Mark Beringer, GM & Director of winemaking.

Eight years may be a brief span in the world of wine, but in that time, Phantom Creek Estates has quickly risen to prominence in the BC wine industry, earning a reputation as a top destination winery in the South Okanagan.

The winery is now extending its reach to Vancouver’s Lower Mainland with the launch of a new 4,075 square-foot multi-purpose space at 6928 Pearson Way in Richmond, B.C. This expansion was recently revealed along with the release of its first ultra-premium Halo wine, a Bordeaux-style blend called Baoshan.

The wine is a blend of merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

2020 Phantom Creek Baoshan

Named “Baoshan,” meaning “treasure mountain” in Chinese, the wine symbolizes prosperity and reflects owner Richter Bai’s mission to create something valuable to be cherished and passed down through generations.

The first Baoshan wine comes from the exceptional 2020 vintage, widely regarded as one of the Okanagan’s best in the past decade. Only two barrels were crafted, using fruit from the Kobau and Becker vineyards, and the entire production was exclusively bottled in Magnum format.

We had the privilege of attending an exclusive media event at Phantom Creek’s beautiful new facility, where we were among the first to taste one of BC’s most anticipated wines.

The new Richmond space exudes openness and flow, with arched doorways and clean lines creating a sophisticated, modern ambiance.

The experience was further enriched by the presence of Mark Beringer, the winery’s General Manager and Director of Winemaking; Olivier Humbrecht, consulting winemaker, Master of Wine, and owner of the renowned Alsace winery Zind Humbrecht; and Mike Anderson, the winery’s new Director of Farming.

Mark Beringer—yes, from that renowned wine family—stepped in as Director of Winemaking three years ago. With 38 vintages under his belt, he reflected on how his approach in the cellar has evolved. “My philosophy has definitely matured over the years. I’ve gone through different phases, initially adopting a more hands-on approach where I sometimes used too much technique. Now, I’ve shifted to a much more minimalistic style. My goal is to let the wines truly express their terroir. For me, it’s about focusing on a region like the Okanagan, understanding its strengths, and ensuring that those qualities shine through in the wine.”

Phantom Creek Estates in Oliver.

There’s been a lot of discussion about the challenges the BC wine industry has faced in recent years, especially with this year’s devastating deep freeze in January that led to no harvest. However, Olivier shared some encouraging news from a new study that reveals vines have the ability to adapt, offering a significant silver lining for the future.

“The vine learns. Just two weeks ago, I learned about new research conducted in Colmar that shows how vines can adapt.”

Mike Anderson, Allison & Olivier Humbrecht.

“For instance, they performed an experiment where baby vines were suddenly exposed to -45°C, leading to 100% vine death. With a similar batch, they gradually exposed the vines to those temperatures over two months—some survived, some didn’t. Two months later, they took the surviving vines and subjected them to the same sudden -45°C exposure as the first group, and not one died. So, vines can learn to become resistant to such an event.”

This is certainly welcome news for Mike, who stepped in as Director of Farming just before the deep freeze hit. He sees a silver lining as well: the time not spent on harvest offers him a unique opportunity to thoroughly get to know the vines and allow them a chance to rejuvenate.

The iconic entrance at Phantom Creek Estates in Oliver, BC.

Owner Richter Bai has long aspired to craft a top-tier Bordeaux blend using British Columbia’s finest grapes while also creating a space for Lower Mainland wine club members to connect. The realization of these plans marks an exciting milestone for Phantom Creek Estates. A visit to the winery in Oliver and the new space in Richmond highlights Bai’s unwavering commitment to BC wine.

He has spared no expense, investing not only in the quality of the buildings and offerings but, most importantly, in assembling a truly talented and experienced winemaking team. After speaking with Mark, Olivier, and Mike, it’s evident that they share a unified vision of achieving the highest quality that BC can produce. Baoshan stands as a shining example of that commitment and is certainly a sign of great things to come.