Legendary Napa Valley Winemaker Joins British Columbia’s Most Exciting Winemaking Team

OLIVER, British Columbia (July 15, 2021) – Phantom Creek Estates announced today the winery’s appointment of Mark Beringer to Director of Winemaking.  Beringer will work closely with the winery’s winemaker for the white wine program Karin Grosstessner-Hain, who has been with the winery since the inaugural 2016 vintage, and internationally renowned winemaking team Philippe Melka and Olivier Humbrecht MW.

Mark Beringer, great-great-grandson of Beringer Vineyards’ founding brother Jacob Beringer, was immersed in wine from the moment he was born in the heart of the Napa Valley.  As the direct descendant to Beringer’s first winemaker and steward of one of the most iconic family names in California wine history, he knew from a young age that he would follow in the footsteps of his forefathers.

After receiving an Enology degree from California State University in Fresno, Beringer spent a year in the cellars at Benziger Family Winery in Sonoma before joining Duckhorn Vineyards as an enologist in 1992, where he worked his way up to Vice President of Winemaking.  In 2009, Mark joined Artesa as Vice President and Winemaker.

In 2015, Mark Beringer returned to his namesake Beringer Vineyards, joining as Chief Winemaker and following in the footsteps of acclaimed Winemaker Emeritus Laurie Hook.

“The Okanagan Valley really excites me as it shows so much potential and there is an incredible opportunity to help this region achieve global recognition,” said Beringer.  “Phantom Creek Estates has invested significantly in acquiring some of the region’s most acclaimed and historic vineyards, technology, architecture and talent, so I believe that the winery will be the premier property in the region, if not Canada, and that’s a goal I’m inspired to be a part of.”

As the Director of Winemaking at Phantom Creek Estates, Beringer looks forward to making terroir-driven wines with minimal intervention to ensure the delicate qualities of the unique vineyard sites are thoroughly expressed in each wine.  Beringer joins an elite team of wine legends, including Alsace superstar Olivier Humbrecht MW, who he has admired throughout his winemaking career and looks forward to learning from, especially in regards to his unrivaled knowledge of biodynamic and organic farming practices.  Philippe Melka, acclaimed for his art of blending and consulting winemaker for the red wine program, brings an interesting perspective on the region that Beringer appreciates and eagerly awaits tasting through the winery’s portfolio with him.

Located at 4315 Black Sage Road in Oliver, British Columbia, Phantom Creek Estates is open for guided tastings and winery tours.  The Restaurant at Phantom Creek Estates is open for lunch Thursday through Monday.  To make a reservation, Phantom Creek Estates can be reached by calling (250) 498-8367, emailing [email protected], or visiting www.phantomcreekestates.com.

About Phantom Creek Estates

Phantom Creek Estates is a destination winery located on the famed Black Sage Bench of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, specializing in single vineyard Bordeaux reds, Alsatian whites and the Okanagan’s benchmark varieties of Viognier and Syrah from storied vineyard sites. From the start, the winery has been guided by the long-term vision of building one of the leading family-owned wineries in Canada. Cultivated in certified organic vineyards and made by an influential international winemaking team – Mark Beringer, Olivier Humbrecht MW and Philippe Melka – Phantom Creek Estates’ wines celebrate and speak to where they are grown.

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Media contacts:  Morgan Moore at Glodow Nead Communications, 415.394.6500 or [email protected].  

British Columbia’s Premier Destination Winery Appoints Anahita Pouget as Director of Sales and Marketing, Amy Richard as Director of Farming, and Kea Mueller as Wine Club Manager.

OLIVER, British Columbia (July 7, 2021) – Phantom Creek Estates, British Columbia’s premier destination winery announces the appointments of Anahita Pouget as director of sales and marketing, Amy Richards as director of farming, and Kea Mueller as wine club manager.  Following its debut in June 2020, the winery has garnered much acclaim for its iconic design, state-of-the-art cellars and its flagship wines that have been awarded multiple 94+ points by the region’s top critics.  Most recently all the Estate’s vineyards attained organic certification and The Restaurant at Phantom Creek debuted with an elevated food and beverage program.

“We are pleased to announce the expansion of our incredible team, and equally thrilled to have Anahita, Amy, and Kea share their extensive knowledge and industry experience with us,” said Richter Bai, founder and chairman of Phantom Creek Estates.  “It has been my vision not only to create great wines that honour our incredible terroir, but also to offer valuable experiences that connect visitors to the Okanagan Valley and its landscape which makes us one of the most spectacular wine regions in the world.”

Anahita Pouget has cultivated expertise in luxury hospitality and wine since beginning her career in the south of France, where she completed a bilingual master’s degree in hospitality and tourism management before joining the J.W. Marriott group of hotels in Paris.  After a few years working in the high-profile establishments in Paris, she was drawn to the countryside and worked a harvest in Alsace, where she fell in love with winemaking.  Anahita relocated to Canada to join the Relais & Chateaux group of hotels at the Wikaninnish Inn in Tofino.  However, her love of wine drew her to the Okanagan Valley where, for the past decade, she held sales and marketing positions at impressive establishments, including CedarCreek Estate Winery and Mission Hill Family Estate.  Now, as the director of sales and marketing at Phantom Creek Estates, Anahita brings her extensive industry knowledge and experience in luxury brand marketing to the estate team.

Amy Richards obtained a Bachelor of Viticultural Science from the University of Adelaide in Australia, after which she traveled to the South Island of New Zealand to pursue her interest in cool climate viticultural winemaking.  In 2004, Amy returned to Adelaide to join the South Australian Research and Development Institute as a researcher.  The results of her research lead to the award of Australian Viticulturist of the Year in 2011.  In 2009, Amy moved to Treasury Wine Estates in the role of Viticulturist for McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek vineyards and then in 2015, was relocate to California, USA where she managed the portfolio of grower contracts in the Napa Valley.  In 2020, inspired by the region’s potential to produce outstanding red wine grapes, Amy relocated to the Okanagan Valley.

Kea Mueller has an impressive background in tourism and luxury hospitality which started over five years ago in Germany, working at World Hotels AG, as a loyalty coordinator and then as a marketing specialist.  In 2017, Kea relocated to Dallas, Texas to join the Associated Luxury Hotels International Group as a loyalty marketing manager.  Shortly after her move to Texas, she was promoted within the luxury group to senior project manager of the loyalty program and moved to Boston, Massachusetts.  Currently, as the wine club manager at Phantom Creek Estates, Kea brings her strong customer loyalty background and vision to develop elevated experiences and partnerships that expand well beyond traditional winery offerings. 

Phantom Creek Estates is located at 4315 Black Sage Road in Oliver, British Columbia.  All experiences, including lunch at The Restaurant at Phantom Creek Estates, are available for online booking through www.phantomcreekestates.com/visit, or by calling (250) 498-8367.

About Phantom Creek Estates

Phantom Creek Estates is a destination winery located on the famed Black Sage Bench of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, specializing in single vineyard Bordeaux reds, Alsatian whites and the Okanagan’s benchmark varieties of Viognier and Syrah from storied vineyard sites. From the start, the winery has been guided by the long-term vision of building one of the leading family-owned wineries in Canada. Cultivated in certified organic vineyards and made by an influential international winemaking team – Olivier Humbrecht MW and Philippe Melka – Phantom Creek Estates’ wines celebrate and speak to where they are grown.

Media contacts:  Morgan Moore, Alex Fondren, Danyelle Simpkins and Juliona Miller at Glodow Nead Communications, 415.394.6500 or [email protected].