Sage Hills & Organic Vineyards

“Keenan is pushing the limits on what Canadian wine can and should be. It’s working.”

— Emily Schultz, Bon Appétit Magazine

From the very beginning our farming practices have been organic. This means no man-made synthetic chemicals are used in our vineyards- including pesticides, fungicides or synthetic fertilizers. If any sprays are employed, they are plant based (sea-kelp for vine nutrition) or mineral based (sulphur & potassium bicarbonate [baking soda] for mildew prevention) in order to promote a harmonic balance between native plants, vine development, and the health of our living soils. We grow a total of 10 acres here, consisting of Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris.

Vine management is extremely important to us. We employ sophisticated canopy management techniques and vertical shoot positioning (VSP) ensuring maximum sunlight interception and the development of complex aromas and flavours in our grapes. Our sloped vineyards are equipped with drip irrigation systems, providing only the most conservative amounts of water at key points during the growing season. 

Diverse wild plant species throughout the vineyard help to distract problematic insects from our grapes. Native and late-pollinating sage brush and rabbitbrush provide habitat for small mammals and birds- who in turn feed on insects, which promotes a natural balance within our vineyards. We are honoured to see snakes (sx̌ʷyups) and coyotes (sənk̓lip) living & hunting on this land, as well as the wild Saskatoon (siyaʔ) plants that grow alongside our vines.