The Wine Knows

Harry McWatters is stepping down as president of Sumac Ridge Estate Winery in Summerland, British Columbia. He was a founder of the winery, which has been a shining example of success in the emergence of the Okanagan Valley as a world-class wine-producing region.

McWatters, who also will step down as president of See Ya Later Ranch (formerly Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards), will finish his 40-year tour of duty in the winery business as of April 30.

McWatters sold the two wineries to Vincor in 2000. Constellation has since purchased Vincor, which also owned Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin Okanagan, Nk'Mip and Hogue Cellars.

Through the years, McWatters has been a tireless force in the B.C. wine industry. He was a founder of the wildly successful Okanagan Wine Festival, as well as the VQA system. He made a number of enemies along the way, but those who got in the B.C. wine business could trace some or much of their success to the dogged work of McWatters.

"This is by no means retirement," McWatters wrote in a letter to industry friends," but an opportunity to find new reasons to get out of bed in the morning, and shift gears as I plan to remain active in the future growth of this great industry."

In fact, on May 1, McWatters will begin work to establish the Okanagan Wine Academy, a wine-education program primarily targeted toward consumers. He'll also do a little consulting for Vincor Canada when needed and will remain president of Black Sage Vineyard south of Oliver.

McWatters also plans to finish a cookbook on B.C. cuisine.