Monte Creek Ranch
Across the South Thompson River from the aptly named Lion’s Head Bench sits a winery with distinctive (or perhaps dubious) origins. It’s not so much the roots of Kamloops-based Monte Creek Ranch Winery that raise an eyebrow or two, but the link the land holds to the man who coined the term “hands up” during a robbery.
The infamous “Gentleman Bandit” Billy Miner attempted his last Canadian train robbery in 1906 in front of the 1,200 acre site which has long been a working cattle ranch. In 2010 the owners went in a much different direction, planting their first grape vines, and adding a wine tasting room in 2015. Marketing Manager, Ashley Demedeiros, says that when the winery’s team learned about the history of the site, they knew they had to celebrate it.
The owners of Monte Creek Ranch Winery are no strangers to agriculture. With a blueberry farm in the Lower Mainland, they set out to find a piece of land in the interior. The site in Monte Creek was found to be ideal for a vineyard and the relatively new winery joined three others in the Kamloops region.
The 55 acres planted on the south side of the river where the winery is are complemented by 20 acres planted on the north side under Lion’s Head Bench, which is visible from the retail area and Terrace restaurant. This is a predominantly white grape growing region due to its cool climate. While some regions in BC’s interior have large lakes to help control and modulate the temperature, this part of Kamloops doesn’t.
“We have fewer frost-free days than you’d find south of us,” Demedeiros explains. “The daytime temperatures are nice and high, but winters get much cooler. We have to be careful what we plant on the property. We need vines that can survive minus-40.”
On the other hand, the fluctuations between the daytime high temperatures and nighttime lows create great acidity in the grapes.
“There is a very distinctive taste to our wines,” Demedeiros says. “The winemaking style of our site is to produce wines that represent our region as an expression of our terroir. We believe in the best grapes for the place they are planted.”
Grapes grown on the site include whites like Riesling, Frontenac Blanc, Chardonnay and the lesser-known Las Crescent as well as some unique reds which take up some of the vineyards largest blocks like Marquette, Pinot Noir, Marechal Foch and Frontenac Noir. Plantings are ongoing with recent additions being made in 2017 and 2018.
Demedeiros notes that other grapes are sourced from growers further south to round out the wine portfolio of about 20,000 cases a year. These partners are hand-selected to ensure they have the same growing practices and philosophy in vineyard care that exists at Monte Creek Ranch Winery. As Demedeiros explains, winemaker Galen Barnhardt believes in a light hand and as little interference with the grapes as possible to allow the distinctive flavours that are naturally created to build each wine.
The unique micro-climate doesn’t hurt this management approach either. With a regular wind blowing along the river up the bench, concerns like powdery mildew, spider mites or leaf hoppers can’t take hold as much as they would in a still-air climate. In fact, the wind can be so dominant at times that a wind block of Swedish Aspens have become part of the vineyard terrain. Alternatively, adding wind is sometimes necessary, so large windmills are positioned through the vineyard to help keep frost at bay. The other pest, starlings, have nets that interfere with their grape foraging along with another silly, yet innovative solution.
“We’ve used one of those inflatable arm-waving men as our scarecrow,” Demedeiros shares. “It’s pretty funny to see it up here when you’re driving by on the highway.”
When problems do arise, integrated pest management techniques are employed first along with other organic-style controls. While the vineyard isn’t yet certified organic, there is a desire to pursue that designation in the future.
Harvest starts typically after Labour Day and bud break can be seen generally in early May.
Soon, the winery, and the three others in the region, will be able to include Thompson Valley on labels (as opposed to the generic BC) to help consumers know exactly where their wine is coming from. This comes as work the four wineries did together in tandem with the action of the province’s Wine Appellation Task Force which is allowing four new regions to be noted as part of BC labelling practices.
Another part of the Monte Creek Ranch Winery story is the push to create a sustainable system. The cattle that have been ranched on the site for decades continue with approximately 20 head enjoying the grassy slopes south of the river, highway and train tracks.
“We had a successful spring birthing season,” Demedeiros says. “It’s always a joy to see their cute little faces.”
In addition to the cattle and vineyard is an apiary which services the haskap berry grove which are harvested for the antioxidant-rich berries to make a dessert wine. The haskap berry wine complements the winery’s other fruit wine – a blueberry wine made on site from the owners’ own Lower Mainland blueberries.
“We do a honey program,” notes Demedeiros. “And beef as well. It’s all grass fed and grass finished beef in our beef jerky.”
Expansion at Monte Creek Ranch Winery isn’t confined to just the vineyards. The operation has exceeded its space in the winery and wine storage areas.
“We’ll be adding a new building for more production,” she says. “It’s expected to be completed in 2020.”
The natural landscape and architectural touches of the site make it ideal for weddings, corporate events and other activities. The concrete bell tower – while currently lacking the cast-iron bell which is in storage awaiting perfect timing for installation – makes something of a beacon for those in the area.
“We currently have the no-bell prize right now,” Demedeiros jokes. “[The bell tower] was a part of the architectural style. This is a place of gathering.”
Guests gather at the outdoor picnic tables, on tours of the winery, in the restaurant and in the retail area with views of the river and plantings north of the river. There is more than wine to see in the spacious shopping area with a wide range of ranch, food and of course wine-themed items. Some of the items for sale are created locally as the winery encourages other local businesses.
“Our location is very prime for visitors to find us, being right off Highway 1,” Demedeiros says. “We get a lot of local support as well.”
Tour buses are a regular site in the parking lot and while it’s natural to assume people come for year-round wine tastings, the al fresco dining in the Terrace during spring and summer is part of the attraction too.
“We do host quite a few [events] throughout the season,” Demedeiros notes. “Live music, yoga, arts classes and the haunted vineyard tour. This fall event is one of our favourites. The team goes the whole nine yards. We love getting dressed up and scaring people.”
Visiting Monte Creek Winery should include a look at the mural in the stairwell down to the winery. It includes historic shots of the site’s origins along with Billy Miner’s mug shot, which is also included on the winery’s blend Hands Up Red. This is a winery that understands how history can be appreciated even while establishing a new future. ■
www.montecreekranchwinery.com
