Meet the Winemakers Behind This Year’s Garden Dinner Series

At Fairmont Waterfront, our Garden Dinner Series has always been about celebrating the very best of British Columbia. From ingredients harvested from our rooftop garden to locally sourced produce and seafood, every element of the experience is designed to showcase what makes our region truly unique.

This year, we’re taking that commitment one step further through a series of carefully selected wine partnerships, inviting guests to meet the people behind some of British Columbia’s most celebrated wineries. Throughout the summer, each Garden Dinner will feature a different wine partner, offering guests the opportunity to hear firsthand the stories, philosophies and craftsmanship behind every glass.

These include:
• June 25, 2026 – CedarCreek Estate Winery
• July 16, 2026 – Nk’Mip Cellars (the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America)
• July 30, 2026 – Icons of Mission Hill Family Estate
• August 13, 2026 – Checkmate Artisanal Winery

Drawn to the region’s natural beauty and pioneering wine culture, he has remained in British Columbia ever since, inspired by the opportunity to help shape an emerging wine region gaining international recognition. Passionate about the ever-evolving nature of winemaking, he is driven by continuous learning and exploration, both in wine and in his personal pursuits, which include hiking, camping, birdwatching, photography, soccer, and cooking.

In your opinion, what makes CedarCreek Estate Winery unique?
“CedarCreek’s vineyards are located on exceptional sites in Kelowna within the northern Okanagan Valley, producing grapes with remarkable concentration, depth, and quality. We pay special attention to the balance of our ecosystems; soil health and biodiversity are key factors in ensuring our wines reflect the terroir of this beautiful valley. Combined with a philosophy of minimal-intervention winemaking practices, we are able to do just that.”

Which wine are you most excited to share at the Garden Dinner Series and why?
“Platinum South Kelowna Slopes Pinot Noir. The South Kelowna Slopes is our home, and because our winery is located in this subregion, this wine truly represents the heart of CedarCreek, which has a heavy focus on Pinot Noir. This versatile wine is highly enjoyable on its own or paired with food. Its fresh character, balanced structure, and rounded tannins make it an excellent partner for a wide range of dishes, including oily fish, white meat, vegetable-forward dishes, mushrooms, cheeses, and red meats.”

Promoted to Winemaker in 2017 and Estate Winemaker in 2021, Justin became Canada’s first-ever Indigenous winemaker. He credits his success to a strong work ethic, supportive mentors, and a deep connection to Nk’Mip Cellars, where he continues to craft award-winning wines.

What makes your winery unique?
“At Nk’Mip Cellars, we are the dedicated guardians of a proud legacy. As the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America, we are inspired to express our culture in everything we do. Our Winery itself is a bold celebration and a strong reflection of our commitment to authenticity and deep respect for our colourful past. We extend an invitation to discover, not only the international award-winning wines we produce, but also the relentless spirit and remarkable history that inspire them.”

Which wine are you most excited to share at the Garden Dinner Series and why?
“The one I keep coming back to is our 2022 Qwam Qwmt Cabernet Sauvignon. Qwam Qwmt means ‘achieving excellence’ in our language, and this vintage really earned the name – it comes off our oldest blocks, where the desert heat and those long Osoyoos sunshine hours do all the work. It’s a wine that tastes like home to me, and I’m proud to put it in front of anyone.”

He later moved to Bordeaux, France, where he earned his Sommelier Accreditation and gained experience in Michelin-starred restaurants before relocating to British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley to explore the innovation of New World wines. As an ambassador for Iconic Wineries of British Columbia, Bram is passionate about sharing the story of Canadian wine and was recognized with a B.C. Tourism Industry Award for Customer Service in 2018. He remains excited about the opportunities to continue growing his career in the Okanagan wine industry.

What makes Mission Hill Family Estate unique?
“Mission Hill Family Estate is Canada’s most awarded winery, guided since 1981 by a single philosophy: the relentless pursuit of quality at every turn. From six-time Winery of the Year to Canada’s first 100-point red wine, and first Canadian winery to earn recognition on the World’s Best Vineyards list, these milestones have positioned the estate on the global stage and as a defining destination in Canadian wine. Yet what continues to set Mission Hill apart is our deep connection to the winery’s surrounding valley. For us, the journey is just beginning.

Which wine are you most excited to share at the Garden Dinner Series and why?
“I’m most excited about the 2020 Oculus. This is the first red wine in Canada to earn a perfect 100-point score. Since 1997, Oculus has defined the benchmark for Canadian Bordeaux-style reds. It began as a dream: to transform the Okanagan Valley into a world-class wine region. An icon reserved for life’s most meaningful milestones. Optically-sorted grapes are gravity-filled into specially constructed French oak and concrete fermenters before gently laying the wine to rest in individual barrels. This vintage represents the best harvest the Okanagan Valley has ever experienced. A result of decades of dedication, Oculus elevates the quality and understanding of the untapped potential of the Okanagan Valley.”

What makes CheckMate Artisanal Winery unique?
“Located in the heart of the South Okanagan, CheckMate Artisanal Winery is set in a place of breathtaking natural beauty. The result of millions of years of geological activity, the winery nestles against the rugged, rocky outcroppings of Mt. Kobau that give the region and vineyards its distinct character. There’s no one way to grow grapes here. So instead, through years of study and experimentation – and rapidly learning from failure – we have mapped an unexpected patchwork of tiny vineyard blocks, some with as few as 11 rows, so we can learn and adapt with agility as we go, and make harmony from extreme diversity.”

“We choose equipment and approaches that help us get the most from what nature already provides, even when it means diverging from industry standards. Sometimes gravity is the best tool. At other times, technology augments our hands-on approach. We achieve our own high aspirations by understanding and anticipating natural cycles, then pair old-world techniques with new-world innovations that extract the fullest potential from our minimal interventions in natural processes.”

Which wine are you most excited to share at the Garden Dinner Series and why?
“I can’t wait for attendees to try the 2021 Queen Taken Chardonnay which is drawn from extremely low-yielding vines up to 50 years of age at our estate—the first Okanagan sub-GI, the Golden Mile Bench. Recognized with scores of 98 and 96 points from leading critics, this historically significant, deeply concentrated, Canadian chardonnay reflects both the pedigree of the site and the precision of its craft.”

You can enjoy all of these perfect pours alongside fresh, local ingredients from across B.C. and Fairmont Waterfront’s very own rooftop garden, at the hotel’s renowned Garden Dinner Series.
Limited spots are available, secure your seat here: https://www.arcdining.com/garden-dinner-series/.