New releases and special events in the works to celebrate an impressive milestone

Photo courtesy of Phantom Creek

One of the South Okanagan’s most significant winery projects to date, Phantom Creek Estates is marking its 10-year anniversary with special events and exciting new releases.

In the decade since it was established in 2016, Phantom Creek has garnered an impressive array of achievements and accolades, notably full organic certification for its vineyards (Ecocert 2021) as well as the acquisition of even more premium land in both the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys.

Initially, Phantom Creek Estates focused on its namesake vineyard, planted on the Black Sage Bench in 1996 by respected viticulturist Richard Cleave. That site produced wines that won noteworthy awards, including Best of Show at the National Wine Awards of Canada and the original Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Excellence in British Columbia Wines.

More recently, the 2020 Phantom Creek Vineyard Cuvée, a ripe, complex Bordeaux-style blend, won Canada’s only Gold Medal at the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards.

Today, Phantom Creek is justly recognized for its powerful but elegant reds, especially its Syrah and signature Bordeaux-style blends. But the winery is also renowned for its fresh, fragrant whites, thanks to its collaboration with the influential Alsace winemaker Olivier Humbrecht, who guides the Riesling and Pinot Gris programs.

The Riesling comes from the Evernden vineyard in the narrow Similkameen Valley. “Evernden produces dry Riesling, and enjoys the right balance of climate to do so,” Humbrecht says. “The volcanic soil, cooler than the warm, sandy soil of south Okanagan, also helps to keep a good structure in the wines.”

Each of the winery’s famous, historic vineyards has its own distinctive terroir. In the Okanagan, Mount Kobau’s glacial and alluvial composition yields the distinctive mineral characteristics of the Golden Mile Bench. Across the valley, on the Black Sage Bench to the east, the famous Becker vineyard (established in 1977) features a high percentage of alluvial rocks while nearby Phantom Creek’s loams are different still.

Working with this array of options allows the winemaking team to develop a nuanced program—one that’s allowed it to be more responsive to recent climatically challenging vintages.

Photo courtesy of Phantom Creek

NEW RELEASES, NEW EVENTS

For spring and summer 2026, Phantom Creek is excited to announce several new releases.

Among them is the inaugural 2025 Estate Pinot Noir (future Pinot Noir releases will be harvested from the winery’s Evernden Spring vineyard in the Similkameen). Also of special note are the 2025 Estate Sparkling Rosé (organic), 2025 Coeur d’Été (Heart of Summer), a blend of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Pinot Noir, and the 2025 Phantom Blanc. This unusual “white” wine is made with Cabernet Franc, but with minimal skin contact for a lighter, fresher style that aligns with current tastes.

Phantom Creek Estates also has a number of events planned to celebrate its first decade in style.

They include the Sunday Music Series from May 10 to September. Each Sunday, from 1 to 4 pm, noted musicians including Aiden Mayes, Lewis Cardinal, Mandy Cole and many others will play live at the winery.

The winery has also teamed up once again with noted chef Chris Van Hooydonk of Backyard Farm, celebrated for his farm-driven philosophy and refined, seasonal cuisine, for an unmissable series of winemaker dinners. Each four-course meal will be held in the winery restaurant and paired with Phantom Creek wines, while a member of the winemaking and viticulture teams shares fascinating insights about each bottle.

And there’s more to come, including invitation-only events at the winery’s deluxe facility in Richmond, B.C.

The best way to learn more about these events, to get early access to highly anticipated new releases and to hear about all the exciting upcoming plans is to join the Phantom Creek Estates wine club.

Powerful reds. Delicate whites. Historic vineyard land. Unforgettable events. Ten years in, this is just the beginning for Phantom Creek Estates.

THREE TO TRY

Phantom Creek Estates Estate Petite Cuvée 2021
(Okanagan Valley, B.C, $40)
Versatile, approachable, balanced; cassis, truffle, minerality, a hint of leather.

Phantom Creek Estates Becker Vineyard Cuvée 2020
(Okanagan Valley, B.C., $68)
Rich, dense, kirsch, plum, spiced blackberry, dried sage, dark chocolate.

Phantom Creek Estates  Estate Pinot Gris 2023
(Okanagan Valley, B.C., $31.99)
Delicate, honeysuckle, ripe apple, white peach, citrus, minerality.

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY: 

Phantom Creek Estates
phantomcreekestates.com

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