Thompson River Valley

A hostess gift of a bottle of fruit wine to an Armstrong family Christmas party in 1998 led to the opening of the Winery in British Columbia's interior gold country. Five years earlier, JoAnn Armstrong and husband, Gary, a veterinarian, acquired the Bonaparte Ranch just north of Cache Creek. Entrepreneurial JoAnn was looking for a business to develop on the Ranch and launched the Winery in 1999. The Armstrong's successfully mastered the art of producing fruit wines.

Using fruit grown on the Ranch, they make at least a dozen different wines, available primarily through the wine shop and the busy bistro.

The Winery takes its name from the Bonaparte River, which runs through the property. French fur traders named the river after Napoleon Bonaparte, who died in 1821.

The Winery's logo features the famous Uffington White Horse. The Armstrong family decided, with the logo, to represent JoAnn's ancestors who originated from the English countryside below the prehistoric hill figure.

The Bonaparte Ranch was originally founded in 1862 by a young Irishman, Philip Parke. The Ranch remained in the Parke family for four generations until it was sold by Alan Parke in 1993 to Dr. Gary and JoAnn Armstrong.

signature dark wine is our Blueberry Black Currant and our signature light wine is Rhubarb

Winemakers: JoAnn and Gary Armstrong
Philosophy: We seek to produce wine we enjoy drinking, made from clean fresh local fruit, with as few additives as possible

Harper's Trail will the first winery to open in the Kamloops Area ( summer 2012). The winery is owned by Ed and Vicki Collett . Their Thadd Springs Vineyard is located on Shuswap Road just NE of Kamloops BC

Thousands of years ago, when the South Thompson River ran a different course, the land that now holds the Thadd Springs Vineyard was the nomadic riverside home to 30 bands of Secwepemc (or Shuswap people) whose people camped along the river. Fast forward to what in contrast are more recent times, and the rolling hills that now proudly host vinifera vines were once echoing with the sound of hoofs and braying cattle. Renowned BC pioneer and rancher Thaddeus Harper used the grounds as a camp and staging area, as cattle were driven from the US to the Chilcotin to Harper's Gang Ranch.

Today, the 18-acre vineyard is a presentation for the Thompson Valley, demonstrating what is possible for wine growing in BC. With careful attention to the land, the Colletts are committed to showing the world that Kamloops can become known as a place in BC known for crafting fresh, fruit-driven, quality wines.

Tasting room: no public tasting room.

Winemaker: Michael Bartier

Located just east of Kamloops, the Sidhu family has planted British Columbia’s largest acreage
of winter-hardy Minnesota hybrids . The Sidhus are immigrants from the Punjab in India who have succeeded in horticulture in Canada. In 2001, the Sidhus expanded to blueberries, becoming one of the largest producers in the Fraser Valley. Soaring land prices sent Gurjit, who has a diploma in horticulture, looking for cheaper farm land in the interior to plant more blueberries. In 2007 he bought Monte Creek Ranch, a historic property on the south side of the Thompson River
and at the junction of Highway 97 and the Trans-Canada Highway

The Monte Creek and Lion’s Head vineyards primarily grow five Minnesota hybrids plus Maréchal Foch, a French hybrid. If the winery chooses to release the wines under varietal names, look for
reds called Frontenac and Marquette, a rosé variety called Frontenac Gris and whites called Frontenac Blanc and La Crescent. The winery’s initial vintages will be made in another winery. Gurjit plans to have a winery built by 2014 on a Monte Creek Ranch hilltop with an exceptional view over the valley.

Winemaker: menno schellenberg

Located a half-hour drive north of Kamloops, it is one of the more northerly vineyards in British Columbia planted to vinifera (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay). The winery is owned by John and Debbie Woodward

In 2010, they planted 1.2 hectares (three acres) of vines—Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and one row of Maréchal Foch. They will test other varieties as they challenge the condition of the north

Winemaker: John Woodward