Maker’s Spotlight: Justin Hall, Nk’Mip Cellars
Nk’Mip Cellars isn’t just Canada’s first Indigenous-owned winery, it’s a testament to generations of stewardship, adaptation, and pride in place.
Estate Winemaker Justin Hall knows this land’s story better than most. Long before vineyards covered the South Okanagan, this land served as the traditional winter hunting grounds for Justin’s people- a vital place where families gathered berries, hunted game, and built the resources needed to sustain their communities through the coldest months.
Nk’Mip itself is a designation of land several hundred years old, with soils once thought too poor for most crops. “It wasn’t luscious enough for tomatoes,” Justin says, “but it was perfect for grapes.” That understanding sparked a handshake deal in the late 1960s to grow locally, avoid imported fruit, and build something truly rooted in home.
Today, sustainability isn’t just a marketing term- it’s a genuine promise. Nk’Mip Cellars practices sustainable farming techniques to care for the land with intention, ensuring it remains healthy and productive for generations to come. Justin sees himself as a caretaker not just for today, but for the next 300 years, committed to leaving behind soil that can continue to sustain and nurture future communities.
Educated at Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand, Justin is widely regarded as North America’s first Indigenous winemaker. But he laughs at the title. When he told his grandmother, she raised an eyebrow and teased, “First winemaker? Don’t forget your grandpa was making wine before you were even born.”
With nearly 10% of BC’s grape acreage under its care, Nk’Mip Cellars stands proudly as a leader in the province’s wine industry, earning accolades that celebrate both local roots and global excellence.
This is the very spirit you’ll taste at our Garden Party with Nk’Mip Cellars on July 20th. Join us for an afternoon that’s more than a tasting- it’s a chance to connect with the land, culture, and craft behind every glass.