Peller Estates exploring possible winery at Tranquille on the Lake

KAMLOOPS — A new winery could be making Tranquille Farm its home in a couple years. The company that has brands like Peller Estates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ignition Tranquille Developments to explore the potential of using farmland to grow a vineyard.

There are more than 400 acres of agricultural and development opportunities on Tranquille Farm, but for years much of it has been untouched, including the old Sanatorium.

However, Andrew Peller, Ltd. — with its many wine labels — could change all of that.

“It’s a real positive step forward,” said Ignition Tranquille Developments project manager Tim McLeod. “We’ve spent the last three and a half years doing due diligence work through Ignition, who is the developer behind this, so they’re new. Today is coming from that due diligence to that first step forward.”

Peller will use the next two years to examine the climate and soil to see if it’s conducive to growing grapes.

“The main concern is how cold it gets during the winter,” said Manager of Grape Suppy and Business Development for Andrew Peller, Ltd. Kirk Seggie. “Vines don’t do well in below temperatures of -24°C [to] -26°C. But there’s a moderating effect from Kamloops Lake, which will help change that.”

Drawings of what a winery at Tranquille on the Lake would look like (Image Credit: Tranquille on the Lake)

If Peller goes ahead and starts a winery in Kamloops, it would be the fifth to come to the city — all in the last 10 years.

“This really signals and symbolizes growth in the region,” said Trish Morelli from the Kamloops Wineries Association. “And to have this partnership with the name like Peller Estates is very important. Peller brings huge credibility, huge amount of committment and experience.”

It’s all part of Ignition Tranquille Development’s overall plan, which would see not only a winery, but an entire community — houses, pubs and all sorts of amenities.

Project manager Tim McLeod believes with Peller on board now, it will spark interest in other companies to join the Tranquille on the Lake’s project.

“Having someone like the stature of Peller is awesome for us because what we want to do is build partnerships with Peller and other organizations similar to them to build the farm and then the community,” said McLeod. “What that helps us do is really put Kamloops on the map as a tourism destination and it builds faith in the community that lives here that ‘I want to go live there.’”

If Peller is content with the climate analysis, it will move ahead with a five-acre parcel with planting expected to being in spring 2025.