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Phantom Creek Estates

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.

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  • 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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— phantom creek estates

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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— phantom creek estates

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.

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phantom creek estates

Our Team

Mark Beringer

Director of Winemaking

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 one of the most iconic family names in Napa Valley wine history, he knew from a young age that he would follow in the footsteps of his ancestors.

Eager to immerse himself in winemaking after receiving an Enology degree from California State University in Fresno, he spent a year in the cellars at Benziger in Sonoma and then joined Duckhorn in 1992. Mark began as Enologist and worked his way up to Vice President of Winemaking at Duckhorn. 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.

Now, he is bringing years of winemaking expertise and experience to Phantom Creek Estates. Mark is a proud father to three daughters, and in his spare time enjoys mountain biking and skiing, as well as traveling with his wife who works as a commercial pilot.

Olivier Humbrecht MW

Consulting Winemaker

Olivier, France's first Master of Wine, is the owner and winemaker of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht. The renowned estate has been in his family since 1620, and today is one of the world's leading Pinot Gris and Riesling producers. Olivier has an integral role in our white winemaking program, and also guides our transition to organic and biodynamic practices.

Mike Anderson

Director of Farming

Michael, a native of the South Okanagan, discovered his passion for winemaking during his university years. With a B.Sc. under his belt, he delved deeper into the field, earning a Master of Science from the UBC Wine Research Center, and specializing in viticulture at the University of Washington. Over his 17-vintage career, Michael honed his skills in vineyards and cellars, leaving his mark at renowned establishments like Jackson Triggs Winery, Nk'Mip Cellars, and Stags Hollow.

His journey extended globally, from New Zealand's Marlborough Valley to Napa Valley, where he sourced ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon from renowned Stagecoach & Beckstoffer vineyards, for a Vancouver-based venture. As the head winemaker and General Manager at Montalvino Wineries Group, working closely with Bordeaux-trained Viticulture consultant Pascal Madevon, Michael managed various projects. His expertise further flourished as the Viticulturist and Winemaker at Liber Estates where he again had the pleasure of working with Pascal, leading Organic Farming Operations in Osoyoos.

Michael's unique role as both a winemaker and viticulturist grant him a profound understanding of the intricate relationship between cultivating top-tier grapes and crafting world-class wines. Having explored wine regions worldwide, his heart remains rooted in the untapped potential of wines emerging from his beloved South Okanagan valley.

Luke MacKinnon

Red Winemaker

Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, Luke MacKinnon's journey into winemaking is a blend of artistic passion and international expertise. His winemaking odyssey began at Niagara College in 2012, followed by a Masters of Enology and Viticulture from Montpellier SupAgro and Hochschule Geisenheim University in 2020.

Luke's hands-on experience spans roles as a vineyard worker, cellar hand, and cellar master. He's lent his skills to renowned vineyards worldwide, including collaborations with Jean and Alex Foillard in Beaujolais, Two Hands Wines in Barossa, Flowers Winery in California, and Esk Valley in Hawkes Bay.

Since 2021, Luke has been the red winemaker at Phantom Creek, contributing his expertise to our distinctive wines. With 18 harvests already completed, Luke MacKinnon continues to infuse each vintage with his unique blend of artistry and international insight.

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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