Quality wines to your home for over 40 years
Sumac Ridge was the very first operating estate winery in British Columbia and we proudly celebrated 40 years in 2021. Our winery was founded by Harry McWatters in 1979 in the town of Summerland in the Okanagan Valley. Since the 1800s, the area’s combination of sparkling water, brilliant sun and fertile land has made it ideal for growing grapes.
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery has been dedicated to producing wine from 100% BC grown grapes since its inception and have set the standard for high quality in fine wines. Our crisp whites and luscious reds are made with the wine drinker in mind – simple and consistently delicious.
Meet Winemaker Jason James
From tasting barrel samples to the organized chaos of crush, Jason James, our Winemaker at Sumac Ridge Estate Winery enjoys the entire process.
Jason discovered his passion for the grape after receiving an Honours degree in Biology at the University of Guelph in his home province of Ontario. He joined the cellar team at Thomas & Vaughan Estate Winery in the Niagara wine region and received his Certificate in Oenology and Viticulture in 2001 from Brock University.
The West was calling though. “I was keen to experience winemaking in British Columbia,” he explains. “I knew about the climate and growing conditions. Sumac Ridge’s reputation is known throughout Canada, so I jumped at the chance to join the team in 2005.”
Since heading up the cellar, James has worked to improve upon every vintage. “It’s still a thrill, every year; the promise of a vintage even better than the last: to improve from last year’s triumphs.” In addition to the wines of Sumac Ridge, James also oversees the winemaking for Steller’s Jay Sparkling and Black Sage Vineyard wines.