Succession sales in spotlight

Ontario’s Northlight Wine Collective has purchased Meyer Family Vineyards and Mayhem Wines of Okanagan Falls.

The two wineries represent the first purchase by the Ontario company, founded in 2024 by wine industry executive José Salgado in anticipation of a generational transition in winery ownership.

“The transaction marks Northlight’s first winery acquisition and advances its strategy to acquire, invest in and steward premium Canadian wine businesses as many founder-led wineries across Canada enter a period of generational transition,” a statement from Northlight says.

The transaction was announced earlier this month. A sale price was not disclosed.

“We wanted to find an owner who respected what we had built and shared our long-term vision,” says Jak Meyer, co-founder of the wineries alongside other family members. “We believe Northlight is the right partner to carry these wineries forward while preserving the character that has always defined them.”

While Meyer and his wife Janice will remain involved through the transition process, the wineries will be overseen by Salgado, whose executive experience includes time at Canada’s Andrew Peller Ltd. as well as California’s Fetzer Vineyards and the Duckhorn Portfolio.

“Meyer Family Vineyards and Mayhem Wines set the standard for the kind of wineries Northlight was created to acquire,” Salgado says in a statement. “We look forward to partnering with other founder-built wineries that share those same qualities.”

A number of wineries, farms and ranches have come to market over the past year as owners navigate challenges related to extreme weather, financing and succession. A mix of court-ordered transactions, asset sales and lease arrangements have been executed to maintain the legacy of many long-standing properties.

However, not all owners have met favourable markets.

The recent offering of Canada’s only commercial olive farm on Salt Spring Island failed to draw a single bid when it went to online tender on August 12.

“It’s surprising given the desirable location of this property,” says Tyler Ruttan, director of sales with CLHBid.com, which handled the process. “We’ll continue to help the owner fulfill her wish to sell the property.”

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