Pommier Ranch Meadery

Tucked into the East Kootenay's Columbia Valley between the Rocky Mountains and the Purcells, Pommier Ranch Meadery is a family-owned operation built around one local ingredient: mountain wildflower honey. After relocating from Calgary to the Kootenays in 2016, the family constructed a purpose-built meadery near Skookumchuck, complete with a fermentation room, an experimental mead lab, an on-site honey processing area, and a welcoming tasting room. The result is a range of handcrafted meads that runs from a classic honey mead to fruit- and herb-infused varieties, all of them naturally gluten-free. When you visit, you'll find an experience that feels personal rather than packaged. Tours and tastings are offered free of charge and run by appointment, which means you get an unhurried, behind-the-scenes look at how raw honey becomes mead, often guided by the people who make it. You'll learn what sets honey wine apart from grape wine, sample across the lineup, and get a real sense of the craft and care that goes into each small batch. The setting is a destination in its own right. This is wide-open Kootenay country, where the drive in delivers mountain views and a genuine sense of escape, far from the crowds of busier wine regions. For travelers exploring the East Kootenays, a stop here pairs perfectly with the area's outdoor draws and its growing roster of independent producers. If you're curious about mead, or simply want to taste something rooted entirely in the surrounding alpine landscape, Pommier Ranch offers a warm, honest, and unmistakably local welcome. Because visits are by appointment, it's worth reaching out ahead to arrange your tasting and make the most of the trip.