Wineries of the Shuswap

Baccata Ridge Winery

66-68 McManus Road
Grindrod, BC V0E 1Y0

 

A new winery located north of Okanagan Lake near Salmon Arm. On his farm owner
Sheldon Moore found numerous Yew trees, whose botanical name is taxus baccata, this
prompted the winery's name.

Sheldon spent many years travelling in Asia as part of his job. He returned to Canada in 2001 and, with a winery in mind, bought a 65-hectare (160-acre) farm on a slope overlooking the Shuswap River,
just north of Enderby. he has planted 3.2 hectares (8 acres) of vineyard, only a fraction of the potential vineyard land available to him. Believing that northern vineyards should focus on cool-climate
varieties, Moore selected Ortega, Siegerrebe, Gewürztraminer, Gamay, Zweigelt and Maréchal Foch, along with Vidal for icewine

Organic farming methods are practiced

Winemaker: Sheldon Moore’s

Celista Vineyards

2319 Beguelin Road
Celista, BC V0E 1L0

Located on the north shore of Shuswap Lake Jake and Margaret Ootes named their winery after the community where they live. They first planted vines in 2002 and now have two hectares (five acres) of grapes on their 65-hectare (160-acre) farm. They grow Maréchal Foch, Ortega, Madeleine Sylvaner, Madeleine Angevine, Gewürztraminer and a small quantity of St. Laurent. Hans Nevrkla award winning winemaker and founder of Larch Hills Winery was hired as consultant and winemaker

 

Winemaker: Jessie Steinley

Edge of Earth Vineyards

4758 Gluch Road
Spallumcheen, BC V0E 1B4

Due to the windy country road one has to reach the winery owners Russ and Marnie Niles renamed the winery Edge of the Earth Vineyard. It was formally called Hunting Hawk Vineyards. The vineyard is small at 3 acres ( 1.2 hectares) here he grows his favourite grape. Maréchal Foch.

Russ recent made his first icewine a Pinot Noir

Winemaker: Russ Niles

Granite Creek Estate Winery

2302 Skimikin Road
Tappen, BC V0E 2X0

Mayka and Doug Kennedy began wine making at home and their enthusiasm led them to explore the wine regions of Europe. Mayka's degree in chemistry and chemical engineering are a strong asset in understanding the technical side of winemaking. Her skills are complemented by Doug's management experience, both have a love of wine.

The winery is located on a very unique and strategically located piece of land in the Shuswap Lake country. The mix of soils aspect, topography and climate, gives us a microclimate highly suited to grape production. The farm property, in addition to its grape vineyard potential, has many other attributes relative to agriculture tourism. It crosses the entire valley at the head of Tappen Valley and serves as the eastern gateway to Similkin Valley. The farm has high agriculture capability ratings and is surrounded on three sides by forested crown land. It is made up of agricultural lands, forested lands and supports a seven-kilometer trail network, which ties into the larger crown land trail network.

A very unique resource available to guests is a 30-acre bowl made up of a series of springs that we've named Granite Springs. This is the source of water for Granite Creek now known as Tappen Creek. The Farm and Winery are named after the original name of Granite Creek which was changed due to historical events. The bio diversity of this spring area is quite unique and supports a lot of BC coastal vegetation in this interior location. It is highly environmentally sensitive on one hand, while offering valuable educational experience.

Winemaker: Doug Kennedy

Hunting Hawk Vineyard

3171 Lion Road
Salmon Arms, BC V1E 3J3

Gregg Tippe and Irene Johnston purchased Hunting Hawk at O"Keefe Ranch but were unable to obtain space on the Ranch and moved the winery vineyard and all to Salmon Arm in 2008.

Winemaker/Consultant:

Larch Hills Winery

110 Timms Road
Salmon Arm, BC V1E 2P8

 

Larch Hills Winery is a land-based, family run vineyard and winery, originally owned by Hans and Hazel Nevrkla. They sold the winery in 2005 to Jack and Hazel Manse.

All wines are proudly made from 100% British Columbia grapes, either from the main vineyard just south of Salmon Arm (also the location of the winery and home), or from contracted vineyards farther south in the Okanagan Valley. All our wines are made and bottled on the premises at Salmon Arm. They specialize in cool climate grape growing, and have varieties that are generally not available in other parts of BC. Canada's most Northern Winery, featuring the warmth and friendliness of a real small winery with quality wines. Vintner, Wine Grower Hans Nevrkla. This farm winery opened April 1, 1997 with their signature wine Ortega and a recent release Grandview Bench

Larch Hills sits on top of the hill over looking the entire valley. It's an amazing picture post card view.

Winemaker: Jack Manse
Philosophy: "We specialize in cool climate grape growing, and have varieties that are generally not available in other parts of BC. We think this makes our wines unique."

In 1992 John and Catherine Koopmans purchased a small dairy farm on a 31 acre property in Silver Creek. They worked as dairy farmers and also raised sheep. In 2006 they decided to sell the cows and in 2007 a 4 acre vineyard was planted with four varieties of grapes; Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, Gewürztraminer and the old cold hardy standby Marachél Foch. The name of the winery arrives from sheep--ovine in latin, ovino in italian and spanish and of course vino is latin for wine.

The winery is located on a Bench overlooking the valley between Salmon Arm and Vernon, this glacier carved landscape offers mostly sandy loam soils, marbled with infrequent layers of clay. The vines are located on a sun drenched knoll to maximize photosynthesis and air flow, supported by a drip irrigation system.

Ovino is a true family project, with John and Catherine's daughter Jessica and her husband Don Gawley helping out with many of the day to day operations with other family members helping at harvest time. Estate grown grapes are supplemented with some purchased grapes, mostly the same varieties, from nearby vineyards. An arrangement that is likely to continue in the future.

Winemaker: John Koopmans Consulting winemaker: Hans Nevrkla
Philosophy:work on producing the best grapes the season allows for and guide that into lovely wines of the style that people will enjoy.

Signature wine is estate Foch-Pinot Meunier blend

Recline Ridge Vineyard and Winery Ltd.

2640 Skimikin Road
Tappen, B.C.
V0E 2X3

 

Recline Ridge Vineyards extends over 7.5 acres and hosts nine different varieties of grapes. Their unique post and beam log building is 3,300 total square feet on three levels and will house both the winemaking facility and a wine shop and tasting area. The winery overlooks the vineyard framed by Tappen Mountain and the Tappen and Similkameen Valleys. The winery was purchased in 2010 by Graydon and Maureen Ratzlaff

The winery's direction is to promote the wines of the Shuswap as unique and as an alternative to “mainstream” wines, exhibiting their very fruit-forward characteristics, and to grow the business and the winery's volume as a result. They offer a full-line of wines, including whites, reds, rose, and dessert products. The wines are award-winners at a variety of competitions in Canada and the U.S.

They have a production of 2000 cases Their signature wines: Siegerrebe (white) and Marechal Foch (red) Recline Ridge produce a fortified, port-style red (Ridgeport), and a late-harvest style dessert white (Hummingbird's Kiss).

Winemaker: Jesse Steinley
Philosophy: to focus on making wines from locally-grown grapes here in the Shuswap, make them very well, and also to introduce these cool-climate varietals to as many people as possible, to demonstrate their unique properties

Sunnybrae Vineyards & Winery,

3849 Sunnybrae Canoe Point Rd
Tappen, BC.

One of BC's newest wineries in the Shuswap Sunnybrae Vineyards and Winery owned by Barry and Nancy Turner. They run a true family winery receiving help from their daughters and grandchildren.
The winery has a beautiful location. From the tasting room's balcony you see Shuswap lake . From the front door you se the vineyards and Bastion Mountain(pictures)

Mark Wendenburg, the former long-time Sumac Ridge winemaker, consulted on finishing the vintage. Sunnybrae made 1,200 cases in its first vintage, opening its tasting room in May, 2011. Mark Wendenburg, the former long-time Sumac Ridge winemaker, consulted on finishing the vintage

They grow Kerner, Ortega, Siegerrebe, Schönburger and Marechal Foch grapes

Winemaker:

The Cellar at the Rise

364 Cordon Lane,
Vernon, BC V1H 1Z9

Located at the top (north) of the Lake Okanagan The Cellar at the rise is still under construction. The micro climate of the lake and the high high-elevation vineyard at the Rise,almost 400 metres (1,300 feet) above the lake will produce high quality grapes. The steep south faces slopes of the vineyards will allow for plenty of good sunshine

Planting began in 2005 with 2.4 hectares (six acres)of Pinot Noir and Riesling vines in 2008 they added another five hectares
(12½ acres) with more Pinot Noir and Riesling as well as almost two hectares (five acres) of Gewürztraminer. Additional plantings will include Pinot Gris, Kerner, and Muscat. Vineyard manager is Jason Ranelli

Tilman Hainle was the Rises first winemaker, he left to open Working Horse Winery. Under Tilman the winery had 4,600 cases of wine in its inventory in 2008, including Pinot Noir, Merlot, Riesling, and two vintages of icewine

The project developer is Leona Snider. Her firm, Okanagan Hills Development Corporation,

winemaker: