OUR STORY
Bella is a sparkling wine house based out of the Similkameen Valley in British Columbia.
Our story starts in 2011 with Jay Drysdale and Wendy Rose's first date which involved truffle hunting in Portland, Oregon, where they discovered their shared passion for food and wine. During the trip, Jay revealed his dream of starting a boutique sparkling wine house, which Wendy enthusiastically embraced, leading to their mutual decision to start a winery (and life!) together. They named the winery after Bella, Jay’s dog who was their chaperone on the trip, and their goal was to celebrate life's moments through their wine, honoring their love and the joy of everyday experiences.
Under Jay's stewardship, Bella Wines became more than just a winery — it embodied a commitment to regenerative farming, soil health, diverse ecosystems (rather than monoculture), animal integration, and the abolition of synthetic farming practices. Wendy and Jay deeply care about the land they work, the grapes they grow, and the wine they make from their property in Naramata, BC. Through their tireless work, Bella Wines emerged as a standout producer in British Columbia, with the province widely embracing their sparkling wines, their transparency and their dedication to educating alternative farming practices. Together, they created a lasting legacy for natural wines in BC. In 2024, they sold the winery to Bree McKeage, but their dedication to celebrating life's little moments remains an enduring part of Bella’s legacy.
Bree, a seasoned winemaker with deep expertise in viticulture, brings a passion for sustainable, low-intervention winemaking to Bella Wines. Her commitment to holistic vineyard management and a strong focus on soil health perfectly align with Bella’s values, ensuring the continued high quality the brand is known for. With her experience and vision, Bree is well-suited to lead Bella into its next phase, scaling the brand while staying true to its roots. She looks forward to showcasing Bella’s sparkling wines from the new location in the Similkameen Valley, a site she co-owns with her partner, Rajan.
To learn more about the transition, check this Scout Magazine article out.
Rajan, Bree, Jay, Wendy
Photo by Miguel Santos
Bree McKeage
Wendy Rose
Bree is passionate about making bubbles which, for her, starts in the vineyard. She can be found most days at Pretty Horses, the vineyard she co-owns in the Similkameen Valley.
Wendy is passionate about drinking bubbles. It helps with the day-to-day operations of a winery, and telling a good tall tale, to sip beautifully crafted sparkling wines. Wendy and Bree are working together to transition the operational side of the winery.
OUR VINEYARDS
Pretty Horses is a 15 acre organic vineyard in the Similkameen Valley Bree owns with her husband, Rajen of Ursa Major Wines. They have planted Pinot noir, Pinot Meunier, Melon Bourgogne, Seyval, Marquette and two clones of Gamay to further the production of Bella Wines. In conjunction with the Naramata property of Gamay and Chardonnay, Bella will be able to domestically produce their entire output in 2027, continuing to create organic and delicious bubbles for the brand in the years to come. The Naramata Bella Estate vineyard is farmed regeneratively and the Similkameen property is organic.
