I am saddened by the loss of George Heiss Senior, who passed away on June 29th, from cancer.
Where to begin? For me the BC industry has never been quite the same since George and Trudy Heiss (deservedly) retired after selling Gray Monk Cellars to Andrew Peller, in 2017.
A Big Hearted Legend
Three things that I’ll remember George for:
Laughter. Laughter. And more laughter.
I’ll never forget arriving for a tasting at Gray Monk on one of the early Okanagan wine tours. Yes, it was very much informative and educational. But we all knew it was only a matter of time before George would start telling (really bad, non-PC) jokes. He didn’t disappoint.
I don’t think there was a single occasion that I went to Gray Monk when George and Trudy didn’t make time for me. Whether for a meal or for a full tasting, they would never miss a chance to visit. And while we certainly got the work done, there was always no shortage of good natured banter and jokes.
Once time George met me on walking sticks. He had just returned from the U.K., where he’d had both hips replaced. With such discomfort, most people wouldn’t have made the effort to meet me. But George did.
He couldn’t get over how efficient it had all been. But what impressed him most was the hospital’s wine list. Say, what? George explained how patients were required to drink a bottle of red wine a day. Everyone was wearing bright yellow, post-surgery compression gear. George said it didn’t take him long to get them doing their best rendition of ‘Yellow Submarine.’
George Heiss: Visionary and Pioneering
However, there was a serious side. George and Trudy not only planted their vineyard by hand (in 1972) on one of the steepest slopes in the valley. They built Gray Monk into what it is today, a true destination winery. It took an incredible amount of hard work and self sacrifice. Not to mention the financial risk-taking and vision to build a spectacular new tasting room—with a gracious nod to their heritage.
Okanagan Crush Pad owner Christine Coletta, a close friend of George Heiss, says:
“George was trained as a hairdresser but successfully transferred his people skills and his firm conviction that anything could be changed or fixed with time and hard work to the highly successful establishment of Gray Monk Estate.”
“He faced adversity from Mother Nature, and government by way of red tape. He also swayed public perception about the quality and value of Okanagan wine. His positivity was as large as his stature. While he didn’t enjoy many retirement years, George and his wife Trudy always made it clear that their reward was their journey and the work they did to pioneer a new era for the BC wine industry.”
A Sense of History
When it came to people, as Christine says, George was a natural, thanks in part to his first profession. When I started writing about wine the industry was still rife with elitism and snobbery. It sported little of the fun and down-to-earth nature in actually enjoying wine that today we take for granted. With his innate ability to put people at ease, George contributed immensely to that shift.
George: “You oughtta see the guy who made this”…
I’m concerned that as we lose our industry pioneers we also lose sight of what it took to make the industry what it is today. They were a little before my time. But, from all accounts, few others toiled to plant their vines like George and Trudy.
George and Trudy walk in their recently planted vineyard
Not only that, they really did do battle royal (along with friends like Harry McWatters) to convince a still prohibition-minded provincial government to issue new winery licenses. In those days the liquor industry was impenetrably controlled by big wineries, big distillers and big breweries. It was all but impossible for small people to break through the status quo. But George and Trudy did.
When Gray Monk made the smart move to Stelvin screw caps, George came up with a T-shirt to mark the event—and a suitable quote: “I used to Get Corked… Now I’m Screwed!”
What’s more it was quality-made. I still wear mine.
Tuly, George Heiss was one of a kind. As Heather (my wife) reminds me, he always used to say, usually as we left: ‘Life is not a dress rehearsal.’
Too true.
Rest in peace, George. You’ve more than earned it.
Heather and I extend our deepest sympathies to Trudy and the Heiss family.
Do you have a George Heiss story you’d like to share? Please do!
I too am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of George. I met him in 1982, when I owned Cafe Europa in Vernon BC. As uneven at times, as the early wines were, they showed the potential of the Okanagan valley in terms of vinifera grape growing, and winemaking. Gray Monk wines inspired my passion for BC wines.
I fondly recall hosting celebratory dinners in the early 80’s, after many of Gray Monk’s awards at the Okanagan Wine Festival. The very first very winemaker’s dinners that I ever hosted, were co hosted by George.
Tim, you are so spot on with your observations. We must never lose sight of our “wine history” in BC. It is sad to think that in the last year we have lost the true pioneers, Harry, and George, but as well, my dear friend and mentor Buko von Krosigk.
We must never forget any of them, it is our obligation.
Thank you, Kaitlyn. Yes, I was also sad to hear about Buko. When I had just started at The Courier, he and Eric invited me to go check out a winery they had purchased near Aix. The day after I arrived they had to leave unexpectedly. “Never mind,” said Buko. “You may as well stay for the time we booked anyway.” I explored the back roads and hills of Provence for five days.
But yes, It’s really important to recognize the immense contribution of people like George to the success of an industry that so many now take for granted. Which is great. But, as you know, those early days were a real struggle——when you could count the Vancouver restaurant wine lists that had a BC wine section on one hand.
Best, Tim
Thanks for this recap Tim. I remember asking George why he picked the Winfield (in those days) site, or at least how he picked it. At the time he and Trudy were hairdressers in Edmonton and didn’t know that much about wine so he asked a friend to help him and the advice he was given was if peaches grow their grapes will. The place was covered in peaches so they bought the property, simple as that and they spent most of the rest of their lives moving rocks off that vineyard one rock at a time. They were special people and I know Trudy is going to miss him, as will I.
Hi Tony, Thanks for this. They were indeed special and a class apart. You’ve reminded me that I need to dig out that classic photo of them planting. I will see if I can find it. T.
Well where does one begin. George and Trudy lived in out community. I had George cut my hair many time.
I also had the privilege to work with George and Trudy for 17 yrs. I loved their love for the wine industry and loved working for them. Their knowledge ,their sense of love for the of it all. It was a pleasure. It’s a lose to a real gentleman of the wine industry and Loved by all
Thanks Heather. You are so right. He was indeed loved by all. T
I had the honour of selling Gray Monk wines for over 20 years and george and Trudy always treated me like family. I will miss the bear hug he gave me every time I saw him. Lizz and I have visited george and Trudy many times on a social level since they sold the winery. We miss him.
RIP george.
Thanks, Terry. Ah, yes, those bear hugs were amazing. My condolences to you both. T
[…] has changed in the 50 years or so since Gray Monk founders George and Trudy Heiss left careers as successful hairdressers to gamble everything on growing grapes—and unproven […]