Nk'Mip Cellars

North America’s first Native-owned winery, occupying some of the best vineyard land in Canada!

Canadian Winery of the Year in the 2016-17 InterVin International Wine Awards

Located in the hottest and driest part of Canada - Osoyoos - Nk'Mip Cellars is majority owned by over 500 Osoyoos Band members who secure and share a legacy of hard work and a passionate respect for nature. The word Nk’Mip translates to “Bottomland” in English, being located at the southern end of the Osoyoos reservation.

The centuries-old home of the Osoyoos Indian Reserve is about 13,000 hectares of Sonoran Desert landscape. Surrounded by time-weathered mountains and dotted by magnificent mirrored lakes, it reaches from Vernon to Tonasket and from Rock Creek to Princeton, with settlements including Osoyoos, Keremeos, Penticton and Kelowna owing their names to the Indigenous language.

Nk'Mip wines are regularly awarded top honours at International Competitions. We are excited to share these great wines with a great story with you here in Japan!
 

Justin Hall - Winemaker

Following graduation from high school, Justin approached Senior Randy Picton for a job at Nk’Mip cellars. He was awarded the glamorous task of cleaning equipment and hoses and became drawn to the idea of capturing a culture in a bottle of fine wine. He took on night classes at Okanagan University College, earning his certificates in the Winery Assistant and Viticulture programs. To learn the intricacies of a large winery and the many roles and responsibilities that go into the wine-making process, Justin travelled to West Australia to work the crush at Goundrey winery.

Justin returned to Nk’Mip Cellars after earning a post-graduate diploma in Enology and Viticulture from New Zealand’s Lincoln University, and assumed responsibility as Assistant Winemaker.  In May 2017, Justin was promoted to the role of Winemaker. A proud member of the Osoyoos Indian band, Justin works with Randy Picton to craft the award-winning wines of Nk’Mip Cellars.