Wine storage facility planned with Naramata packinghouse purchase

NARAMATA – A deal has been made to purchase the former Naramata packinghouse property with hopes to turn it into a storage facility for area wineries.

A group of four individuals with property interests in the community have a firm contract to purchase the 4.6 acre property, which has been vacant for 10 years, in a deal expected to close early next year, says Robert Gritten, one of the four purchasers.

“We’ve been in the community a long time, some of us all our lives, and we were really concerned. We wanted to make sure whatever happens to that property maintains the charm and uniqueness that is Naramata,” Gritten says.

The group will be revitalizing the 27,000 square foot packinghouse, turning it into a storage facility for wineries and cideries located on the Naramata bench.

The building has been divided into 12 storage rooms of 1,800 square feet each, and will be upgraded with a new climate control system, heating, air conditioning, security and lighting.

Gritten says the space will be made available to wineries on the bench looking for off-site storage.

“I think you’ll see mixed use commercial and residential for the rest of the property,” Gritten says, but adds the group is presently concentrating on organizing the storage facility and generating some cash flow before moving on with the rest of the property.

David Enns, Mik Ball, and Steven Jaeger are the other partners in the purchase.

Gritten says the group is interested in what happens in Naramata and wants to ensure whatever they do maintains Naramata’s existing character.  He says plans for the site will involve discussions with all stakeholders with respect to future plans for the property.

The wine storage facility is expected to open in the spring of 2018.

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