Northern Lights Estate Winery – A Family Affair
Friday, October 11, 2013 @ 3:43 PM
Pat Bell describes the winery plans, while MLAs Mike Morris and Shirley Bond look on – photo 250News
Prince George, B.C. – With friends and family, community leaders and politicians on hand, Pat Bell has officially unveiled his plan for 4 plus acres just east of the Cutbanks on P.G. Pulpmill Road.
The property will be developed for an orchard, winery, world class restaurant and an amphi theatre, a project 250News told you about earlier today.
Northern Lights Estate Winery will produce fruit wines, from six basic fruit stocks and the first bottle will be ready in the summer of 2015. It will be, the most northern winery in all of Canada.
Bell and members of his family, were all smiles, as he talked about the venture which is truly a family affair, from the investors to the design on the wine bottle label.
Bell says not only does he hope this winery will produce a top notch product, he is also hopeful it will become a tourism destination.
Comments
Good luck. Diversifying the economy is always a good idea, and this seems like a great idea. I hope it’s successful.
Hopefully bring tourism dollars (and planes) to PG
A nice picture of Shirley and Mike doing important provincial government work I see. Nothing like an ex-politician and current politicians getting their photo ops.
Oh well, happy thanks giving to them and all of you.
Great idea. Hopefully we will continue to get these really mild summers.
This is a nice little **add on**for Prince George, however I doubt that it would be a destination for tourists or planes.
Canada has 432 Wineries, 272 in BC, and 130 in Ontario,. The balance spread out around the Country.
I see this as a good way to promote the area’s berry potential. Assuming he will buy from other producers in addition to his own crop.
“A nice picture of Shirley and Mike doing important provincial government work I see. Nothing like an ex-politician and current politicians getting their photo ops.”
Oh give it a rest, People#1. You’re like a one note song. I’m surprised you’re even commenting after the crow sandwich you ate on the other thread, but whatever.
On another topic, I’d love to see Pat Bell take a run at the Mayor’s chair as some have suggested, but I doubt it would ever happen.
Anyway, good luck to you, Pat.
What is all this talk about Bell running for mayor coming from? Has he specifically stated an interest in the job? Makes no sense to me. Why would someone leave provincial politics for health reasons only to show interest in municipal politics some months later? A provincial MP earns $170k give or take, whereas the mayor of PG earns around $90k. In terms of the networking, traveling and schmoozing potential, well forget it, provincial MP takes the prize there too. There is no financial upside to it and I can’t imagine there would be any qualitative ones either, except for maybe less travel. Anyway, he’s building a refinery, right? Think he’ll be busy for a bit.
In terms of political opportunism, I imagine there might be some real competition for the Mayoral position come this next election which we’re just about a year away from. That will be the Mayor for the games and will be quite a good time I imagine.
Last thing we need though is another Neo-Liberal at the helm of a sinking ship. We actually need someone who can start plugging holes and bailing, not someone who is politically inclined toward throwing more weight on board, until the gunnels are awash.
Darn you JohnnyBelt! I was reading the previous comments and felt compelled to say a few kinds words to good ol’ People#1, but you beat me to it!
People#1, hmmmmm makes me wonder what the #1 stands for? Nuff said about that!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, including #1, regardless of whatever he/she is #1 at!
Bravo to Pat Bell, he has a good eye and I think he will do well. A good southern exposure, protection from the North winds, I’ve never see that area flooded. Just east of that location was a nursery, plants did great. I say an excellent place to grow berries and such, which do make excellent wines..
OK, its time for some of you to remove your knee pads now!
“What is all this talk about Bell running for mayor coming from? Has he specifically stated an interest in the job?”
No. It was just another crazy rumour started in the comments section of 250news.com.
On another local enterprise. What ever happened to the Hay sales proposal to China from Vanderhoof BC.
Entrepreneur Judd Wu started the business Top Hay Agri Industries, and I heard that the first truckload of hay shipped via truck from Vanderhoof to Prince George for loading on a container to China. That was in June of this year. Havent’ heard anything since.
Anyone else hear anything??
Fruit wine from Alaska
For those who are concerned about bears the winery is located in Kodiak, AK. and uses a logo with a Kodiak bear on it.
http://www.alaskawildwine.com
There is a winery in Finland just a bit north of latitude 61. For reference, latitude 60 is the border between BC and the Yukon. Of course, both of those places are maritime climates.
The Finnish wine has the advantage of using the cooling water coming from the local nuclear reactor to heat the fields. It is not a large winery, producing about 80 bottles of red for the workers at the plant.
Two of the three wineries in Alaska use berries other than grapes.
Palopu maybe that wasn’t ‘hay’ sent to China in that container. (:
Special hay promotion from Northern BC. Good budding business!!!
I wonder how much of $$$$ he recieved in a government grants?
Cool, Winery and a PAC all in one shot!!!
I wish Pat and Brenda all the best in their new berry wine-making business in PG. I like the combination of wine, restaurant and outdoor theatre all tied together.
Gus: “Fruit wine from Kodiak Alaska” – Berry good ;) – Nuclear powered vino…good way to Finnish your career.. ;)
Unless the wines develop a truly world class reputation, I doubt that tourists will come to the area specifically to visit the winery, but I can see it inducing some people on their way through to stop to see it.
well you could tour 2 pulp mill’s a refinery, and a winery in the same afternoon. After smelling the refinery and pulp mill’s, any wine would taste good…
don’t get me wrong I’m not saying bad idea, just pointing out that it is pretty close to smelly industry if the wind is blowing the wrong way while there are guests present.
“I doubt that tourists will come to the area specifically to visit the winery”
I doubt the tourists will come to this area specifically to visit anything unless we tell them why they should and not embellish anything when we do tell them because false representation will spread faster than anything through the personal and social internet networks of today.
There are people who come specifically to BC because the province has been billed as likely the most picturesque in Canada and there is a lot of truth to that for most people. So, few would be disappointed with that in mind.
However, each are is different and the interior and the north has a lot of improvements to make to give tourists a first class experience. Prince George and the region immediately surrounding it has a lot of work to do to keep people here who are passing through on one of several circle tours.
Each facility such as the new hotel, this new winery and restaurant, UNBC, Two rivers Gallery, and possibly one or two others will add to reasons to stay a day longer on a journey through.
The wine does not have to be a world class one. If it wins a medal or two at some competitions that would help a little. What helps more is if there is a tasting opportunity with a tour, a sale will likely be made. If the wine tastes good to a large percentage of the visitors, then it will garner more sales, especially if there are some shipping opportunities for at least the Canadian shoppers.
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