Small Sips
News from Canada’s beverage industry
Exciting changes for TIME
Winery, Evolve Cellars and
McWatters Collection
TIME Winery, Evolve Cellars and McWatters
Collection have been sold to Five Vines
Cellars, the private family-owned business
of Ron and Shelley Mayert, as of July.
Time Winery & Kitchen remains the
same, with sister winery Evolve Cellars and
the McWatters Collection labels sharing
the same roof. Chef A.K. Campbell runs
the kitchen and the McWatters family
siblings, Christa-Lee and Darrien, stay
on as general manager and operations
manager, respectively. Winemaker Lynzee
Schatz oversees wine production and the
entire team looks forward to welcoming
everyone for a visit.
Since 2019, when industry pioneer,
and owner and founder of Time Winery
and Evolve Cellars, Harry McWatters
passed away unexpectedly, industry
has been holding its breath to see what
would happen next in the legacy that the
McWatters family has built. To say that
Harry is a legend in the Canadian wine
industry would be an understatement.
Harry, after more than 50 vintages
in B.C. wine, is widely considered the
“grandfather” of B.C. wine.
As newcomers to the B.C. wine
industry, the Mayerts are thrilled to enter
the industry and to grow from the legacy
that the McWatters family has created.
They bring fresh eyes to the project and are
keen to build relationships with industry
partners, valued winery customers and a
family of talented employees.
“The McWatters’ longstanding
reputation is irreplaceable, and we will
always honour the legacy that Harry,
Christa-Lee and Darrien have brought to
the Canadian wine industry,” said Ron.
British Columbians through and
through, Ron was born and raised on
Photos courtesy of Chris Stenberg
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