New Year: New Winemaker for Black Hills Estate Winery

Black Hills Estate Winery (Black Hills) is excited to announce its new head winemaker, Ross Wise.

Wise brings with him a breadth of expertise to the role of head winemaker at Black Hills Estate Winery. Originally from New Zealand, Wise holds a Bachelor of Viticulture and Advanced diploma in Wine Science from Charles Sturt University in Australia. He has worked with renowned producers in New Zealand and Ontario before the cool climate wine industry in British Columbia drew his attention.

After 16 years of winemaking, viticulture and consulting experience, Wise and his family settled in Oliver, British Columbia. Prior to Black Hills, Wise was head winemaker and general manager at Phantom Creek Estate. Wise holds a WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits and is pursuing his Master of Wine.

“We are thrilled have Ross join us at Black Hills,” enthuses Glenn Fawcett, chief wine evangelist. “We conducted a wide-ranging international search for our new winemaker that resulted in several outstanding candidates, and Ross stood out for us.”

Fawcett continues, “His passion for the craft and our Black Sage Road terroir, combined with his extensive experience, academic credentials, and endearing personality, made his selection a natural for us.”

Wise is keen to assume the new role. “I’m really looking forward to joining the Black Hills team in January,” he notes. “This is a great opportunity to be part of the next chapter of one of the Okanagan’s most recognized and respected wineries. The ability to focus on making premium red wines such as Nota Bene,” he continues, “is a big draw for me.”

Wise is eager to get to know the Black Hills Estate vineyards intimately to make wines that clearly reflect their origins. “I hope to continue to elevate the outstanding quality of Black Hills wines, using precision and high attention to detail in the vineyard, combined with gentle and thoughtful winemaking,” he shares.

Fawcett is equally excited. “We are extremely confident that Ross Wise is the perfect person to carry the winemaking torch at Black Hills and help us continue our journey to the next level.”

Wise joins the winery team effective January 7, 2019.

Founded in 1999, Black Hills Estate Winery produces wine exclusively from its estate vineyard on the Black Sage Bench, north of Osoyoos, British Columbia. The vineyard microclimate is one of the hottest, driest, and sunniest sites in the South Okanagan, allowing the vines to yield flavourful grapes of balanced intensity. Using sustainable viticultural techniques and thoughtful winemaking practices, the winery is well-known for its signature blend: Nota Bene, an age-worth Bordeaux-style red blend produced in limited quantities from select barrels off Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet France. Black Hills also produces a selection of stunning ultra-premium blends, such as Addendum, Per Se, and Ipso Fact, and varietally-labelled Viognier, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Syrah, Tempranillo and Carménère.

Surrounded by panoramic vineyard views, the Black Hills team welcomes wine lovers to visit their Wine Experience Center in Oliver. This stylish facility provides a unique, sit-down wine tasting experience guided by highly trained wine professionals. Annual summer events held at the facility are bold, exciting and fun. Members of the Black Hills Wine Club enjoy access to limited-release wines not available to the public.

To learn more, visit blackhillswinery.com and follow the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.