The Bonamici Story
The Adventure Begins
Founded in 2012, Bonamici Cellars was created by consulting winemaker, Philip Soo with good friend and business partner Mario Rodi. They met while working in the corporate world – Phil as a winemaker and Mario in sales and marketing. Sharing a passion for great Italian wines and a love for the Okanagan inspired them to create Bonamici Cellars.
“I remember when I was around 12 years old – our dad would bring in grapes from California each fall. It was like the celebration of the Harvest. We would make wine and our mom would cook great meals that we would share with all of our family and friends. A truly memorable Italian tradition that brought us together over a wonderful shared experience enjoying great wine and delicious food.”
Mario Rodi
“I remember visiting family in Ontario – going out to a nice Italian restaurant where we shared a wonderful meal and a beautiful bottle of Italian wine. I was blown away by the quality and complexity of the wine. Inspired by the experience, I decided this was the kind of wine that I wanted to make.”
Phil Soo
It was clear to both of us that we would pursue an Italian-inspired winery, hence the creation of Bonamici Cellars.
Bonamici – Italian for “good friends” captures the essence of the brand. It’s about celebrating life with great wine and delicious food. Bringing family and friends together around the table to enjoy one of life’s simple pleasures.
The Bonamaici Story Continues
In 2016, after searching extensively for a permanent home for Bonamici they found the ideal site. The picturesque 10-acre property in the Okanagan Falls area is surrounded by world-class wineries.
A nine-acre vineyard was planted. The tasting room opened with the new production facility in the fall of 2020. Just in time to accommodate the harvest. With the vineyard producing more fruit, the winery production has increased from around 1,800 to 2,500 cases annually.
The Rolling Hills Vineyards
The estate vineyard is located in the south Okanagan Falls wine region. An ideal 9-acre site with the perfect orientation for growing high-quality grapes.
- West Facing Slope – Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and Barbera
- South Facing Slope – Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot
The Wines
Bonamici Pinot Grigio 2020 ($22)
13.4% Alcohol, pH 3.55 TA 5.9 g/L, RS 3.8g/L.
The wine is dry, medium-bodied and silky with green apple, tropical fruit aromas. Flavours of mango, apple, lemon zest, pink grapefruit with a hint of oyster shell. Beautifully balanced acidity and a long creamy finish.
The grapes for this vintage were cool-fermented and aged sur lie in stainless-steel tanks for 5 months giving structure, finesse, and a light creaminess to the wine. 91 Points
Pairs well with Mediterranean tapas dishes, seafood and Asian fusion cuisine.
Bonamici Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019 ($28)
Winemaking: 25 days of skin maceration with two punch downs a day, followed by 100% malolactic fermentation. Aged for 12 months in French Oak with 20% new oak. 60% Merlot / 40% Cab Franc.
14% Alcohol, pH 3.9 TA 6.0 g/L, RS 2.6 g/L.
This young fruit-forward red opens with aromas of black fruit, strawberry jam with a hint of black pepper spice and anise. The full-bodied wine has flavours of blackberries, cranberries, toasty oak, dark chocolate and tobacco. The tannins are soft and the finish long. 91 Points.
Pairs well with grilled steak, lamb or hearty pasta dishes.
Bonamici Reserve Merlot 2019 ($45)
Aged for 15 months in French Oak makes this an age-worthy wine for your cellar.
Aromas of black fruit and coffee. Flavours of black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, dark chocolate with a hint of espresso and cedar and a lovely long finish. The texture is velvety with supple tannins lifted by acidity. 92 Points
Pairs perfectly with BBQ lamb or beef, rotisserie chicken or aged cheeses.
A Gold Medal winner at 2021 British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards.
Please visit the Bonamici Cellars website to purchase these exceptional BC wines.
Future Plans
Our last Belviaggio (Super Tuscan Blend) was released in 2017. The 2020 vintage is sitting in barrels now and we expect to release this wine in May 2022. This is our flagship wine and will include Sangiovese from the estate vineyard. Phil was blending the 2020 Belviaggio and is really excited about the wine. The blend is Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot and Sangiovese.
If you are going to be an Italian-inspired winery then you need to have Italian varietals! So we planted Sangiovese and Barbera and the vines are growing beautifully. We plan to release a 2020 Barbera single varietal and hopefully a Sangiovese if there is enough left after blending into the Belviaggio.
Mario Rodi