Adega sale among the acquisitions reframing wine country

The sale of Adega on 45th in Osoyoos is one of several promising signs of recovery for B.C. wine country. Facebook.com/Adegaon45 photo

No question, between the pandemic, wildfires, heat dome and killer freezes, the past few years add up to the most challenging to date in the unfolding story of British Columbia’s still-young wine industry.

Despite everything, however, signs exist of a return to “normal”—whatever that might mean.

One such indication was the sale in March of family-owned Adega on 45th to a group of investors who also recently purchased Gate 22 Winery (formerly Cavallo Winery) in Surrey, B.C.

Okanagan-based lawyer Al Hudec (a senior partner at Farris LLP), who provided counsel to the buyer, says the sale represents “another show of confidence in the future of the Okanagan Valley.” Hudec’s work with many aspects of the industry allows him an “insider’s overview” that yields a broad perspective. He suggests that there may well be quite a few more transactions “in the coming months” as confidence returns.

Hudec points to several new openings or acquisitions, such as Modesta on the Naramata Bench and Similkameen Valley’s Bella, as well as the California Jackson family’s personal investments in the Cowichan Valley, where a new 50,000-case production facility under construction at Unsworth Vineyards (with plans to be ready for harvest 2025) will also handle Blue Grouse wines, both owned by family members.

Adega on 45th (on the lower bench just east of downtown Osoyoos, below Spirit Ridge) was founded in 2011 by Fred Farinha and Maria Nunes with their respective spouses, Pamela and Alex. However, it was their parents, Manuel and Felicidade Farinha, who originally purchased and subsequently farmed the property in 1966.

The management team under the new ownership, headed by Christa-Lee McWatters, includes winemaker and manager Karen Yeung and tasting room supervisor Karen Valckx, who has been with the winery since 2017.

McWatters says she’s “super excited to add Adega to our family of wines and to continue the legacy started by the Farinha family.”

While Gate 22 (which dates back some 27 years) made wines made primarily with Napa Valley and Carneros fruit (“a bit of an anomaly,” says McWatters), Adega will focus on B.C.-grown VQA wines.

The plan, McWatters says, is to develop the portfolio as Yeung “puts her spin on it.” The award-winning winemaker and viticulturist brings considerable experience from a 25-year career with Andrew Peller. McWatters also intends to introduce more tasting programs and special events.

From a total of 28 acres of vineyards (19 acres on the estate), Adega’s current production numbers around some 5,000 cases, although capacity is about double that. McWatters reports that Adega fared better than many through the January 2024 deep freeze, with a 2024 harvest of around 65 per cent of normal.

It remains to be seen how the future of the less-conventional Surrey winery unfolds, especially given the uncertainty of the current cross-border relationship. However, the new team in place brings a wealth of passion and expertise that promises to expand upon the original vision for Adega—its roots still intact and flourishing from so many decades ago. 

Tim Pawsey

Tim Pawsey writes and shoots at hiredbelly.com as well as for publications including Quench, TASTE and Montecristo. He’s a frequent wine judge and is a founding member of the B.C. Hospitality Foundation.