Led by renowned viticulturist Helmut Becker, over 30 different grape varieties were specifically planted at (what's now) Becker Vineyard as a demonstration that traditional European vines could survive in British Columbia. And not only did they survive - they thrived.
Becker Vineyard was one of the first in the South Okanagan to showcase the potential for late ripening Bordeaux reds, putting it at the forefront of the shift that would soon take place in the region's winegrowing philosophies.
Phantom Creek Vineyard was planted by leading Okanagan viticulturist Richard Cleave to Cabernet family varieties and Syrah. Today, our namesake vineyard is recognized as one of the best in the country, and has produced the "Best Red Wine in Canada" on three separate occasions.
Kobau Vineyard was originally planted as an apple orchard in 1929, shortly after irrigation was introduced to the South Okanagan. Located on the Golden Mile Bench, the acclaimed vineyard was planted to Cabernet family varieties, Viognier, and Syrah in 2005.
Driven by a love of Bordeaux-style wine, Richter Bai purchases Becker and Phantom Creek Vineyards, where his dream of starting a winery in the famed Okanagan Valley begins.
Phantom Creek opens its doors to the world for the first time.
Phantom Creek's restaurant begin service to the public.
Phantom Creek's viticulture and winemaking is awarded organic certification.
With the aim of setting the benchmark in Canadian viticulture and winemaking, Phantom Creek's estate vineyards are now in transition to organic and biodynamic farming practices. We've got a foot firmly rooted in the past with our vision to the future.
Our winemaking truly begins in the vineyard. We farm our estate grapes with the aim of expressing the character of each vineyard in the final wine. And then we get out of the way.
From sampling each individual block to meticulously hand-harvesting each cluster, our goal is to ensure fruit is brought into the winery at optimal ripeness. We pick earlier than most, a crucial step to retaining freshness and achieving balance once bottled.
Our red wines are first hand sorted, then optically sorted; each berry must meet our standards before it's pressed and fermented in Rousseau oak casks and small French oak barriques. Our whites are pressed whole cluster, wild fermented in custom Stockinger oak casks. Our goal with every one of our wines is to achieve optimal texture, layers of complexity, and integration with oak.
Mark Beringer, great-great-grandson of Beringer Vineyards' founding brother Jacob Beringer, was immersed in wine from the moment he was born in the heart of the Napa Valley. As the direct descendant to Beringer's first winemaker and one of the most iconic family names in Napa Valley wine history, he knew from a young age that he would follow in the footsteps of his ancestors. Eager to immerse himself in winemaking after receiving an Enology degree from California State University in Fresno, he spent a year in the cellars at Benziger in Sonoma and then joined Duckhorn in 1992. Mark began as Enologist and worked his way up to Vice President of Winemaking at Duckhorn. In 2009 Mark joined Artesa as Vice President and Winemaker. In 2015, Mark Beringer returned to his namesake Beringer Vineyards, joining as Chief Winemaker and following in the footsteps of acclaimed Winemaker Emeritus Laurie Hook. Now, he is bringing years of winemaking expertise and experience to Phantom Creek Estates. Mark is a proud father to three daughters, and in his spare time enjoys mountain biking and skiing, as well as traveling with his wife who works as a commercial pilot.
Olivier, France's first Master of Wine, is the owner and winemaker of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht. The renowned estate has been in his family since 1620, and today is one of the world's leading Pinot Gris and Riesling producers. Olivier has an integral role in our white winemaking program, and also guides our transition to organic and biodynamic practices.
Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, Luke MacKinnon's journey into winemaking is a blend of artistic passion and international expertise. His winemaking odyssey began at Niagara College in 2012, followed by a Masters of Enology and Viticulture from Montpellier SupAgro and Hochschule Geisenheim University in 2020. Luke's hands-on experience spans roles as a vineyard worker, cellar hand, and cellar master. He's lent his skills to renowned vineyards worldwide, including collaborations with Jean and Alex Foillard in Beaujolais, Two Hands Wines in Barossa, Flowers Winery in California, and Esk Valley in Hawkes Bay. Since 2021, Luke has been the red winemaker at Phantom Creek, contributing his expertise to our distinctive wines. With 18 harvests already completed, Luke MacKinnon continues to infuse each vintage with his unique blend of artistry and international insight.
An ambitious student, she traveled the wine regions of France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, and New Zealand. During her studies, Karin gained valuable experience at Pentâge in British Columbia, where she worked her first harvest in 2013, as well as in Vienna, where she completed her PhD thesis. There, she worked with a knowledgeable viticulturist in the red wine region of Austria’s upper Burgenland. Her time spent in Vienna spurred her decision to pursue a lifelong winemaking career and she soon delved into oenology studies at the BOKU (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna). Karin joined Phantom Creek Estates as Oenologist in 2016, bringing with her an inventiveness and energy that perfectly complements her wealth of cellar knowledge. Building on to her busy biannual harvest schedule, Karin also joined Leeuwin Estates in Australia for the 2018 southern hemisphere harvest. At Phantom Creek Estates, Karin continues to prioritize education, overseeing the winery’s internship program and continuing to focus on refining her world-class winemaking skills with an emphasis on Riesling and Pinot Gris.
Amy obtained a Bachelor of Viticultural Science from the University of Adelaide in Australia, after which she travelled to the South Island of New Zealand to purse her interest in cool climate viticulture and winemaking. In 2004, Amy returned to Adelaide to join the South Australian Research and Development Institute as a researcher. The results of her research lead to the award of Australian Viticulturist of the Year in 2011. In 2009, Amy moved to Treasury Wine Estates in the role of Viticulturist for McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek vineyards and then in 2015, was relocated to California, USA where she managed their portfolio of grower contracts in the Napa Valley. In 2020, inspired by the region's potential to produce outstanding red wine grapes, Amy relocated to the Okanagan Valley.
Having discovered wine's complex appeal in his youth, Richter Bai retained an interest in wine throughout his career in China. Born within an agricultural community, he has always been close to the land, and Phantom Creek Estates marries his passion for great wine, appreciation of agriculture, and pursuit of excellence in a thrilling new venture.
Born and raised in China, Faye graduated from the University of British Columbia before developing a successful career in real estate. In 2014, she transitioned to the wine industry and worked closely with Richter Bai to begin to realize his dream of building one of the leading wineries in Canada. Since day one, she has been involved with every facet of the project.
Each of our estate vineyards is farmed with care and precision under the guidance of Olivier Humbrecht MW, one of the leading authorities on organic and biodynamic farming.
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