Nk’Mip Cellars Celebrates 20 years!

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to honour and celebrate the cultures and contributions of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada, what better day to talk about Nk’Mip Cellars, the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America with the first Indigenous Head Winemaker (Justin Hall, a proud member of the Osoyoos Indian Band). I remember when Nk’Mip first opened, I visited the winery, stayed at Spirit Ridge, and toured with winemaker Randy Picton, who I’d met at CedarCreek Winery in Kelowna. Picton recently retired, and Hall picked up the head winemaking role. I had originally met Justin Hall at Jackson Triggs winery. We’ve been doing this wine thing in BC for some time now, and I’ve been writing about it for the last twenty-plus years, in fact I grew up in the Okanagan and my youth group met at the spot where CedarCreek Winery is now.

A couple of facts about Nk’Mip

• Located on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve in the Okanagan Valley, Nk’Mip Cellars is inspired to express its culture in everything they do.
• Although the winery is celebrating 20 years this year, its story begins long before and is rooted in agricultural practices and spirituality tied to the land of the Osoyoos, along with a legacy of challenging work and ongoing encouragement of entrepreneurship.
• Today, Nk’Mip Cellars is one of many businesses, health, social, educational, and municipal initiatives that have helped secure the Osoyoos Indian Band’s financial independence and high employment. In fact, unemployment on the reserve is lower than the national average (less than 3%) and 20% of the more than 500 band members are in senior positions.

This National Indigenous Peoples Day, Nk’Mip Cellars is inviting Canadians to discover, not only the international award-winning wines it produces but the relentless spirit and remarkable history that inspires them, in the following ways:

• Reserve Your Spot – Nk’Mip Cellars’ Executive Chef, Ian Stilborn along with special guests, Chefs Joe Dierickse and Cheyenne Sunday from neighbouring restaurant, The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry have developed a multi-course dinner representing the four elements – Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. The dinner is served alongside a curated selection of Nk’Mip Cellars’ award-winning wines. Please find additional details regarding the Elements Dinner here.  
• Learn about Nk’Mip Cellars’ Origins – Here are twenty facts about the land, the legend, and the wine, to ring in 20 years of Nk’Mip. To continue to educate Canadians on the rich history of Nk’Mip Cellars, this information will be shared on Nk’Mip’s Instagram channel throughout the month of June.
• Bring the Nk’Mip Cellars Experience Home – NK’Mip Cellars partnered with local Cree-Dene Chef, Heat Laliberte to develop a dinner kit inspired by the legend of the The Three Sisters: corn, bean, and squash. The kit is a celebration of Chef Lalibrte’s roots and includes a recipe card, shopping list, $40 Save-On-Foods gift card, and a bottle each of the Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay and Qwam Qwmt Syrah. The Three Sisters Dinner kits can be purchased via Great Estates Okanagan here and are available while supplies last.