If there is one saving grace from the aggressive electrical fire that destroyed the tasting room at Columbia Gardens Winery on Aug. 31, it’s that no one was in the A-frame when it was quickly engulfed in flames.
Vineyard owner Tersia de Jager and her son, Darin, honour their Christian faith, in part, by observing the Sabbath on Saturdays.
As a result, no one was in the building, and no one was hurt while fighting the flames.
This was a blessing, given that the heat of the fire burst corks from the wine and port bottles, melted the cash register and gift shop wares, burned through the roof, brought down ceiling fans, and shattered glass.
Darin, the family’s youngest “winery kid,” recalls a passerby on the road mentioning that the metal roof was glowing red hot.
With no insurance to cover the destruction, the pressing question is, “What happens now?”
This fire comes on the heels of a life-changing event that the family is still grappling with.
Nine months ago, family patriarch and passionate vintner Ben de Jager passed away at the age of 61.
“The past four years have been tough on my family with Ben’s illness and passing in November 2023,” shares Tersia, Ben’s wife of 37 years, mother of three, and grandmother to her precious Dia.
“Life looks very different now compared to when we became owners of the winery in August 2013,” she says.
“The unfortunate fire that nearly destroyed our beloved tasting room certainly added to that, and the saying, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ makes me feel like I’m training to be Wonder Woman or something!”
As it stands now, Tersia’s life is a blank canvas.
The breathtakingly beautiful rural property is hers; however, making wine may no longer be in the family’s future.
Tersia’s role in the business was primarily managerial, focusing on hosting weddings and other life events in the picturesque vineyard.
She personally decorated the guest rooms, using her keen eye and classic sense of style.
“I am grateful for the past 11 years of serving the community through the winery,” Tersia shares. “We had hard days and fun times, countless tastings, numerous weddings and events, and were rated the Number 1 tourist attraction in the Kootenays every year. We won dozens of awards and enjoyed the support of our amazing community.”
After Ben’s death, Tersia has had time to reflect.
“I realized that I spent my life supporting Ben, as we women often do, climbing the corporate ladder and building his dreams,” she explains.
“Making wine was Ben’s passion, and I’m not sure if I even want to continue that. I may just restore the building into a venue for weddings and other events.”
In a way, she says, it feels like she is standing in front of a blank canvas.
“This is about my dreams now. I am leaning into that, while standing firm in my belief that I will be guided to what the next picture on the canvas should look like.”
Whatever life holds moving forward, it will be with the family embracing one another — a future perhaps best symbolized by the tasting room’s stone-tiled floor.
Brush away the ashes and you’ll find a strong foundation, in need of a little soap and water to shine again, but otherwise unmarred and unbroken.
Finally, Tersia expresses her deep gratitude to her neighbours for alerting them to the fire.
She and Darin were in their home, located behind the tasting room, when the blaze began.
She also thanks the firefighters for containing the flames to the tasting room. The property was very dry, and the fire had the potential to spread uncontrollably.
“I have no doubt that if it wasn’t for our neighbours, Ethan Oldy and Derek Berisoff, who spotted the fire and alerted us and the rescue services, we would have lost the main log house and most likely the guest house and other buildings too,” Tersia says.
“I am forever grateful to them and every other person who showed up during and after the fire to help and support us in any way.”
Originally from South Africa, Ben and Tersia de Jager married in 1986.
In 2006, Ben moved his family to Canada and continued his mining career as a Project Manager across the country.
After living in Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan for six years, the family decided to escape the northern winters and relocated to B.C.
In August 2013, they purchased Columbia Gardens Vineyard and Winery.
Though Ben continued his mining career, travelling three weeks per month, Tersia managed the winery.
The winery brought Ben immense joy, and the numerous awards his wines received stand as a testament to his passion for winemaking.
When his health forced him to retire from mining, Ben dedicated himself full-time to the winery.
People in Trail remember Ben for his generous nature, cheery ways, and, of course, his wine-stained work boots.
