Harry McWatters was born in Toronto in 1945. He grew up in North Vancouver and, like many of his male ancestors, pursued a career in sales. By the age of twenty-three he was the highest paid moving company salesman in western Canada. Also a modestly accomplished home vintner by this time, he was vulnerable to wine's seductive charms and, in late 1968, Penticton's Casabello Winery recruited him to head up their sales department. Not until he received his first paycheque from the winery did he fully realize that the job only paid half as much as his previous job. But he was doing what he truly wanted to do and that passion has never abated.
Harry and Cathie McWatters moved, with their children Christa Lee, born in 1972, and Darren, born in 1974, from Delta to Summerland, British Columbia in 1979 when Harry was transferred to oversee sales and marketing initiatives for Casabello Winery. The young family settled into the quaint town and soon became an integral part of the community.
Harry established Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in Summerland in 1979 and released the inaugural 1980 vintage in the spring of 1981 when the wine shop opened.
Over the decades McWatters has been a significant driving force in the development of British Columbia's wine industry. In 1980 he led a group of wineries and local businesses to establish the Okanagan Wine Festival Society and acted as founding president.
In 1990 McWatters was appointed by the Province of British Columbia to chair the newly formed British Columbia Wine Institute. He acted in that capacity for five years and currently acts as a director. McWatters was also instrumental in founding VQA Canada, a trade association that spearheaded the development of national wine standards for Canadian vintners. He is also the vice president of the Canadian Vintners Association a board he has been sitting on since its inception. Harry was also founding chairman of the British Columbia Wine Information Centre and continues to be active on the Board of Directors.
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, started by McWatters and a partner in 1979, was British Columbia's first estate winery.
In June 2001 McWatters was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degrees by the Okanagan University College and, in 2003, he was awarded the prestigious Order of British Columbia for his outstanding achievements. Both of these symbolic gestures of recognition are for his pivotal role in the ongoing development and evolution of both British Columbia's and Canada's wine industry.
During Harry's "down" time he enjoys seasonal activities such as snowmobiling or house boating around Lake Okanagan. Cooking, enjoying great wines, and the good company of friends and family are the centre of his leisure activities. Work is still his overriding passion and there is no discussion of retirement in the near future. "I can't say that I've ever had two consecutive days when I thought I should try something else," says McWatters. His motto, "do what you love and love what you do" is apparent in every bottle of Sumac Ridge wine.
Mark Wendenburg was appointed winemaker at Sumac Ridge in 1992 and is just approaching his fifteenth vintage at the winery. His attention to detail is apparent in the outstanding quality that Sumac Ridge achieves year after year with its impressive wine portfolio.
A native of Penticton and of German descent, Mark grew up on the family run orchard and vineyard on Valleyview Road where he currently lives with his wife Jackie and their two sons Austin and Terence.
Mark's destiny as a winemaker was set at an early age. After traveling in Europe in his early twenties Mark became interested in Viticulture and Oenology, so in 1982 he began his apprenticeship in Rheinhessen, Germany. After spending a year there Mark went south to Baden for his second year. Following a two year apprenticeship he attended the Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture in Franconia, Germany, from 1985 to 1987, where he attained his degree in Viticulture and Oenology.
In 1987 Mark began work in Canada at Brights Wines (now known as Vincor) in Oliver, British Columbia. Early in 1989 he went to New Zealand where he was able to broaden his winemaking skills in processing the harvest that year. Mark returned to the continent the following year, this time to the Barossa Valley in Australia.
Between 1989 and 1992, after his time in Australia, Mark was involved with Blue Mountain Vineyards and Inkameep Vineyards in conjunction with Schramsberg Vineyards and Cellars of California, participating in research and development projects.
Mark joined Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in July of 1992 and has since been an invaluable part of the winemaking process. Many of the wines that Mark has been instrumental in making have been granted awards at prestigious wine competitions.
Because Sumac Ridge has so many different wines Mark's winemaking philosophy is to harvest at optimal ripeness for each varietal according to the wine it is destined for. He then conducts fermentation to further enhance varietal character in each tank or barrel lot. He believes in a relatively low tech approach overall, with critical close monitoring of each lot, combined with a minimal intervention strategy. Post fermentation and throughout the year wines are blended to create the desired taste profile.
At home in Penticton, Mark operates one and a half acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which is his hobby and experimental vineyard. Mark hopes to visit every viticultural region in the world before his sixtieth birthday.
Jason James is the assistant winemaker at Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, responsible for daily cellar operations.
Hailing from the hometown of Callander, Ontario James was educated at the University of Guelph in Ontario where he received an Honours degree in Biology. After developing an interest in wine, James moved to Niagara and spent time working in the cellar at Thomas and Vaughan Estate Winery in Ontario. In 2001 he received his Certificate in Oenology and Viticulture from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.
With his certificate in hand, he traveled to New Zealand to work the 2002 crush for Villa Maria Estates in Marlborough, and upon return his role at Thomas and Vaughan grew. James became winemaker for this small winery, which focused on Meritage blends and Bordeaux varieties. In 2004, Thomas and Vaughan was sold to the Niagara Cellars group, and James became winemaker for both Thomas and Vaughan and Eastdell Estates, with a production of 12,000 cases.
During his short career as a winemaker, James has been making his mark. He was featured in the Liquor Control Board of Ontario's Young Winemakers Program, which brings together young winemakers from all over the world, and his wines have been receiving awards. James is especially proud at wining two Cuveé Awards (the "Oscars" of the Ontario wine industry), and in 2004 received Best Icewine in Canada at the Canadian Wine Awards for the Thomas and Vaughn 2002 Vidal Icewine.
In spring 2005, Jason joined the winemaking team at Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, where he works with the cellar crew and senior winemaker Mark Wendenburg to bring out the full potential of the wines.
"I was anxious to experience winemaking in British Columbia," says James. "Sumac Ridge's reputation is known throughout Canada, especially in terms of our Pinnacle blends and Sparkling program, so I jumped at the chance to work with Mark Wendenburg."
James' wine philosophy is to make the best wine possible every year, and under the direction of Wendenburg, James is establishing himself as one to watch.
Christa-Lee McWatters Bond - Sumac Ridge Marketing Manager
Christa-Lee McWatters Bond has worked in the wine industry since the age of ten. With a wine ambassador like Harry McWatters for a father her upbringing has led to a true appreciation for wine and for those who make it.
In the early years at the winery Christa Lee displayed a keen, natural capability for the wine business that was best demonstrated through her favourite jobs - assisting Sumac Ridge visitors in the wine shop and leading tours. She has lived in Summerland since moving there in 1979 with stints in Vancouver where she attended post secondary school and worked part time as a student. Those part-time jobs greatly influenced her career as they were in the wine and restaurant industries.
Christa-Lee now lives in Summerland with her husband Cameron and works at Sumac Ridge where she works in the area of marketing and sales and is a key part of the team along with her brother Darren.
Christa-Lee was responsible for overseeing major renovations to the wine shop and Cellar Door Bistro in spring 2002. The expanded, updated facilities were recognized by the Summerland Chamber of Commerce, which gave the winery a "Business Beautification" award.
Christa-Lee is the past president of the Okanagan Wine Festival Society, a position founded by Harry McWatters in 1980. She works on many industry initiatives and currently sits on the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) Board of Directors and Marketing Committee for the British Columbia Wine Institute.
Few people are as familiar with as many aspects of the wine industry as Christa-Lee is and she remains as passionate and committed to the continued growth of Sumac Ridge as she was on the winery's opening day.
Darren McWatters has been working at Sumac Ridge Estate Winery since his family purchased property and developed the winery when he was seven years old. Darren did a year of education in Mexico at the age of sixteen. Until the age of twenty-two Darren assisted in the wine shop and conducted visitor tours while he completed his education at the University of British Columbia (UBC). During his time at UBC he conducted an informal wine appreciation course and was responsible for converting a large number of people from beer to wine.
Although Darren is extremely at ease with the public, he decided to focus his career in the production area. In 1997 Darren took over managing the warehouse and is currently production manager for all western VQA wines.
Outside of work, Darren has volunteered with the Summerland Fire Department since 1998. Darren's hobbies include outdoor activities such as skiing and snowmobiling. He has completed four Ironman Canada competitions and is currently training for his fifth. The thrill of the finish and the sense of accomplishment are what drive Darren. "Setting out to do something, pushing yourself beyond what is comfortable, and actually completing what you set out to do is extremely rewarding", says Darren. He lives in Summerland with his wife Kristy and their sons Brendan, born in 2001, and Connor, born in 2003.
