Tell me a little more about how the winery’s legacy inspires the wines you make.
When did you first become interested in winemaking, and what drew you to the industry? I wanted to build a wine cellar and realized it was costly. So, I started home winemaking in 1999 and did that for a decade. Then my wife had the genius idea to turn my passion into a career, and I took the winemaking degree program at Brock University. My hobby soon became a fulfilling career.
Major Fraser, the original proprietor of the estate, had many dogs. Today, our logo is a dog with angel wings, some of our wines are named for his dogs, and we encourage people to bring their dogs and walk them on leash while enjoying a glass of See Ya Later wine. We also donate a portion of sales from certain wines to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. How do you balance the winery’s lighthearted, approachable vibe with the serious craft of winemaking? Winemaking is the work before the celebration. When I’ve done my best and the wines are finished and bottled, then the end goal is to have a good time with family and friends. Today’s wine world values sustainable practices. What is the winery doing that you’re most proud of? We use integrated pest management to decrease the amount of spray and tractors going into the vineyards, which cuts down our carbon footprint. In the winery, we are careful with our water use. We do all we can to keep our prices affordable for the consumer. We also believe in inclusivity and people being themselves. Wine brings people together, and at our Pride in the Vines event, we invite everyone to enjoy great wine and food. What advice would you give young winemakers? This industry is full of opportunities. If you come into it being open, have a good work ethic and want to learn, there are no limiting factors. That’s what makes the wine industry in BC fantastic.
What inspired you to join See Ya Later Ranch after working abroad?
Our family lives in Abbotsford, and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia (BC) is our home base. There isn’t another place like this province. The draw of family and the beauty of the region are what made me want to come home. British Columbia’s wine industry has grown a lot recently. What excites you about this evolution? We are a diverse group of winemakers and wine enthusiasts. There are people who were born locally and have a feel for the place and tradition. Others from around the world bring different bits of knowledge. This mélange of skills and experience helps increase the diversity of styles and the quality of wine we make in BC.
What makes the Okanagan Valley a special place for winemaking?
The tremendously diverse landscapes. Our small area has valleys, lakes, rivers and varying elevations with unique soil types that are, at most, a 90-minute drive from place to place. Such diversity makes the Okanagan Valley unique in the world. What lessons from working internationally have stayed with you? For me, winemaking is similar around the world. I’ve taken little snippets of wisdom from different regions, especially grape varieties they do well with, and incorporated it into what we do at See Ya Later Ranch. See Ya Later Ranch has a rich history of winemaking. How does your vision build on that? My mantra is “Great wine is made in the vineyard.” A winemaker’s job is to respect and maintain the quality of the grapes, from the vineyard to the final bottle. I like to hand-select barrels and craft new styles into unique offerings for our Legacy series wines. They are a tier above our everyday wines and are fitting for what See Ya Later was originally about. They honour the lively legacy of founder Major Hugh Fraser, one of the first people in the Okanagan Valley to plant grapes for wine.
See Ya Later Ranch Luna White BC VQA $18.99 74581 Luna is a refreshing white wine bursting with zesty lemon, green apple and peach flavours, balanced by crisp acidity and spice for a harmonious finish.
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