Robert Bell's

Wines of Canada

Since 1992

Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery

Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery proudly honours the name and spirit of one of the region’s most legendary pioneers, William Baillie-Grohman, who had an adventurous nature and love of the wilderness. Relocating to the area in 1890, Baillie-Grohman had a vision that the area along the Creston Valley Flats could be converted into rich farmland . Bob Johnson and Petra Flaa great love of wine and food made it impossible not to seize the opportunity to start our own winery in this unique microclimate.

Founders Bob Johnson and Petra Flaa have sold the winery to their winemaker son ( Nov 2021), Wes Johnson and his fiancée, Myran Hagenfeldt. Both have extensive winemaking experience in New Zealand, where Wes studied enology. Myran was born in Sweden but got into the wine industry in New Zealand, where she and Wes met.

The winery is located just outside of Creston. Creston is a town of 5,306 people in the Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. Located 339 KM east f Osoyoos. The Creston Valley is extremely majestic in its beauty. The area had no history of grape growing but the quality of the wines shows the extremely well.

To quot the Creston valley website because I can not say it better

Welcome to a still, spectacular scene. To sun-drenched, fertile fields and sweeping mountain vistas. To velvety, star-strewn night skies and warm, gentle breezes. From the emerald cliffs of the Skimmerhorn to the diamond surface of Kootenay Lake, across orchards and vineyards, through wetland and wilderness teeming with life – this is the Creston Valley.

The vineyards at the winery are hand managed by Petra. The vineyards are surrounded by an amazing landscape. Situated on a glaciated countryside composed of rolling hills lying between the massive Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges. The glaciation is evidenced in the vineyard landscape, which slopes uphill to the east and north, taking pause at a knoll formed before glaciation time where the glacier skipped over this spot. As the glacier receded through this area it deposited boulders, rocks and varied soil along the way. The vineyards are located on the highest point in this area. It not only offers fantastic views and microclimate, it has great soil and rock structure, aspect, sun exposure and gentle slopes providing good drainage. The moderate winter weather ensures healthy hibernation.

The Baillie-Grohman vineyards are planted to Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and several other blocks of vitis vinifera grapes at various stages. The winery also contracts Gewürztraminer grapes and additional quantities of Pinot Noir from Creston Valley Vineyard.

winery building itself is energy efficient with 60 solar panels on the winery roof.

new outdoor patio

Dan Baker is the winemaker. A New Zealand winemaker Dan Barker is a partner and winemaker at Moana Park Winery in New Zealand. His efforts in New Zealand have earned Moana Park much worldwide acclaim, including a coveted Gold medal from Decanter World Wine awards in London.

Seeking further international experience, Dan started with Baillie-Grohman in 2009 for its first vintage. For the first several years he was the hands on winemaker and was instrumental in the success of the winery. He is now the consultant

Wes Johnson took over the role of hands on winemaker in December 2014. Wes had returned from earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Oenology from EIT in Hawks Bay New Zealand. Wes has had a hand in various jobs in the vineyard since 2007 and in the winery since 2009, so taking over the winemaking was very natural to him. He had also done several vintages with Moana Park in New Zealand while training under Dan.

Dan Barker and Wes Johnson’s winemaking goals are to create balanced wines that express a purity of fruit. The grapes are picked by hand, commencing their gentle journey from vineyard to bottle. In the winery, the grapes are hand sorted to ensure only the best grapes make it to the winemaking process.

Recent award

September 2016: InterVin International Wine Awards, 2013 Chardonnay Reserve GOLD medal, 2015 Pinot Gris SILVER medal

June 2016: All Canadian Wine Championships, 2013 Pinot Noir GOLD medal, 2013 Cabernet Franc SILVER medal

The 2015 Récolte Blanche a fresh blend of Pinot Gris, Schoenburger, Kerner and Gewürztraminer one of the best wines I have had the pleasure to enjoy.

The 2016 is just as good!

Bob Johnston and Petra Flaa

Founders Bob Johnson and Petra Flaa have sold the winery to their winemaker son ( Nov 2021), Wes Johnson and his fiancée, Myran Hagenfeldt. Both have extensive winemaking experience in New Zealand, where Wes studied enology. Myran was born in Sweden but got into the wine industry in New Zealand, where she and Wes met.

Wineries of the Kootenays Region