Okanagan wine legend Harry McWatters has died

KELOWNA – The founder of Sumac Estate Winery and Okanagan wine industry icon, Harry McWatters, has died.

“Heartbreaking news to share that beloved friend and client Harry McWatters has suddenly passed away,” his long-time publicist Leeanne Froese posted to Facebook.

"He passed peacefully in his sleep on July 23, 2019, and this is a shock to all," she said.

McWatters founded Sumac Estate Winery in 1980, was the director of the B.C. Wine Institute from its beginning in 1990 and founded See YA Later Ranch, according to Wines of Canada. He created the Vintage Consulting Group Inc. and the Okanagan Wine Academy and was co-owner of Time Estate Winery.

Froese said she will post further details on Facebook as they become available and, in the meantime, encouraged people to “help the family now by supporting their wines from TIME, Evolve and McWatters.”

To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.