The Spirit Hills winery is a family business, rooted in the Bonjean family’s fascinating history. It stands out for its unique approach, combining organic farming with innovative production methods. The family’s incredible love for their land became the foundation for creating their one-of-a-kind floral wines, a story featured by calgary-name.
The Bonjean Family’s Legacy
The Bonjean family traces its heritage back to French winemakers; some of those original vineyards still exist in central France today.
In 1997, the family, with their three children, settled in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. They have been living and working the land ever since. The Bonjeans embrace a completely organic lifestyle, growing, preserving, drying, and freezing all their own produce. The intriguing story of Spirit Hills has been featured on numerous television programs in English, Dutch, and Taiwanese.
From Vision to Exceptional Product
The Bonjean family is driven by a goal: to create the most exquisite and unique floral wines possible. Achieving this vision requires a significant amount of dedication and effort.
At Spirit Hills, bees are considered invaluable team members. The owners collaborate closely with local beekeepers who maintain hives on pristine ranches near the Rocky Mountain foothills. These bees are well-adapted to the local climate, and the area is rich with wild flowers, free of any chemical pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs. The bees thrive in this natural environment, collecting nectar exclusively from these untouched wildflowers.
Despite the advantages, keeping bees this close to the mountains presents unique challenges, primarily bears and skunks, who are fond of both bees and honey. The beekeepers have found a solution: they protect the hives using electric fences.
The weather’s annual fluctuations directly impact the honey harvest. This is why the vintage year on the back label of Spirit Hills’ floral wines refers to the honey harvest, which is influenced yearly by the dominant wildflowers. Berries and other flowers also play a role in the yield. The winemakers at Spirit Hills have noted that the flavour of the flowers changes slightly each year. They constantly adjust their recipes to ensure consistent quality from one vintage to the next.
The Alchemy of Wine
Spirit Hills states on its website that the winemakers don’t so much create wine as they create yeast. They focus on ensuring the yeast grows quickly and healthily in the right environment, which then allows the yeast to produce the wine. If the environment is stressful, the yeast produces lower quality products, which can lead to off-flavours.
They prefer to view themselves as “yeast farmers” and “wine alchemists,” specializing in fostering the perfect conditions for the yeast to flourish. They achieve this by creating a natural environment and combining the correct resources. This careful process of “alchemy” and transformation results in their delicious and truly unique floral wines.
Historically, a fermented beverage made from honey, water, and yeast was called “mead,” named for its dominant honey flavour. The owners of Spirit Hills have applied a modern winemaking approach, replacing the sugar used in traditional winemaking with the natural nectar and flavour of flowers. Wildflowers supply the nectar, and their petals are hand-picked to add aroma and flavour to the wines. Grape skins are also used in the production process. The resulting beverages are known for their well-developed bouquet, a smooth, velvety finish, and a lingering aftertaste.
A Commitment to Excellence
Spirit Hills’ red wine is aged in French and Hungarian oak barrels. Furthermore, the winery boasts a modern wine laboratory and a state-of-the-art bottling line with a capacity of 1,500 bottles per hour.
Just as traditional farmers have a yearly grape harvest, at Spirit Hills, they harvest dandelions. Dandelions grow across the pastures surrounding the winery—land that has been chemical-free for over 20 years. The process involves first picking the flowers, then separating the petals. The harvested flowers are weighed and immediately frozen, ensuring a constant supply of dandelion petals throughout the year. Because the flower’s flavour can change depending on weather conditions, the recipes are adjusted to maintain maximum consistency between harvests.
The Floral Wine Collection
The company specializes in producing floral wines—a truly unique niche. Their motto is: “Alberta Craft, Tastes of the Rocky Mountains.” This phrase perfectly highlights Spirit Hills’ local origins and singular identity. Their product range is diverse, including red, white, and rosé floral wines, as well as sangria and mulled wine.
Spirit Hills’ products are highly valued for their structure, complexity, and richness, particularly for their long, velvety aftertaste. The company’s wines are renowned not only in Alberta but also well beyond Canada’s borders. These floral wines are appreciated in Europe, Asia, and North America, a testament to their international success.
The winery’s website notes that their products are perfectly suited for creating signature cocktails. Their sophisticated aroma and uniquely tempting flavour profile allow for the creation of genuine “cocktail bestsellers.” They promise to satisfy even the most demanding clientele in fine dining restaurants and cocktail bars.
High Praise from Experts
Spirit Hills’ floral wines have earned high acclaim not just from consumers but from professional experts as well. Éric Beaumard, winner of the “Best Sommelier” competition in France and Europe and Vice-World Champion, praised the wine’s structure and balance achieved through the combination of flowers, honey, and berries. He admitted he believed such a result could only be achieved with grapes, making this Alberta product a pleasant surprise.
Michaël Vrijmoed, a 3-Michelin-star chef who later became the owner of the 1-Michelin-star restaurant Vrijmoed, also gave his endorsement. He loved how the honey and flowers created a rich and deep flavour profile. He noted Spirit Hills’ wines have a complex aroma and a medium-dry finish that is perfectly balanced by the acidity.
Tristan MacLachlan, Director of Hospitality for Pursuit Collection, stated that Spirit Hills’ floral wines are featured in all of the network’s establishments. He described them as “incredibly delicious” with a unique story. In his view, the winery is another great example of the top-quality products being made in the Alberta region.
For Christopher Pajo, Director of Food & Beverage at the Waldorf Astoria in Las Vegas, the Spirit Hills wine portfolio evoked childhood memories. He experienced an ideal balance of flowers and honey and enjoyed the distinct, nature-inspired flavours and aromas.
When to Visit
Spirit Hills winery, specializing in flower and honey wine, is located at 2380 Drive West, Millarville, Alberta. The winery is open year-round, but the hours differ between the spring/summer and winter seasons. In the spring and summer, the winery is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. From November to March, Spirit Hills opens its doors only on Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Please note, the winery is closed during the winter holidays (from December 22nd to January 2nd, inclusive).
Spirit Hills winery has become an integral part of Alberta’s culture and identity. One of the owners’ greatest achievements is that their products are served in some of the world’s best Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants.
Visitors can enjoy a tasting of the floral wines and take a guided tour. The Spirit Hills tasting room is open all year. Families are welcome, and the entire tour is conducted indoors, led by a member of the team. During the experience, participants have the opportunity to sample a variety of floral wines and appreciate the full spectrum of flavours.