Spirit Hills Way – Spirit Hills

(403) 933 3913

The Heart of Spirit Hills

The Team behind the Wine

Ilse de Wit

Queen Bee

Ilse is the glue of the Bonjean family, mother at heart and queen of the hive. Her sales experience ranges from top sales person with the best pharmaceutical companies to top sales person with Silpada jewelry. But nothing is more enjoyable than making people happy with Spirit Hills flower wines. She lives by the motto: “Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise; risking more than others think is safe; dreaming more than others think is practical and expecting more than others think is possible.”

Bjorn Bonjean

Owner/Head Winemaker/Co-General Manager

Bjorn’s journey through the Rocky Mountain Foothills is marked by a profound connection to the land and a passion for the outdoors that has shaped his professional path. After dedicating five years as an emergency responder in the Alberta oil sands, Bjorn transitioned to a role that aligns more closely with his love for nature, community, and the flavors of the foothills. As the Winemaker and Operations Manager, Bjorn takes pride in crafting exquisite, award-winning flower wines that encapsulate the essence of his surroundings. He embodies the next generation of Bonjean winemakers, infusing tradition with innovation to produce wines that tell a story of place and experience. Through his work, Bjorn invites visitors from around the globe to savor the unique qualities of the Foothills, showcasing the natural beauty and diversity of the region. His dedication to excellence and passion for winemaking continues to elevate Spirit Hills.

Carly Nathe

Co-General Manager

Carly is passionate about sharing the story of Spirit Hills Flower Winery and the exceptional wines we create. Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition and Food Science, she has a deep appreciation for the nutritional research and natural ingredients that make our flower wines so unique. As General Manager, Carly leads the day-to-day operations of Spirit Hills, overseeing staff, supporting departmental goals, and ensuring the successful execution of the winery's strategic vision. She is equally passionate about mentoring and empowering our independent sales team, fostering a positive culture where every team member has the opportunity to thrive. Whether she's at a farmers' market, hosting a winery tour, or introducing someone to Spirit Hills for the first time, Carly's enthusiasm, warmth, and genuine passion for what she does are unmistakable. Her energy is contagious, and she takes pride in creating memorable experiences while helping others discover the unique story behind Spirit Hills Flower Winery.

The Spirit of Spirit Hills

ONE OF A KIND

Spirit Hills flower winery sprouted from a desire of Ilse and Hugo Bonjean to live entirely self-sustaining of the land and tread as lightly as possibly on this planet. With their hand crafted flower wines the Spirit Hills team shares mother nature’s deliciousness and give you a true taste of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Foothills

The roots of Spirit Hills

One with the land

The Bonjean’s moved from Europe in 1997 with the aim to homestead in Canada. For over a decade they have grown all of their food for an entire year for their family and all who work there using permaculture practices. They freeze, dry, cold store and can all of the vegetables they harvest. They butcher their own meat, make sausage and have about 30% less waste compared to other households. Spirit Hills was the fruit of their desire to extend that dream of living off the land and with nature into a product that could provide them a family farm income while sharing the delicious flavours crafted from Rocky Mountain Foothills ingredients.

Family, Community, Sharing & Giving

Carpe Diem

Over the past decade many have visited Spirit Hills from around the world as family, friends, volunteers, visitors and fans. The Bonjean’s love to share not only their wines, but also their delicious foods, knowledge of gardening and homesteading as well as their stories and experiences. In the end they want to inspire those who visit to follow their own dreams, just like they did. “Following the dreams of your heart often does not make financial sense and comes with big risks,” says Ilse Bonjean. “But we have learned that living the dream brings out the best in us. It makes us feel alive and releases our passion, creativity, love and gratitude. Not only in us, but also in our children. We hope to pass this love of life and dreams onto our grandchildren.” Carpe Diem!

SPIRIT HILLS LTD

240183 - 2380 Drive West
Millarville, Alberta,
Canada T0L1K0

2026 HOURS

Open: year-round

Spring/ Summer Hours: April - October:

Wednesday - Sunday 10:00-5:00 pm

Winter Hours: November - March:

Saturday 11:00-4:00 pm

Closed: December 21st - January 1st

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