Christine utilized her business background to work with many small businesses in the area.
Given both of their backgrounds and areas of expertise, the next step eventually became obvious.
“It seemed like a natural fit to start our own cidery,” Christine said.
When you visit Folktale, you’ll be met with a wide assortment of options that range well beyond just cider.
Of course, they have their core four ciders in the Apple Crumble, Lavender Haze, Dry-Hopped and Rosé, which is co-fermented with grapes to offer more of a wine vibe.
Christine says they also have up to four rotating seasonal ciders on tap as well, which will be constantly changing to offer guests something new.
Six local beers are on tap as well, giving people the ability to mix and match ciders and beers for a tasting flight.
If you’re hoping for a non-alcoholic option, they’ve got you covered with two kombuchas from MotherLove on tap and an espresso machine to produce a variety of caffeinated options.
They’re only serving charcuterie boards for now, but will soon expand their food options to include café-style sandwiches, paninis and salads.
It’s just a tasting lounge, so there will never be a full kitchen, but that means guests are welcome to bring outside food to the cidery and a great option for that is the nearby OKF Grill, a very popular Lake Country staple.
The Webers' lease of the red barn property also includes the neighbouring orchard, which means it will be a spot to buy fresh fruit and flowers in the summer.
The new Folktale tasting room has only been open for a few days, but the Webers have already been blown away by the overwhelming support from the community.
“Building our business in Oyama, it’s been unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” Christine explained. “Neighbours and the community have been out in full force to support. We had a really great first week and it’s been really lovely.”
Although it’s considered a bit of a sleepy community, businesses like Folktale Cider are part of a slowly changing vibe in Lake Country and the Webers are excited to be a part of it.
“It's a very laidback atmosphere and we really enjoy it out here,” Christine added. “It feels like home."
