Phantom Creek buys vineyard near Oliver

The ever-changing landscape of the South Okanagan wine industry has shifted again.

Phantom Creek Estates announced Tuesday it has purchased a 25.5-hectare vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench south of Oliver from the Jentsch family.

“It is a privilege for us to take stewardship of this special site on the Golden Mile Bench,” Phantom Creek president Ingo Grady said in a statement that did not reveal the purchase price.

The vineyard, established in 2004, is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Viognier and Syrah.

It will be added to Phantom Creek’s existing estate vineyard on the Black Sage Bench on the east side of the valley, where a $100million facility is under construction. Phantom Creek will seek organic and biodynamic certification for its new vineyard.

“Biodynamic farming requires meticulous attention to detail, which in turn makes us more attuned to our vineyards. It is a sustainable and gentle approach, which we also think yields exceptional wines,” said winemaker Ross Wise.

The Jentsch family will continue producing wine at its Testalinda Creek facility using grapes grown on its three other vineyards.

“We are delighted to find a buyer that is committed to continuing the tradition of excellence and the pursuit of enhancing this world-class vineyard,” said Chris Jentsch.

Phantom Creek is owned by Richmond businessman Richter Bai, who immigrated to Canada from China in 2013. The sale closed Nov. 1. It marks the second significant transaction in the business in as many months.

In September, Canadian wine giant Andrew Peller Ltd. announced it was buying three notable Okanagan wineries for a total of $95 million. Based in Ontario, the company said it was buying Black Hills and Tinhorn Creek, both in the Oliver area, plus Grey Monk in Lake Country.