Our recent visit to Meadow Vista Winery included a sit down with its founder, Judie Barta. At the age of 19 Barta was already envisioning her future winery. Armed with few resources but her own two capable hands, she has brought her dreams to life. And today, you can get BC’s only honey wines at their shop: meadowvista.newdistrict.ca.

On a beautiful May morning I arrived at Meadow Vista Honey Winery full of anticipation to meet the owner, Judie Barta. I had been by the day before, but, as she had been out, I was treated to a wonderful tour and wine tasting instead. The staff had waxed enthusiastically about her and had nothing but compliments for her. Judie’s reputation preceded her, and, as I was delighted to discover, all the lovely things said about her were true.

​When I walked in Judie was standing behind the counter in her tasting room. The room was bright and calming with sky blue walls, grey hardwood floors, marble countertops, and art from local artists displayed on the walls. It was very minimalist but still felt polished. Judie is also a registered massage therapist and her decorating scheme was reminiscent of that soothing spa environment. It was refreshing to step inside from the hot sun to her aesthetically cool room.

​She offered to get me a glass of her sparkling cherry mead – Bliss – and I gladly accepted. I was surprised when she emerged with a large wine glass containing Bliss mixed with soda water and lemon. She explained that she believes in mixing ingredients and trying new things, and doesn’t understand why people shy away from it. And so began our conversation about mead, food purists, love, and much more.

New District: I want to start by saying I love that you have a honey winery – or should I say meadery?

Judie Barta: People are really intrigued because they’ve heard about mead, but don’t know what to expect. Like at all.

ND: They think it is medieval or…?

JB: So a traditional style means honey, water, and fermentation. One of my quests is to learn at what point in our world did we become such purists? It’s been such an important part of our human nature to combine.

ND: I’ve never thought of that before; that’s a very interesting question. I even did history in school.

JB: I have a food dictionary and it has everything in it, but there’s no mead. And I’m like really? It’s a huge part of our culinary and beverage world. Honey, something we eat as well as ferment, is the oldest fermented beverage on the planet and the only non-perishable food on the planet. When did it become passé?

ND: So because mead is this unknown, you put “honey wine” on your bottles because it is more understandable for people?

JB: Completely. And in my subliminal message the word “mead” is in Meadow (as in Meadow Vista).

ND: I’m really glad I said hi to Michael (the winemaker) yesterday because he told me he believes that opera affects the bees and yeast as they are living organisms.

JB: When he’s away he says we have to turn the music on for the wine and I’m like really? It’s totally cool but so funny. The energies that we don’t have much information on are really quite amazing. Music is one, and another is the full moon. Michael says the best day to filter is when there is a full moon because otherwise it’s breaking down, or gunking up. The full moon is just smooth; it’s just the way it is.

ND: How long have you been open?

JB: I had this vision of what I wanted to build for a winery when I was 19. I love the wine industry with all my heart, but then I was like, how do I get there? Because I’m just little old me – I don’t have family support and I don’t have money.

ND: But here you are…

JB: In 2008 I was at this little deli on the west side (of Kelowna) to pick up some charcuterie for my last business – you’ll laugh at this it was a mobile boat detailing company – and I was covered in polish and had a Gilligan style hat on. There was nobody in there except me and Alan (Marks). It had been a long time – we had connected in 1993 when I was the first wine rep for Sumac Ridge and he was working at Summer Hill. I said “you make amazing wine” and he said, “I love your marketing”. We met a couple months later and he said he would consult for me, so this history of me and this wine was definitely meant to be. I love it so much; it is my beverage of choice.

ND: What about it do you like so much?

JB: I feel better when I drink it. Health and wellness and food and beverage are a perfectly harmonious blend and for me to create a wine that’s healthful keeps me inspired. Metheglin (spiced mead) is actually Irish for medicine; your food is your medicine and you are eating it because it is good for you, and your wine should be good for you too.

“It’s a work of love and not everybody wants to do that.”

ND: From what I understand, renting out your bees is very beneficial.

JB: It’s a paid job and you get the pollen you want. But it is also freaky because they are just so little you can’t ask them “hey, how’s it going?” Generally we have them spread out one acre per hive all over BC. Your life has to revolve around that because you are nurturing these little bees, taking them different places, and making sure they haven’t been knocked over by a bear, or by vandals, or have flown away. It’s a work of love and not everybody wants to do that.

ND: I love how enthusiasm and honesty always shine through and bring success.

JB: I’m a little behind in my sales from what I thought we would be doing. I mean it’s embarrassing that no one has walked in the door since you came in.

ND: It’s May?

JB: Fantastic excuse but it’s not going to work (laughs). The humbling thing about this is there is nothing I can’t do, but I can’t do it all. I love every aspect of it but I just don’t have time.

ND: Speaking of love, you mentioned earlier that you are a hopeless romantic. A friend of mine once told me that they don’t believe in romantic love; not just love at first sight or marriage, but love at all. And I thought that was the saddest thing I’d ever heard.

JB: I have this completely utopian vision of being able to find true love. I love passion and when you learn how to listen to your heart and your gut and program your brain to make those actions it is insanely powerful. You never know when it (love) is going to happen, but I truly believe in it.

TG: Well, your positive attitude and passion for life certainly seem to be infused in your winery.

JB: I see this as a fantastic opportunity for people who are passionate about authentic product. I serve Bliss (sparkling cherry honey wine) on ice with a squeeze of lemon, or Mabon (spiced honey wine) warmed up with pieces of green apple in it and a gingerbread cookie. There is a lot of room for creativity, which I find works for my brain because I find doing the same thing over and over gets a little boring.

“The humbling thing about this is there is nothing I can’t do, but I can’t do it all.”

ND: You keep bringing up the idea of authenticity; did that come from somewhere in particular or have you always felt this way?

JB: It is a personal growth thing. I was able to delineate two words that describe me in an 80/20 rule: ‘simply authentic’. It really jives with me and what that means and how it boils down. Your business is going to be a direct reflection of who you are. I’m creating something that’s really clean, crisp, and authentic with breathing space and that component of simplicity.

With that we decided it was too nice of a day to be indoors any longer and Judie took me to see her garden. Following her theme of simplicity, the garden was beautifully laid out with straight rows containing all kinds of vegetables. She insisted that I try something and was especially proud of her asparagus, so I happily munched away on a few fresh stalks while she told me a bit more about her vision for Meadow Vista. “I like bringing people together and wine can do that. We started off with extreme bocce, we’ve got yoga, and we’ve had some book clubs. That’s not bad for the short period that we have been open”. I have no doubt that armed with her opera loving winemaker, her beautiful winery, and her unwavering spirit, Judie will succeed in making Meadow Vista a permanent fixture in the BC wine industry.