The Mead ‘Boom’ Hits Alberta: The Spirit Hills Winery

The Spirit Hills Winery produces internationally recognized award-winning ‘Foothills’ wines - thanks to the bees! Just a little way southwest of Millarville and west of Hwy 22 resides a unique winery that is garnering international attention for its flavourful creations. What makes Spirit Hills so different is they create award-winning wines without grapes, mostly anyway. The sugar base for fermentation is honey and the rest of the recipe includes local fruits and flowers. And just in case extraordinary taste wasn’t enough, lab tests show their wines are super healthy – jam-packed with antioxidants.

Photo Courtesy of Spirit Hills Winery

Spirit Hills opened their doors in late 2012. The winery is owned and operated by the Bonjean family who have deep roots in generations of French winemakers with vineyards in the Auvergne region of France. The bees supplying the honey for their wines do so from foothills wild flowers. They use an ancient honey wine fermentation technique and integrate rose hips, black currants and Saskatoons in the process. Oak barrels are used to age and add flavour to the final product.

Photo Courtesy of Spirit Hills Winery

The list of wines Spirit Hills produce is impressive. Saskwatch is a well-structured dry red wine that has garnered several awards including Best of Class 2016 & 2017 Alberta Beverage Awards. Dande, their dandelion honey wine, is another award winner and a medium-dry wine best served cold. The coral rose coloured Wild Rosy is made, as you might guess, with wild roses, and won silver in 2017 in the All Canadian Wine competition. There’s a cowboy’s sangria named YeeHaa!, to be served over ice, and a traditional European pre-mulled winter wine dubbed Bonfire, which is served every year at the Lake Louise and Banff, Sunshine ski hills.

Their creations are relatively healthy. One 5 oz glass of Dande contains as many antioxidants as 120 glasses of red wine. One glass of Saskwatch has as much antioxidant as 100 glasses; and, a single glass of Wild Rosy as much as 90 glasses of red wine.

Photo Courtesy of Spirit Hills Winery

Spirit Hills wines are sold in over 300 liquor stores in Alberta and Saskatchewan, 5 farmers markets and in restaurants and bars. And about a year ago, they began exporting their wines to Japan where they are available in luxury stores, superior restaurants and exclusive wine bars. Book your winery tour and tasting at Spirithillswinery.com. Their website provides specific locales where you can pick up a bottle along with more in-depth info on their wines, process, and cocktails.

By: Larry Thomas