Robert Bell's
Wines of Canada
Since 1992
Deep Roots Winery
Photo credit: Matt Ferguson Photography — with Matt Ferguson Photography.
In the now famous Naramata wine region in the heart of the Okanagan you will find the new but amazing Deep Roots Winery. The winery is owned by Bryan and Debra Hardman. The Hardman family has been growing apples in Naramata since 1919.
Bryan is the patriarch proprietor and the grower of grapes for Deep Roots. Bryan took over the family farm from his father in 1973, while in his early 20s, and grew cherries, pears, apricots and apples. Between 1974 and 1994 Bryan replanted the property twice, converting the orchard to different varieties, focusing on new apple trees and modern farming methods. Ever the innovator, Bryan purchased a new property on the Bench in 1998 to try his hand at growing grapes, which ultimately triggered another replant of the home farm to vineyard.
They have two Naramata Bench vineyards. The Hardman Vineyard, which is the estate vineyard on Aikins Loop and Rayner’s Vineyard, located north of Naramata village. Hardman Vineyard is home to nine acres where they grow Muscat, Gamay, Merlot, and Malbec. The Rayner property has been farmed by our family for almost forty years and is home to eleven acres of vines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Malbec, and Syrah.
It was their son Will who began working at various wineries that led to their decision to grow grapes and produce wine. Will studied winemaking at Okanagan College. He has done crushes with wineries in New Zealand and South Africa. He also worked with Van Westen Vineyards, where Deep Roots made its 2012 vintage, a total of 13 barrels of Merlot, Malbec and Syrah.
New facilities were opened in 2013 launched with just over 1,000 cases of wine. Merlot, Malbec and Syrah,Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Gamay Noir. They have had fantastic success. The winery is close toVan Western Vineyards and Elephant Island Orchard Wines The compact tasting room, with a second-floor deck, provides great views over vineyards and Okanagan Lake.
Deep Roots Syrah 2017 was named wine of the year at the 2019 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards.
the view from the tasting room
