Harry McWatters rings in 2017 with his 50th vintage in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.
It would be an understatement to simply say Harry McWatters is involved in the British Columbia wine industry. McWatters eats, breathes and sleeps BC wine. Dubbed the father of modern BC wine, McWatters, the president and CEO of ENCORE Vineyards, is celebrating his 50th vintage in 2017. Throughout his tenure, McWatters has been an integral part in the Okanagan Valley’s economic flourish via the wine trade.
McWatters first began his winemaking endeavors in the late 1960s. Fast-forward 12 years and British Columbia’s first modern estate winery was born: he purchased what would become the Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, built upon the Sumac Ridge golf course in Summerland. This first venture produced BC’s first traditional method sparkling wine and Canada’s first wine labeled as a meritage. During this time, McWatters was also the first in British Columbia to plant red Bordeaux varietals in sandy soils in the south Okanagan.
The region has come a long way since its inception, McWatters says. Known for being a seasonal area highly dependent on tourism to shape its economy, McWatters and his colleagues have worked hard the last 30-plus years to ensure the people from the Okanagan region can harvest all the potential it has to offer.
“It used to be tough for wineries, restaurants and other businesses to survive in the area when it was so seasonal,” he says. “We needed to figure out how we could use our fledgling industry to attract people to the area, in order to benefit economically.”
During the 1980s, tourism season in the Okanagan region ended in early September. McWatters and his colleagues envisioned stretching another month out of the tourist season, they just needed to create a plan to make that happen. Queue the first ever Okanagan Wine Festival.
The festival, originally called Septober, would take place between the end of September and beginning of October. McWatters recalls how some said the timing of the festival was unorthodox as it was during the later part of harvest season.
“We wanted to show people our product, we wanted them to realize where it was coming from, that’s why this was a great time to hold the festival,” McWatters says. “After the success of the first festival, we realized we truly had a product.”
The inaugural festival featured only seven wineries, but the festival has grown considerably since then. Now, over 100 wineries are present annually, and The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society, where McWatters sits as a founding board member, hosts multiple throughout the year. There is now a BC wine festival for each of the seasons throughout the year.
McWatters deems it a success as they have been able to increase the length of the tourist season in the Okanagan region and says it is beneficial for everyone, not just wine producers.
“People need a place to stay, a place to eat, a place to drink and a place to get gas when they travel,” he says. “By extending the season not only are we helping winemakers, but all parts of our economy.”
In celebration of his 50th vintage, McWatters says they are planning lots of unique events to share with the community. Among these events are winemakers tours, the opening of his newest winery and the release of a special wine called 50 Vintages.
The concept of his new winery, titled TIME, is one-of-a-kind, as they are converting an old movie theater into not just a winery, but a multi-faceted educational and dining experience. What was formerly known as the PenMar Theatre will be the first urban winery in the Okanagan.
The Pentiction, BC, building hosts four separate theaters, which will each serve their own specific purpose, McWatters says. A fermentation hall, barrel cellar, lab warehouse, open kitchen and tasting bar are all set to be added into the once movie theater. McWatters and his team have decided to maintain one of the theater rooms as is, a 75-seat space that will serve as a venue for seminars, live performances and movie viewings. The winery is set to open in spring 2017.
He chuckles as he remembers the first time he was ever in the PenMar Theatre. He was 12-years-old, and on his first date. “I bought two soda pops and a popcorn for 25 cents,” McWatters says. “Oh, how time has changed.”
