Robert Bell's

Wines of Canada

Since 1992

Canada's Major Wine Companies

Mission Hill Family Estate Winery
Mission Hill

Hidden Bench owner Harald Thiel, Cave Spring co-founder Len Pennachetti, and winemaker Philip Dowell acquired Millesime effective Dec. 1.2023 The company has been renamed to the Niagara Sparkling Wine Service.

The Niagara Sparkling Wine Service has capacity to handle about 3,000 bottles of bubbles a week and has operated under full production up until now. “We’re going to build it up as required,” said Dowell. “It will depend on the market and where it’s going.”

 


Andrew Peller Ltd.

697 South Service Road
Grimsby, Ontario
L3M 4E8




The company started in Port Moody just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. A Canadian success story. It all began in 1927 when Andrew Peller arrived in Canada from Hungary. He became a successful business man establishing Andrés Wines Ltd in 1961.

In 1964, winery operations were established in Calgary, Alberta and in Truro, Nova Scotia.  In 1970 Andrés entered the Ontario market with the purchase of Beau Chatel Wines in Winona.  In 1974 Andrés moved into Quebec with the founding of Les Vins Andrés in St. Hyacinthe.  In 1975 Andrés purchased the Valley Rouge Winery located in Morris, Manitoba.

The Manitoba location closed in 1992 and in 1994 Andrés acquired Hillebrand Estates Winery, Canada's largest producer of VQA and premium wines, located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Today Hillebrand is known as Trius.

In 2001 Peller Estates Winery was officially opened in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

2006 marked the 46 year history of the company and a corporate name change from Andrés Wines Ltd., to Andrew Peller Ltd.

Among their many brand names today Sandhill, Trius Winery at Hillebrand, Wayne Gretzky, Red Rooster Winery, Calona Vineyards, Tinhorn Creek and Thirty Bench Winery

Peller Estates French Cross/Proprietors Reserve blends sells well in the east.

Their brands includes, Roundpedal,Copper Moon, XOXO, skinnygrape, Verano and Croc Crossing. Hochtaler, Domaine D’Or, Schloss Laderheim, Royal, and Sommet. The Company imports bottled wines from around the world and markets them through Grady Wine Marketing (“GWM”), and The Small Winemakers Collection Inc. (“SWM”).

Other key brands that the company has in the value blended segment are Royal, Franciscan, Baby Canadian, Schloss Laderheim, and Baby Duck. The Company also sells value priced fortified wines, with Fine Old Sherry being the largest brand. Panama Jack, a wine based Irish cream liquor product that sells in Ontario.

They produce No Boats on Sunday cider.

In Sept 2017 Andre Peller Limited purchased 3 BC wineries: Tinhorn Creek, Black Hills Estates and Gray Monk Vineyards.

Also among their companies Vineco International Products, Winexpert, and Wine Kitz divisions of Global Vintners Inc. (“GVI”) are producers of wine kits and related accessories for the home winemaking market.

Nov 2020 "We are honoured to announce that John E. Peller, the President and CEO of Andrew Peller Limited has been awarded the honour of Officer of the Order of Canada for his outstanding contributions to the Canadian Wine Industry, his dedication to community and service to our nation. Over thirty years ago, John joined his father and grandfather with the ambition of producing exceptional world class wines. This tremendous recognition, awarded by the Governor General of Canada encapsulates 60 years of dedication and commitment from the entire Andrew Peller team , past and present , while spanning four generations of the Peller Family. On behalf of John and the entire Andrew Peller family, we thank you for your continued support. Created in 1967, the Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. More than 7,000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order, recognizing how each has changed our nation’s measure of success and, through the sum of their accomplishments, helped us build a better Canada."



Anthony Buchanan Wines




Since 2006 Anthony Buchanan has been working in cellars on Vancouver Island and in the Okanagan alongside some of the most accomplished winemakers in Canada. he started his own label in 2014. We’re a true family winery; my children, Lawson and Ashlyn help pick, sort and foot-tread the grapes, and my wife, Nichol takes care of the business side of things.

Anthony Buchanan Wines will open a winery in Kaleden in May 2022.



Artisan Wine Group

PO BOX 474
Oliver, BC V0H 1T0



Operating out of Oliver they are a major wine producer. Brands include Mission Ridge, Sonora Desert Ranch, Painted Turtle, Wild Horse Canyon, White Bear, 49 North, B3,Kindle, Fork in the Road,The Winemaker's House,Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery and Rigamarole !

Artisan Food & Beverage Group, one of Western Canada’s premier wine consulting groups, has announced the acquisition of Sonora Desert Winery and South Okanagan Craft Distillery.

Founder and Winemaker Mark Simpson has partnered with Siren’s Call Wines Sales Director and British Columbia wine industry veteran Teresa Centanni to acquire the stunning property located roughly 5 kilometres north of Osoyoos.

 Prospect is the major VQA producer under the Artisan umbrella. 

Not all VQA wines.




Arterra Wines Canada


441 Courtneypark Drive East
Mississauga, Ontario
L5T 2V3



Constellation Brands Canada was purchased by the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund in Nov 2016. The new name Arterra Wines Canada.

Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B) is a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits with operations in the US, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Italy

Arterra Brands include Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin, NK'Mip, Sawmill Creek, Bodacious, Woodbridge, Ruffino, Kim Crawford, Growers, Black Sage, Naked Grape, Sumac Ridge, See Ya Later Ranch, Brights,Dark Horse Vineyard and more

Vintage Ink winery is owned by Arterra operating both in the Okanagan and Niagara.

Arterra Wines Canada, Inc. (AWC) announced today an agreement to acquire Laughing Stock Vineyards (LFNG), a family-owned, premium boutique winery, founded in 2003 by David and Cynthia Enns

July 2019 ARTERRA WINES CANADA ACQUIRES CULMINA FAMILY ESTATE WINERY

Feb 2020 purchases Sandbanks Winery PEC.

Arterra Wines Canada has acquired both the Angels Gate Winery and Kew Vinyards May 2023

Mississauga, February 28 th , 2023. Arterra Wines Canada Inc. (Arterra) announced today they have added the revered Champagne Palmer & Co to their family of brands

Constellation Brands was the largest producer and marketer of wine and related products in Canada. The company's leading wine brands include Jackson-Triggs, Sawmill Creek and Inniskillin. Once known as Vincor Canada.

Read More




Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Inc.

1067 Niagara Stone Rd.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario L0S 1J0





A producer, marketer and distributor of wines and spirits in Canada. The company operates two wineries in the Niagara region of Ontario producing VQA and blended wines under such well-known brand names as 20 Bees, EastDell, Lakeview, Dois Amigos, Hat Trick, Dan Aykroyd, Benchmark and Seasons.

The Niagara - on- the - Lake wine company founders Andrew Green and Murray Marshall started in 2000. They began by purchasing two small wineries Lakeview Cellars & Birchwood Estates. Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd. is an innovative, leading representative of compelling beverage alcohol brands, providing superior sales, marketing and distribution across Canada.

Andrew and Murray had known each other for years through amateur baseball and this, combined with their commitment to quality, inspired the name Diamond.

In 2005 Diamond Estates merged with Niagara Cellars Inc. (EastDell Estates & Thomas and Vaughan wineries). New partnership with Canadian acting legend Dan Aykroyd, Diamond began crafting Dan Aykroyd wines. The following year Mr. Aykroyd invested $1 million in Diamond Estates.

In 2012 The NHL Alumni Association and Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Ltd., launched Hat Trick Red and Hat Trick White with 50 cents from each bottle sold going to the NHL Alumni Association to support various charitable causes and help further promote the game.

They produce dessert and icewines along with a wide range of wines. They have 9 vineyards and also buy from local growers resulting in about 200,000 cases annually. The wines can be found in Eastern and Western Canada with importers in China, USA, Germany, South Africa

The De Sousa Dois Amigos red wine (hand-crafted of Baco Noir and Marechal Foch) became an instant hit in Ontario LCBO stores, especially in the Portuguese neighbourhoods. Dois Amigos (meaning Two Friends)

In 2014 they lunched a new brand Riders Valley

Diamond is a leader in Sustainable Winemaking Practices and Energy conversation. Diamond Estates V.P. Winemaking, Tom Green served as the past Chair of Sustainable Winemaking in Ontario; helping the Ontario Wine industry create the first Ontario Sustainable Winemaking manual where wineries can now be certified as adhering to sustainable winemaking practices.

The company also imports fine wines and spirits from around the world and serves as the marketing and sales agent for these brands in all regions of the country. These brands include Fat Bastard wines from France, Fireball Whiskey Shooter from Canada, Hpnotiq Liqueur from France, Anciano wines from Spain, Francois Lurton wines from France and Argentina and a number of top bourbons.

Over the past 6 years Diamond Estates has been working with Habitat for Humanity Niagara towards a big goal - to raise enough money to build a house for a family in need. On Thursday, May 19th, we officially broke ground on our build site - located in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. ("Diamond Estates" or "the Company") (DWS-TSX Venture) is pleased to announce the official groundbreaking ceremony for their new retail and wine tasting facility in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It will open in 2017.  The facility will be named The Lakeview Wine Company, coincident with the 25th anniversary of Lakeview Cellars, one of the company's premier brands. The new 3,000 square foot facility will feature a 28 foot and a 22 foot marble tasting bar surrounded by full height continuous glass windows providing uninterrupted views of the vineyard and escarpment. The building's exterior will be clad in cedar using the unique Japanese technique of 'Shou Sugi Ban' creating a charred cedar look with natural wood accents.

Rougemont, Quebec, July 29, 2019 – Lassonde Industries Inc. (Lassonde) (TSX: LAS.A) announces that it has acquired 19.9% of the common shares in Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc. (Diamond Estates)

The wineries will operate under Lakeview Cellars wine company in Ontario

Diamond Estates owns the following wineries: Lakeview Wine Co., Queenston Mile, Creekside Estates and Backyard Vineyards in British Columbia. 

 

"Fresh" is one of their Brands

Thomas Green is Vice President of Winemaking and Winery Operations. Winemaker: Scott McGregor.



Devonian Coast Wineries

48 Vintage Lane
Malagash, Nova Scotia  B0K 1E0



Carl and Donna Sparkes founded Devonian Coast Wineries in 2011, then bought three already established and respected wineries, Jost and Gaspereau Vineyards, and Mercator Vineyards. Devonian Coast Wineries unites their love of wine and of Atlantic Canada.

The Sparkes family’s farming roots run deep in Atlantic Canada, going back to 1761 when Carl’s ancestors left Devon, England and settled on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula. A farming family, they were also innovators; Carl’s grandfather was the founder of what is now the Atlantic Cool Climate Crop Research Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

They also import wines.

Jonathan Rodwell, Director of Viticulture and Winemaking at Devonian Coast

In the planning is a joint venture with Fox Harb’r Golf Resort & Spa to create a tourist wine destination. Wines will be sold under the Fox Harb’r Vineyards

They also own Grand Banks Wine Cellars

In 2020 Devonian Coast Wineries launched LUVO Life co a brand of wines sold in cans.



Encore Vineyard Ltd

Unit 7 7519 Prairie Valley Rd
Summerland, British Columbia
V0H 1Z4





ENCORE Vineyards Ltd. is an Okanagan-based, fully integrated wine company known for brands such as TIME Estate Winery, the award-winning Sundial Vineyard, McWatters Collection of Premium Wines and  Evolve Cellars.

The best known of the partners is Harry McWatters a legend in establishing British Columbia's wine industry. In 1980 he founded Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, BC’s first estate winery, and subsequently founded See Ya Later Ranch Estate winery in 1995.

Bob Wareham is the company's Chief Financial Officer and Director. Christa-Lee has been part of the BC wine industry since birth, growing up as the daughter of BC wine ambassador Harry McWatters. She is now the Marketing Manager for Encore

Richard Cleaves is the vineyard manager.

Graham Pierce is director of winemaking for all Harry McWatters' wine projects



Five Vine Cellars

Okanagan, British Columbia




Ron and Shelley Mayert.


Five Vine Cellars is the new (2020) parent company of TIME Winery, Evolve Cellars and the McWatters Collection labels. The company is owned by Ron and Shelley Mayert.

The Mayerts are committed to keeping TIME Winery family owned and operated, with a focus on handcrafted, small batch wines. By welcoming returning faces and adding some new ones, the Five Vines Cellars ownership has combined experience, tenacity, and a dose of enthusiasm to the winery team.

Siblings Christa-Lee and Darrien McWatters stay on as general manager and operations manager respectively, holding up the family legacy of winery founder, the late Harry McWatters.

Ron Mayert was born and raised on orchards in Summerland. Shelley Mayert is from a farm in the Fraser Valley, the couple now live in Abbotsford with their family. These BC-born roots are why the Mayerts are so passionate about the sustainability of this beautiful region.

Before getting into wine Ron was a co-founder of Petcurean Pet Nutrition, Old Yale Brewing, Napa Vineyard Inn and now he shifts his focus to grapes and hospitality.




Iconic Wines

von Mandl Family Estates

Okanagan, British Columbia





Perhaps Mr. Anthony von Mandl is best known as the owner of Mission Hills Family Estate Winery on the slopes of Mt Boucheries in West Kelowna. Today the VMF Estates, a holding company established in 2014. also owns CedarCreek, CheckMate Artisanal Winery and Martin’s Lane.

Anthony von Mandl has added to his collection of choice properties in East Kelowna with his recent purchase of St. Hubertus Estate Winery and half of its historic vineyard. January 2024

Dec 2018 they obtain Road 13Winery. He also owns Liquidity wines and Red Barn Winery at Jagged Rock.

Mr von Mandl also owns Mark Anthony Brands and operates at least nine other wine brands, including Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery, Fork in the Road, Mike Weir Wine, Fern Walk and Painted Turtle. These are under the name Artisian Wine Co

Sebastian Farms, is the von Mandl vineyard holding company

“Our Family’s pioneering efforts to place our Valley on the world wine map began more than 30 years ago at a time when no one even contemplated the possibility of producing wines in this region that could stand next to the best in the world. Since then it has been a relentless quest driven on a passionate belief that the terroir and microclimates of the Okanagan, which are found here and nowhere else in the world, could deliver on that dream.” Anthony von Mandl.

Anthony von Mandle: Order of Canada recipient 2016

The Associates of the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba announced that Anthony von Mandl, O.C., O.B.C, Founder, Owner & CEO, The Mark Anthony Group of Companies, will be the recipient of the 2023 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA). 

2020 Wineries owned and operated by Iconic Wineries of British Columbia include CedarCreek, Mission Hill, Road 13, Martin’s Lane, Checkmate, and Red Barn Wines. Liquidity Wines purchased March 2020

Founder and CEO of the Mark Anthony Group, Anthony von Mandl, has staked new ground with a significant purchase of prized vineyards nestled between Status Vineyards and the Jackson-Triggs Winery (Ontario)with frontage on Niagara Stone Road. Von Mandl bought over 70 acres of key vineyards from Ray Duc, the owner of Forrer Farms Inc., a family-run business that has been growing grapes and tender fruit in Niagara-on- the-Lake since 1960.

Purchases Sperling Vineyards May 2023.

 


Jackson Family Wines


425 Aviation Boulevard
Santa Rosa, CA 95403 USA


Jackson Family Wines


Jackson Family Wines is a collection of esteemed wineries and vineyards that spans the premier wine-growing regions of California, Oregon, France, Italy, Australia, Chile,South Africa and now Canada.

An American giant has moved into Canada purchasing two Vancouver Island Wineries. Blue Grouse and Unsworth. At last count they owned 41 Wineries

"We were winegrowers before we were winemakers. Farmers from the beginning, Jess Stonestreet Jackson, Jr. and his family buys an aging orchard in Lake County and plants chardonnay grapes (1974)."

Kendall-Jackson debuts with the release of the vintage 1982 Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay. Jess Jackson and his two daughters, Jenny and Laura, begin to hand-sell the wines across the country with great success.

One of the industry’s top executives and innovators, Jackson Family Wines Chairman & Proprietor Barbara R. Banke has spent the last two decades leading the company she co-founded with her late husband, wine icon Jess Jackson.

In addition to their flagship Kendall-Jackson winery, Banke and Jackson shaped nearly two dozen premium wineries across Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Mendocino counties. Today, the Jackson Family portfolio is a global collection of world-class vineyards and wineries, including acclaimed properties in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, France, Italy, Chile, Australia, and South Africa. Banke takes a hands-on role developing and promoting Jackson Family wine estates, as well as in new vineyard acquisitions and a broad range of other strategic initiatives.



Montalvino Wineries Inc




Bert Evertt is the man behind Montalvino Wineries Inc. The company has three wineries, gadzook winery,Uppercase winery, High Note Estate.

Het has had his sights on the BC wine industry for decades. In his youth, as an accomplished opera singer, Bert was afforded the opportunity to travel across Europe, where he developed an appreciation for fine wine. Over the last 40 years, his focus has been on providing the highest level of care at retirement homes throughout British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.

During summer vacations in Osoyoos with his wife and three children, Bert slowly began to search for vineyards that represented the best of the Okanagan Valley. After extensively evaluating vineyards with consulting winemaker and viticulturist Pascal Madevon,

Uppercase Winery is owned by the Everrt Family, who entered the BC Wine Industry in 2020 with the acquisition of three South Okanagan vineyards. The name “Uppercase” is reflective of our desire to create bold wines that are expressive of their terroir, much like different fonts and types are used to create different expressions in the written language. They also own Gadzook Vinery.

Bert Evertt has had his sights on the BC wine industry for decades. In his youth, as an accomplished opera singer, Bert was afforded the opportunity to travel across Europe, where he developed an appreciation for fine wine. Over the last 40 years, his focus has been on providing the highest level of care at retirement homes throughout British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.

During summer vacations in Osoyoos with his wife and three children, Bert slowly began to search for vineyards that represented the best of the Okanagan Valley. After extensively evaluating vineyards with consulting winemaker and viticulturist Pascal Madevon, Bert purchased 20 acres on the Black Sage Bench. Uppercase was born.

 

Their goal is to create an Upscale experience for guests with wines that are reflective of the attention to detail in the vineyard and the South Okanagan Terroir from which they are grown. 

 

Uppercase new location on Skaha Lake will be getting pecorino vines from Italy, which would be the first planting in North America.”



Okanagan Crush Pad

16576 Fosbery Rd
Summerland, BC
V0H 1Z6


 

Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie built Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland, BC, on Switchback Vineyard in 2011. The facility, producer of Haywire and Narrative, has established a reputation by receiving unprecedented awards and accolades with chief winemaker Matt Dumayne at the helm in the cellar, and with farming in the capable hands of fellow New Zealander, Duncan Billing. Dumayne crafts natural wines from organic grapes in state-of-the-art concrete tanks, using native yeast, and minimal additives. 

The journey began in 2005 when David Scholefield convinced Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie to plant a small vineyard in Summerland. David had a vision for the Okanagan, a young wine region that was trying to find its soul. Christine and Steve, who have a well-earned reputation of making projects come to life, began putting his plan in place, first by farming, albeit in a conventional manner, with the idea to craft wines that were as naturally beautiful as the Okanagan. David persuaded Alberto Antonini and Pedro Parra to come to the Okanagan and with their arrival, conventional thinking went out the window and a new plan to push the envelope took center stage. Today, that small vineyard, Switchback, is certified organic. The team has built a state of the art winery, Okanagan Crush Pad, in Summerland, BC and established a thriving custom crush business. Winemaker Matt Dumayne heads the winemaking team, working with Alberto to craft pure wines that articulate the message of the place where these wines are grown. On the farming side, Christine and Steve purchased a 320-acre Summerland site, where Pedro has designed a vineyard that could be created on virgin soil. There, on Garnet Valley Ranch, 40 acres of a potential 60 acres have been planted according to the principles of precision viticulture. The ranch is also home to 8 acres of organic field crops and a herd of sheep, guarded by two lovely Great Pyrenees dogs.

The Pad provides facilities for other winemakers to crush and bottle their own wines under guidance from the Crush Pad Team. Okanagan Crush Pad is Canada’s first purpose-built custom crush facility where several different wine labels are produced along with our own wines Haywire and Narrative.

On May 2 2018 Okanagan Crush Pad Winery owners Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie announce that the winery has acquired Secrest Mountain Vineyards Ltd in Oliver, BC. The holding includes a 50-acre property planted in 2000 with 38 acres (15ha) of Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Gewürztraminer. The property has been under lease to Okanagan Crush Pad since 2010 and is currently transitioning to organic certification. Grapes from this vineyard have been instrumental in allowing Okanagan Crush Pad to increase production of its own wine labels, with Secrest Mountain Vineyard grapes earmarked to many of the winery's top Haywire and Narrative wines.

With this acquisition, Okanagan Crush Pad now has 80 acres of grapes between their Switchback (Summerland), Garnet Valley Ranch (Summerland) and Secrest Mountain (Oliver) and aims to plant an additional 55 acres at their Garnet Valley Ranch and Monro Avenue sites, to bring the total to 135 acres.

The cellar has achieved certification under the Pacific Agricultural Certification Society (PACS) program, making it one of a handful of BC wineries to do so. The winery certification means that they can now officially label our wines organic.

Crush Pad is still the parent company that makes Narrative and Bizou + Yukon brands

 

Early in 2023 OKC became Haywire and stopped crushing for others



Terrabella Wineries LTD

3191 Boucherie Road
West Kelowna, BC V1Z 2G9



Terrabella Wineries Ltd. started in 2010. In 2011 they purchased Perseus Winery. They own the Hatch in West Kelowna and Black Swift Vineyards in the Similkameen Jesse Harnden is the main principle.

Their vision to generate strong investor returns in B.C.’s emerging wine industry while minimizing risk with a historically appreciable asset – land. Our goal continues to be to establish a group of 4 wineries that capitalize on operational, production, management, and sales synergies resulting from consolidated management and ownership.

Jason Parks is the winemaker vice president and director of operations.



Montalvino Wineries Inc.

4522 Highway 97
Oliver BC


Bert Evertt’s Montalvino Wineries Inc. has become a force in the Okanagan wine industry in just three years. “Bert has grown this from a hobby vineyard of 18 acres, planted in 2020, to now up to about 90 acres
His wineries include Uppercase, gadZook and one in construction.

 

 

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