Black Hills Estate Winery

Black Hills Estate Winery is a vineyard, winery, and tasting-room business in Oliver, British Columbia, within the Okanagan Valley wine region. Its production is based on grapes grown in the winery's own estate vineyards, giving the brand a distinctly site-focused identity rather than a broad fruit-sourcing model. The winery is located on Black Sage Road, an area associated with warm, dry growing conditions and premium red-wine production in the southern Okanagan. The estate's origins date to 1996, when Peter and Susan McCarrell and Bob and Senka Tennant jointly acquired the property. The partners established Black Hills Estate as a winery business in 1999 and planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Chardonnay on the 27-acre Sharp Rock Vineyard. During the early years, half of the crop was sold to other British Columbia wineries while the remaining fruit was used to develop Black Hills' own wines. This approach led to the first vintage of Nota Bene, the Bordeaux-style red blend that became the winery's signature offering. Black Hills initially sold its first Nota Bene vintage from a repurposed quonset hut in 2001. As the business developed, the temporary facility was replaced by a purpose-built winery designed by Penticton architect Nick Bevanda. Completed in 2006, the building received the Lieutenant Governor Award in Architecture and was described as the only winery in Western Canada to have received that distinction. The facility supports production, hospitality, and direct visitor engagement through the estate tasting room. In 2007, Glenn Fawcett organized Vinequest Wine Partners GP Ltd., a group of approximately 350 investors that purchased Black Hills Estate Winery for $11.3 million. Fawcett served as president from 2007 to 2017. The business expanded its vineyard base in 2011 by acquiring the 15-acre Double Black Vineyard, located roughly one kilometre south of Sharp Rock Vineyard. The newer holding had been planted with similar clones and rootstock, allowing the winery to maintain continuity in its estate-grown fruit program while increasing available vineyard capacity. Black Hills became part of a larger Canadian wine portfolio in 2017, when Andrew Peller Ltd. acquired Black Hills Estate Winery together with Gray Monk Estate Winery and Tinhorn Creek Vineyards in a transaction valued at $95 million for the group. The acquisition placed Black Hills within one of Canada's largest wine companies while preserving its individual estate brand and wine identity. The winery continues to be associated with premium Okanagan wines, estate viticulture, and blends inspired by Bordeaux varieties. The estate owns approximately 40 acres of vineyards and produces roughly 10,000 to 16,000 cases per vintage, according to published descriptions. Its portfolio extends beyond Nota Bene and Alibi to include the blends Addendum, Per Se, and Ipso Facto, as well as varietal wines made from Viognier, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Carménère. Winemaking leadership has changed over time: Graham Pierce replaced Senka Tennant after the 2007 ownership transaction, left in 2018, and was succeeded in 2019 by Ross Wise. Wise is a Master of Wine and has been identified as the seventh person in Canada and the fourth in British Columbia to earn that distinction. Vineyard manager and winegrower Steve Carberry has also had a long tenure with the estate. Former president Glenn Fawcett remained connected to the brand as Chief Wine Evangelist and received the Wine Growers British Columbia Award of Distinction in 2021.

Black Hills Estate Winery developed from a vineyard property acquired in 1996 by Peter and Susan McCarrell together with Bob and Senka Tennant. The partners founded the winery operation in 1999 and planted the 27-acre Sharp Rock Vineyard with a set of Bordeaux and white-wine varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Chardonnay. The estate initially divided its crop between sales to other British Columbia wineries and its own wine program. The retained fruit produced the first vintage of Nota Bene, which became the central red-wine expression of the Black Hills brand. The first Nota Bene vintage was sold from a quonset hut opened in 2001. Growth in production and visitor activity led to construction of a permanent winery in 2006. Designed by Penticton architect Nick Bevanda, the building received the Lieutenant Governor Award in Architecture, a notable distinction in the regional wine industry. The winery's estate model combines vineyard ownership, production, tasting-room hospitality, and direct presentation of the brand to visitors on Black Sage Road. Ownership changed in 2007, when Glenn Fawcett assembled Vinequest Wine Partners GP Ltd., a group of roughly 350 investors, to acquire the winery. Fawcett served as president for the following decade. After the transaction, winemaker Graham Pierce replaced Senka Tennant in the winemaking role. Black Hills expanded its vineyard holdings in 2011 with the purchase of the 15-acre Double Black Vineyard, situated approximately one kilometre south of Sharp Rock. The vineyard's similar planting material supported the estate's established approach to Bordeaux-oriented wines. The winery was acquired by Andrew Peller Ltd. in 2017 along with Gray Monk Estate Winery and Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. The combined transaction was reported at $95 million. Under Andrew Peller ownership, Black Hills continued as a distinct estate brand within a larger Canadian wine portfolio. Pierce departed in 2018, and Ross Wise became winemaker in 2019. Wise's Master of Wine qualification added further technical and professional recognition to the winery's leadership. Steve Carberry has served as vineyard manager and winegrower for many years, providing continuity in vineyard operations. Black Hills owns approximately 40 acres of vineyards and has been described as producing between 10,000 and 16,000 cases per vintage. Its best-known wines are Nota Bene, a Bordeaux-style red blend, and Alibi, a white blend led by Sauvignon Blanc and supported by Sémillon. The wider range includes Addendum, Per Se, and Ipso Facto blends alongside varietal bottlings of Viognier, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Carménère. The brand's enduring identity rests on estate-grown Okanagan fruit, premium blends, architectural and visitor appeal, and association with the warm southern Okanagan wine landscape.

• 2021

  Fawcett receives industry award

  [1]Black Hills Estate Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Glenn Fawcett received the Wine Growers British Columbia Award of Distinction.

• 2019

  Ross Wise appointed winemaker

  [1]Black Hills Estate Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Ross Wise joined Black Hills as winemaker following Graham Pierce's departure.

• 2017

  Andrew Peller Ltd. acquisition

  [1]Black Hills Estate Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Andrew Peller Ltd. bought Black Hills, Gray Monk, and Tinhorn Creek in a combined transaction.

• 2011

  Double Black Vineyard acquired

  [1]Black Hills Estate Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Black Hills added a 15-acre vineyard located south of Sharp Rock Vineyard.

• 2007

  Vinequest acquisition

  [1]Black Hills Estate Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Vinequest Wine Partners GP Ltd., led by Glenn Fawcett, acquired the winery through a large investor group.

• 2006

  Permanent winery opens

  [1]Black Hills Estate Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  A winery designed by Nick Bevanda replaced the temporary structure and received the Lieutenant Governor Award in Architecture.

• 2001

  First Nota Bene vintage sold

  [1]Black Hills Estate Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Black Hills opened its temporary quonset-hut facility and sold the first vintage of its signature Nota Bene blend.

• 1999

  Black Hills Estate founded

  [1]Black Hills Estate Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The partners formally established the winery and planted Bordeaux and white-wine varieties on the 27-acre Sharp Rock Vineyard.

• 1996

  Property acquired and initial vineyard established

  [1]Black Hills Estate Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Peter and Susan McCarrell and Bob and Senka Tennant acquired the property, later developing the Sharp Rock Vineyard.

Premium, estate-grown Okanagan wine with a strong emphasis on Bordeaux-inspired blends, vineyard provenance, and winery hospitality.

• Bordeaux-style red blend · 2001

  Nota Bene

  Nota Bene is Black Hills Estate Winery's signature red wine and was the first wine bottled by the estate. It is built from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, with the blend drawing on multiple clones of the principal varieties. The wine expresses the winery's emphasis on estate-grown Bordeaux grapes from the southern Okanagan and functions as the central flagship of the brand's red-wine portfolio.

• Bordeaux-style white blend

  Alibi

  Alibi is a white blend led by Sauvignon Blanc and complemented by Sémillon. It extends Black Hills' Bordeaux-inspired positioning into white wine and sits alongside Nota Bene as one of the estate's most recognizable offerings. The wine is part of the winery's estate-focused program and reflects the suitability of the Okanagan site for both aromatic white varieties and structured blends.

• Red wine blend

  Addendum

  Addendum is one of Black Hills' additional blended wines. It contributes to the winery's broader red-wine range beyond Nota Bene and reflects the estate's practice of combining Bordeaux-oriented varieties to produce structured Okanagan blends.

• Wine blend

  Per Se

  Per Se is a named Black Hills blend included in the winery's portfolio of estate-produced wines. Public reference material identifies it as part of the brand's broader blend program, although detailed composition and release history are not specified.

• Wine blend

  Ipso Facto

  Ipso Facto is another named blend in the Black Hills portfolio. It complements the winery's flagship wines and demonstrates the estate's use of blended formats across its premium Okanagan wine range.

• Varietal wines

  Varietal wine range

  Black Hills also produces varietally labelled wines from Viognier, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Carménère. Together these wines broaden the estate's offer beyond its Bordeaux-style blends and showcase a mix of white, Rhône-associated, and Mediterranean varieties suited to the Okanagan climate.

• 2017

  Integration into Andrew Peller's wine portfolioM&A

  Background

  Black Hills joined a broader consolidation of established British Columbia winery brands.

  Action taken

  Andrew Peller Ltd. acquired Black Hills together with Gray Monk Estate Winery and Tinhorn Creek Vineyards.

  Aftermath

  Black Hills continued as an individual estate brand within Andrew Peller's portfolio.

  Combined acquisition value. $95 million (2017)

  Source

• 2011

  Expansion through Double Black VineyardStrategy

  Background

  Black Hills sought to expand its estate vineyard base while maintaining continuity with its original plantings.

  Action taken

  The winery acquired the 15-acre Double Black Vineyard south of Sharp Rock Vineyard.

  Aftermath

  The additional vineyard increased estate grape-growing capacity and used similar clones and rootstock to the original site.

  Source

• 2007

  Sale to Vinequest Wine PartnersM&A

  Background

  The original ownership group transferred the winery to an investor partnership assembled by Glenn Fawcett.

  Action taken

  Vinequest Wine Partners GP Ltd. acquired Black Hills Estate Winery for a reported $11.3 million.

  Aftermath

  Glenn Fawcett became president, and Graham Pierce took over as winemaker from Senka Tennant.

  Acquisition price. $11.3 million (2007)

  Source

1. 1Black Hills Estate Wineryen.wikipedia.org