Press Releases
McWatters Collection Inaugural Release
Canadian Wine Pioneer Begins Another First with New Okanagan Wine
Lori Pike-Raffan
McWatters Collection . Jul 14, 2011
Events
Gold Medal Plates
Join Harry McWatters in a celebration of Canadian Excellence in food, wine, sport and the arts! As the Honoury Chair of the Canadian Culinary Championships, Harry is delighted to support this year’s Gold Medal Plates finals on February 10 and 11 in the Okanagan in support of the Canadian Olympic Foundation. Look for our Chardonnay and Meritage during the course of the competition, which features the Canadian Culinary Championships winning chefs from 9 Canadian cities competing for the crown of Canada’s #1 chef.
Delta Grand, Hotel El Dorado & Okanagan College
Kelowna, BC . Feb 10, 2012
Wine Wednesday with Harry
Join Harry McWatters Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 5:00 pm at Local Lounge for their first Wine Wednesdays winemaker dinner where he will launch the McWatters Collection 2010 Chardonnay. Be the first to taste his newly released Chardonnay and dine on Executive Chef Paul Cecconi’s deliciously prepared cuisine to complement the wines.
On the menu for the evening:
Panseared Oceanwise steelhead, baby spinach, butternut squash risotto paired with 2010 McWatters Collection Chardonnay
Peace Country bison meatballs, truffled pasta sheet, chanterelle mushroom demi cream paired with 2007 McWatters Collection Meritage
Only $25! Call for reservations 250.494.8855 and mention it’s for Wine Wednesday...
Local Lounge Grille
12817 Lakeshore Dr. S, Summerland . Nov 9, 2011
In The News
Local BC Chardonnay's to love
This is the much-anticipated first white wine release from Harry McWatters’s new label. While all four of the wines explored here today are lovely, this was a solid favourite with the whole panel...
Jurgen Gothe
Georgia Straight . Jan 25, 2012
Spotlight on Wine: McWatters Collection Chardonnay
This Chardonnay is the first white wine release from Sumac Ridge founder Harry McWatters’s new Okanagan wine venture. The vine maturity and the good farming in this vineyard show through in the richness and complexity of this lush and opulent wine. The acidity is still bright and the wine has a lingering but refreshing finish. This is a good wine and consumers will say, welcome back, Harry.
Score: 91 points
John Schreiner
Planit BC . Dec 28, 2011
Five Over $25: McWatters Collection Meritage 2007
Harry McWatters founded Sumac Ridge back in 1980: he planted the first vineyard on the South Okanagan's Black Sage Bench, made the first serious B.C sparkling wine and the first Meritage, and released the first $50 B.C. bottle. Now he's issuing his first wines under his own name. The 2007 Meritage-only 500 cases-comes from his Sundial Vineyard on Black Sage, planted in 1993, and is mainly Merlot and Cab Sauvignon. As big as the man himself, it delivers sage, hot desert sand, and a powerful and luscious shot of dark purple fruit. Serious meat wine.
Christina Burridge
Vancouver Magazine Eat Drink Guide . Nov 1, 2011
Maverick Wine Notes: 2007 Meritage
Okanagan wine pioneer Harry McWatters has launched his "legacy" label. This blend delivers classic Bordeaux characteristics of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacoo, but it also expresses Okanagan markers of fragrant sage and juicy red berry fruit. Lively acidity and velvety tannins make this approachable to drink now with steak.
Harry Hertscheg
Tidings Magazine . Nov 1, 2011
Wine Views & Reviews: McWatters Collection 2007 Meritage
Harry McWatters, an Okanagan wine pioneer and long-time Meritage maker, is back with his own label. Fragrant blackcurrant and fresh sage aromas are backed by raspberry notes. Black fruit flavors thrive upfront while lively red berries and tobacco notes linger on the spicier backend. Lively acidity and velvety tannins make this a pleasure to drink. Chocolate and raspberry notes delight on the finish. Decant for a rib-eye steak. (60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc; 500 cases made).
Harry Hertscheg
Northwest Palate Magazine . Oct 1, 2011
British Columbian Wine Pioneer Harry McWatters
Together with his daughter Christa-Lee McWatters Bond and the prowess of respected viticulturist Richard Cleve, McWatters has finally launched his own label... At under $30 this is a great bang for your buck and one to put in the cellar if you desire. Here you can expect plush aromas of chocolate cherries, crushed violets and spice. The palate is nicely weighted with wonderful structure and generous fruit, chocolate, vanilla and spice...
Score: 92 points
Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva . Sep 21, 2011
New Releases We've Tasted: 2007 Meritage
It was hard to imagine Harry McWatters staying away from the wine industry for long, and he didn't after retiring in 2008 from Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, which he founded. This red blend opens with aromas of bay rum spice, huckleberries, leather and baked brownies, which quickly turn to flavors of boysenberries, Marionberries, licorice and ripe Bing cherries...
Eric Degerman & Andy Perdue
Wine Press Northwest . Sep 12, 2011
Pioneers led B.C. wine to credibility
Recently, the man who fought harder than anyone for VQA has been busy building a successful wine consultancy-and working on his own McWatters Collection label. No surprise, the first release is a 2007 Meritage, reminding us that it was McWatters who launched the first B.C. Meritage.
Tim Pawsey
North Shore News . Aug 21, 2011
Sumac Ridge's Harry McWatters launches a red 2007 Meritage under own label
The big man in the British Columbia wine biz, Harry McWatters, certainly didn’t waste any time getting back down to business. Barely a year after establishing his everything-wine consultancy, he’s releasing his first wine under his own label.
Jurgen Gothe
Georgia Straight . Aug 16, 2011
Harry McWatters & his Meritage
What does a winemaker do when he retires? He makes wines – at least that is what Harry McWatters is doing these days. To those who pay attention to the BC wine industry, Harry McWatters needs no introduction. Everyone knows and respects him as one of the pioneers to put BC Wines onto the world map.
Stephanie Yuen
Edible Canada . Aug 8, 2011
Harry McWatters finds a new place in BC's wine business
Harry McWatters has played a huge part in making wine an important commodity and cornerstone of British Columbia's tourism and agriculture industries. Now he is stepping back into the public limelight with his own wine label, aptly named "McWatters Collection".
Mike Klassen
BC Wine Lover . Aug 10, 2011
Black Sage Bench
Unique features of climate and geography makes this South Okanagan wine region one hot producer of big, bold reds... Harry McWatters who owns the 24 hectare Sundial vineyard points to low rainfall and high light intensity as key factors.
Michael Botner
Okanagan Life Magazine . Aug 1, 2011
Grandaddy of BC wine launches collection
Harry McWatters, often referred to as the granddaddy of the modern British Columbia wine industry, has just announced the launch of his own estate wine, McWatters Collection...
Nick Lees
Edmonton Journal . Jul 27, 2011
An Okanagan Valley legend returns
It's no coincidence that Harry McWatters launched his new label the day after he sabred open a bottle of bubbly to celebrate Sumac Ridge Estate Winery's 30th anniversary. A driving force in the development of British Columbia's wine industry, he knows a good entrance when he sees one...
Christopher Waters
Toronto Sun . Jul 20, 2011
How the Wine Industry Got Started in Canada and the Men Who Dared to Dream
Much of the credit for the booming industry today goes to a couple of men — Donald Ziraldo and Harry McWatters. And even though they toiled 4,200 kilometres apart, Ziraldo in Niagara and McWatters in the Okanagan, their goals were the same: to make 100% Canadian wines that would turn heads the world over...
Rick VanSickle
Jul 19, 2011
Family Wine
A granddaddy of the B.C. wine industry celebrates the release of his first bottle of wine that bears his own family name...
Doris Janssen
CHBC / Global TV . Jul 17, 2011
Tasting Room Radio Covers Harry McWatters
Harry McWatters is a legend in Canada’s wine world. He’s just released his first ever wine with his McWatters name on it.McWatters Meritage. We found Harry at Local Lounge and Grille in Summerland, another venture he has interest in. Exec Chef Paul Cicconi gives us his food pairing to go with this outstanding new Meritage!!
Terry David Mulligan
Tasting Room Radio . Jul 16, 2011
Harry McWatters
Meet one of the Okanagan's wine pioneers...
Tamie Williams
Shaw TV . Jul 12, 2011
He's back! Harry McWatters unveils his own label
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery founder Harry McWatters has been such a force in British Columbia wines for at least 35 years that it is startling that he has never put his name on a brand of wine until now.This week, at media lunches in the Okanagan and in Vancouver, he is formally unveiling the McWatters Collection 2007 Meritage...
Score: 90 points
John Schreiner
Jul 12, 2011
Another First for the Godfather of the Grape
Today saw a brand new and exciting chapter in the McWatters' family legacy. With his lovely daughter Christa-Lee (and her hubby Cameron Bond) by his side, Harry announced the launch of his own estate wine, McWatters Collection, from one of the Black Sage Bench's first vinifera vineyards, planted in 1983. The first release is a stunning, full-bodied, incredibly priced 2007 Meritage...
Andy & Tj
EZ Mornings News Feed . Jul 12, 2011