Black Market Wine Co
Inspired artisan wines, hand-crafted in the Heart of Wine Country.
Situated on a bench overlooking Skaha Lake in picturesque Kaleden, BC, Garagistes Rob Hammersley and Michelle Shewchuk are crafting distinctive small-lot wines. In addition to Conviction Ridge Vineyard, their organically farmed estate property, the other vineyards from which they source their grapes are responsibly and sustainably farmed by growers who care as much about quality as they do.
Fueled by passion | Driven by perfection | Unconstrained by Tradition.
For many years while still living in Calgary, Rob and Michelle would travel to the Okanagan in search of the small boutique wines that weren’t available in the Alberta market. Inevitably, they would fill their car with cases and cases of amazing wines…and “smuggle” them back across the border to share with family and friends ("smuggled' since Canada's archaic alcohol laws make it technically illegal to carry wine across provincial boundaries!). They became known as the Wine Black Marketeers, so when they set up their own winery, choosing the name was easy!
Today they are crafting beautiful small batch wines that reflect some of the best varieties of the Okanagan as well as some suprising rarer grapes that make for a distinctive portfolio!
Rob Hammersley – Owner | Winemaker
- The Day Job: I’m a winegrower, tending to our small vineyard in the picturesque town of Kaleden in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia and hand-crafting distinctive small-batch wines.
- The “Old” Job: A former senior corporate finance and strategy professional in the power and utilities industry.
- The Facts: Viticulture and Enology Certificates from Washington State University. WSET Level 3 certified. Cycling and hockey enthusiast. Hockey and ringette coach.
Michelle Shewchuk – Owner
- The Day Job: Flies the friendly skies as a flight attendant with an international airline.
- The “Side” Job: Co-conspirator of Black Market Wine Co. Voice of reason, sounding board and fresh palate.
- The Facts: WSET Level 2 certified. Mother of 3 (4, if you include Rob). I run…a lot.
| Address | 198 Spruce Ave, Kaleden, BC, V0H 1K0 |
|---|---|
| Wine Maker | Rob Hammersley |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Okanagan Valley |
From this Producer
With a name like Black Market, it should come as no surprise that there are a few things going on that we just can’t talk about. We set out to create a white blend that was exotically aromatic, crisp on the palate and balanced by citrus and tropical fruitiness…and that’s exactly what Secret Society delivers. But you know how the old saying goes: “If we told you what was in it, we’d have to…” You get the idea. Figure out what’s in this blend and you’re in our Secret Society!
“We were wanting to offer a wine that is a bit more approachable right out of the bottle. Many of our bigger, well-structured reds really reward the consumer with a bit of patience, as they tend to develop with some cellar ageing. Secret Society Red is a wine that is fresher in style, with nice soft tannins that is ready to drink today.”
A syndicate is a collaboration of individuals working toward a shared interest. The age-old practice of blending wines is done with a similar purpose, hence the name we’ve chosen for our flagship red wine. In The Syndicate, the individual varietals are working together to elevate the depth and complexity of the finished wine.
In the classic Northern Rhone style, the wine is a co-fermenation of 96% Syrah and 4% Viognier. An example of the exceptional quality of Syrah in the southern Okanagan!