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About

History

Established in 1996 by pioneering viticulturist Richard Cleave, Phantom Creek Vineyard is consistently recognized for producing some of the best red wines in Canada.

  • 1977
  • 1993
  • 1996
  • 2005
  • 2016
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • Today
  • 1977, Becker Project Begins

    Led by renowned viticulturist Helmut Becker, over 30 different grape varieties were specifically planted at (what’s now) Becker Vineyard as a demonstration that traditional European vines could survive in British Columbia. And not only did they survive – they thrived.

  • 1993, Bordeaux Varieties Introduced

    Becker Vineyard was one of the first in the South Okanagan to showcase the potential for late ripening Bordeaux reds, putting it at the forefront of the shift that would soon take place in the region’s winegrowing philosophies.

  • 1996, Phantom Creek Vineyard

    Phantom Creek Vineyard was planted by leading Okanagan viticulturist Richard Cleave to Cabernet family varieties and Syrah. Today, our namesake vineyard is recognized as one of the best in the country, and has produced the “Best Red Wine in Canada” on three separate occasions.

  • 2005, Kobau Vineyard

    Kobau Vineyard was originally planted as an apple orchard in 1929, shortly after irrigation was introduced to the South Okanagan. Located on the Golden Mile Bench, the acclaimed vineyard was planted to Cabernet family varieties, Viognier, and Syrah in 2005.

  • 2016, Bai Family Founds Phantom Creek Estates

    Driven by a love of Bordeaux-style wine, Richter Bai purchases Becker and Phantom Creek Vineyards, where his dream of starting a winery in the famed Okanagan Valley begins.

  • 2020, Official Opening

    Phantom Creek opens its doors to the world for the first time.

  • 2021, Restaurant opening

    Phantom Creek’s restaurant begin service to the public.

  • 2022, Organic Certification

    Phantom Creek’s viticulture and winemaking is awarded organic certification.

  • Today, Phantom Creek Estates

    With the aim of setting the benchmark in Canadian viticulture and winemaking, Phantom Creek’s estate vineyards are now in transition to organic and biodynamic farming practices. We’ve got a foot firmly rooted in the past with our vision to the future.

Winemaking

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Viticulture

Our winemaking truly begins in the vineyard. We farm our estate grapes with the aim of expressing the character of each vineyard in the final wine. And then we get out of the way.

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Harvest

From sampling each individual block to meticulously hand-harvesting each cluster, our goal is to ensure fruit is brought into the winery at optimal ripeness. We pick earlier than most, a crucial step to retaining freshness and achieving balance once bottled.

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Winery

Our red wines are first hand sorted, then optically sorted; each berry must meet our standards before it’s pressed and fermented in Rousseau oak casks and small French oak barriques. Our whites are pressed whole cluster, wild fermented in custom Stockinger oak casks. Our goal with every one of our wines is to achieve optimal texture, layers of complexity, and integration with oak.

phantom creek estates

Our Team

Vineyards

Each of our estate vineyards is farmed with care and precision under the guidance of Olivier Humbrecht MW, one of the leading authorities on organic and biodynamic farming.

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