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Location:
240183, 2380 Drive West
Millarville, AB T0L 1K0
403.933.3913
Website: www.spirithillswinery.com
Facebook: /spirithillswinery
Twitter: @SpiritHillsWine
Products:
Saskwatch, Dande, Wild Rose Passion, Bonfire, Redneck, Bastard, Alberta’s Red, Lila
Availability:
Available at various fine liquor outlets throughout Southern Alberta
Snail Certified: Yes
Spirit Hills Winery is a true family run, local success story. Beginning in December of 2012, it is owned and operated by Ilse and Hugo Bonjean and their son Bjorn. Ilse and Hugo had been managing an aviary for more than a decade. Their bees had free range of the pastures and forests throughout the Millarville area at the foot of the Rocky Mountains for many years. During this time, both Ilse and Hugo took steps to live more closely with the land. Their goal was one of self-sufficiency. Not only did they hunt and gather their own food locally, they brought this philosophy into the apiary. They produced Spirit Hills honey without sacrificing the environment around them.
Theirs is a vision of harmony and sustainability, while maintaining a high quality product. They soon decided to live their dream of producing grape-less wine in Southern Alberta. They began with their own high-quality honey as fermentable sugar. They sourced local ingredients to blend with the mead base. Rosehips and local berries like black currants and Saskatoons are macerated into the wine for several weeks. This adds acidity, colour, tannins and structure. Local wild flowers are also added bringing enticing floral components to both the bouquet and taste of the wines. They even make a semi-sweet wine from Alberta’s very own Wild Rose. Some of their wines, such as the Saskwatch wine acquire depth and complexity from oak barrel aging for several months.
The Spirit Hills Winery tasting room is a unique combination of European tradition and Canadian influences. Ilse and Hugo worked along side local craftspeople to design an environment that reflects the local surroundings, while harkening back to the family’s won French winemaking heritage. Tours can be arranged by contacting the winery directly. Visitors will be taken on a personally guided tour of the winery and apiary. They will have a chance to taste the winery’s various wines before purchasing them directly.