Robert Bell's

Wines of Canada

Since 1992

1 Mill Vineyards

You find a successful winery, you buy it and turn it into a sensational winery. That is what Katie Truscott and winemaker Ben Bryant have done with 1 Mill Road Vineyard. They bought the winery in 2022.

Before moving to the Okanagan Valley in 2018, Ben Bryant was enjoying the job title ‘Chief Winemaker Australia for Pernod Ricard Winemakers’, orchestrating some of the most well known and important names in Australian wine (Jacobs Creek, St Hugo, and more). On a leap of faith, he moved across the world to take a position with Mission Hill as VP of Winemaking for the Mark Anthony Group. After 2 years with the business and a Wine Align ‘Canada’s Winery of the Year’ under the belt, Ben set off on his own with the ultimate desire to dig roots and create a collection of wines that his hands were on from farm to bottle.

With an extensive background in hospitality and marketing, Katie Truscott is originally from the Okanagan and moved back in 2018 after a decade in South Africa. She found great success as a freelance writer and storyteller in the South African wine world, publishing several wine related articles and sharing with her large audience of followers as she worked her way through her Diploma in Wines.

Katie, originally from the Okanagan, returned home in 2018 after a decade in South Africa, where she developed a deep passion for wine. With a background in hospitality, marketing, and wine writing, she immersed herself in the industry, earning a Diploma from the “Wine and Spirits Educations Trust” and publishing work on the South African wine scene. Back in the Okanagan with her two young children, Isla and Piper, she continued her work in the wine industry, consulting for local wineries and businesses. She had a distinct perspective on wine and a strong sense of how she wanted to build something of her own, always seeking the right opportunity to bring that vision to life.

Katie Truscott and Ben Bryant

Ben and Katie met in 2019, drawn together by a shared love for wine and a common dream: to farm, own, and grow a wine business rooted in craftsmanship and family.

"The sheer beauty of the area blows me away. It's breathtaking being amongst this incredible scenery. And there's so much untapped potential in the Okanagan wine world that you almost feel like you're a part of something that’s still very new. A pioneer, putting your stamp on the industry in your own way, which is really exciting."

A must try wines are a Pinot Noir from a four-acre Naramata Bench vineyard called Black Pine and a Chardonnay from a 10.4-acre vineyard in the East Kelowna Slopes sub-appellation, which has 3.6 acres of clone 95 Chardonnay planted 10 years ago. Also Pinot Noir from their Home Block Vineyard.

The Home Block Vineyard was originally planted with pears David and Cynthia Enns (founders of Laughing Stock winery) purchased the land in 2010 planting Pinot Noir. This crescent-shaped vineyard tilts southwest, surrounded by sagebrush, which maximizes heat units and minimizes frost through excellent air drainage. The heavier soils, a mix of silt, loam, and calcareous elements – mirror some of the world’s most renowned vineyard sites. Planted exclusively to Pinot Noir in 2013, the vineyard focuses on a single clone, Dijon #115. It is proudly certified sustainable by Sustainable Winegrowing British Columbia.

winemaker and son

Naramata is located on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake Naramata Bench is home to some of the most acclaimed wineries in the Okanagan Valley, known for their premium wines, stunning vineyard views, and commitment to sustainability.

The wines are produced at the Naramata Wine Vault located in Naramata Village.

Naramata Bench

Okanagan

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