For the past 20 years, Nk’Mip Cellars have taken a unique approach to winemaking by connecting Canadians to their origin story – one steeped in Indigenous history and a deep relationship with the land. Gifting a bottle from the Indigenous-owned winery this season is a great way to support local artists, honour harvest traditions and celebrate the season.
Nk’Mip was originally founded by members of the Osoyoos Indian Band. The Okanagan First Nations once traveled widely to fish, gather and hunt and would return to their villages in the Okanagan Valley in the winter. Each year, the first harvests of roots, berries, fish and game were celebrated by ceremonies honouring the food chiefs who provided for the people.
Nk’Mip Estate Winemaker, Justin Hall grew up in Osoyoos, BC where the vineyards and winery are based. Like their ancestors before them, Justin and his team are celebrating the harvest season, where they work intimately with the land to harvest the grapes for the estate’s primary offerings.
His connection to the land is evident in the pride he takes in his day-to-day work and in every bottle of wine Nk’Mip produces. “Being in the winery is a lot of fun, but I love going out in the vines, seeing the soils, paying attention to what comes in. I love it all,” says Justin. “You have to be out in the land. You have to be out in the weather. You have to know what the vines are going through. It’s extremely important.”
Justin believes understanding and respecting the history of Nk’Mip and the Osoyoos Indian Band is just as important as the taste of their award-winning offerings. “Making a successful winery is creating memories with your wines,” he says. “I love showing guests around our winery. It’s really important that they see and understand what we do and walk away with an experience and memory they can attach to the taste of our wine.”
This relationship with nature and connection to the past is prevalent in all that Nk’Mip does, from the harvesting process to the design of the wine bottles themselves. Linda Anderson, a member of Osoyoos Indian Band, is the talent behind the artwork in all of Nk’mip’s labels. Linda’s interest in the natural world emerges through her depictions of native fauna in canvas and natural feathers. Colourful bears, quails, bumblebees and horses are often her inspiration.
Nk’Mip is hosting a number of seasonal activities at the estate where wine and food enthusiasts can enjoy the best of what Nk’Mip has to offer.
- Holiday Inspiration food and wine pairing (On weekends): Features four wines paired with holiday-inspired food bites.
- Winter Dinner Series (Dec 17th, February 11th): Includes a welcome wine and a four-course menu with wine pairings created specially for each event by Nk’mip’s chef. The winery is whimsically decorated for the occasion.
