Skip to content

Unleashing the Mayhem: A Guide to BC’s Best Kept Winery Secret

Mayhem Wines is a new British Columbia winery run by husband and wife team Terry Meyer Stone and Andrew Stone. It’s a partnership with Terry’s brother, Jak Meyer and his wife, Janice Stevens of Meyer Family Vineyard. Although they may not be well known to all BC wine lovers, Terry and Andrew are experienced professionals who’ve just been working behind the scenes. Terry was previously the wine club manager for Tinhorn Creek Vineyard, is a wine writer and is the co-founder of the Garagiste Festival. While Andrew has worked as a vineyard manager for several wineries (Sunrock, Liquidity and Fort Berens).

Originally the two started the project as Anarchist Mountain Vineyard. They have now shifted trajectory slightly with their family to now bring us Mayhem Wines. If your looking for a unique experience, Mayhem Wines is definitely worth a visit.

 

* The wine tasted below was given to me by the winery to try. However, no money was exchanged for this endorsement – it’s all authentically from me!

Co-owner Andrew Stone in the Mayhem Wines tasting room
Co-owner Andrew Stone in the Mayhem Wines tasting room

Table of Contents

Mayhem Wines in a Nutshell

location

Location

Mayhem Wines Website link here

4287 McLean Creek Road
Okanagan Falls, BC V0H 1R1

They share the same property with Meyer Family Vineyards

person icon people

General Manager and Owner

Terry Meyer Stone and Andrew Stone.

Winemaker

Ajay Chavan

vineyards

Vineyards and Vineyard Philosophy

Sustainable agriculture. In extreme conditions, they may rely on some very diluted applications of herbicide.

 

Sales Representative

Angela Grant

Winemaking icon

Can I order them - delivery options

You can order them directly from the winery across Canada

wine tasting icon

Tasting Room

Tastings cost $10 and are available from Monday – Saturday from 11 – 4 (last tasting at 3). After May long weekend, open 7 days a week throughout the summer. Email wineshop@mayhemwines.com to book.

Keep reading the article below this itty bitty advertisement!

Want to learn more about wine? Start here...

Take WSET Level 1 in Wines Online

A beginner level course for those wanting to dip their toes into the world of wine.

4-week course
followed by exam

Take WSET Level 2 in Wines Online

An intermediate level course for those wanting to to dive head first into the world of wine.

5-week course
followed by exam

The team at Mayhem Wines

Mayhem's Tasting Room is at Meyer Family Vineyards

Mayhem Wines’ tasting room is conveniently located on the same property as Meyer Family Vineyards, situated on McLean Creek Road, and just across the street from Synchromesh Wines. Terry, the co-owner of Mayhem Wines, is actually the sister of JAK Meyer of Meyer Family Vineyards. This close relationship provides an opportunity for guests to enjoy tastings at both wineries and benefit from the families’ shared expertise.

If you are travelling to the area, don’t leave without reading my Ultimate Guide to the South Okanagan for local’s secrets on what to eat, where to stay and (other) things to do while you are in the area.

 

Unleashing Mayhem Wines

While Meyer Family Vineyards focuses on premium single-vineyard wines based on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Mayhem Wines complements this by offering fuller-bodied reds crafted from Bordelais varieties such as Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, and a white wine made with Sauvignon Blanc. They also offer a Pinot Gris (I wrote previously that BC Pinot Gris is world-class!), a fortified Gewurztraminer (made from the oldest plantings at McLean Creek Vineyard), and an age-worthy premium ‘Anarchy Mountain’ Merlot.

One unique aspect of Mayhem Wines is their playful approach, reflected in their whimsical label designs that reflect the spirit of the wines. This project is f-u-n, fun!

They have even embraced aluminum cans as an environmentally friendly option, offering sparkling white and Merlot rosé wines in cans. Aluminum is the most effective wine container for reducing the carbon footprint compared to other wine container types. By ordering a case of Mayhem’s canned wines, you can feel good knowing that you are making a sustainable choice.

With so many excellent options to choose from, I’m sure Mayhem Wines will quickly become a favourite among wine lovers in British Columbia.

Other posts from our site...

Discover the Hidden Gem: Exploring the Wonders of Monte Creek Winery in Beautiful British Columbia (and Interview with winemaker Galen Barnhardt)

[The 4 Best Free Wine Apps for Tasting Notes in 2023: Vivino, Delectable, Cellar Tracker and Preferabli Reviewed]

[From Heat Domes to Cooling Mists: Producer Mitigate Weather Extremes in Defining the Root of BC Terroir]

Mayhem wines in aluminum cans with playful marketing - sitting in blown up flamingos
Mayhem wines has both a sparkling white and a Merlot rosé in aluminum cans. This photo illuminates the playful spirit of the brand!

There’s more so keep reading below…

$25

Are you a WSET wine student?

Our mobile-friendly guides
have 100's of questions
to help you pass your exam

- and their written by a certified WSET educator!

$69

Winemaker Ajay Chavan

With the combined experience of Terry + Andrew Stone and Janice and JAK Meyer, it’s no surprise that they were able to secure a gifted winemaker.

Ajay Chavan is another New Zealand expat taking over oenology in BC! After studying at Lincoln University in Christchurch and following harvests around the world, as well as in native Waipara and Auckland, he settled in as Cellar Master for BC’s Checkmate Winery for 5 years.

Now, he is head winemaker at Mayhem wines as well as the assistant winemaker for Meyer (working under the guidance of Chris Carson).

 
 
Ajay Chavan, winemaker for both Meyer Family Vineyard and Mayhem Wines

On a visit to Mayem, you’ll likely catch Ajay running lift machinery or completing other necessary winery tasks. Yet, a personal introduction may yield less-than-expected results; his deep New Zealand accent can be challenging 😉

Still, he’s welcoming and gracious, and his wines speak for themselves.

Tasting note

Tasted April 2023

Mayhem Wines Cabernet-Merlot 2021

Cost icon

$25 order direct from the winery

bottle shot of Mayhem Wines Cabernet Merlot 2020
smells like icon

Initial scents of pretty ripe red plums and some black plums lead to sage, green stems (the Cabernet is Cabernet Franc) and light spice lift. The tannin structure is beautiful – it pulls on your gums, medium and fine. After decanting, (or sitting for a day), the fruits gain richness. Now black fruits take center stage, blueberry, blackberry, black plums and the oak aromas release nutmeg spice. Medium plus length.

This wine whispers to me! The ripe fruits are framed with restrained alcohol (13.5%) and balanced oak. Yes, yes, YES!

Because of the above, this wine is both great for drinking today but will gain some complexity by cellaring 5-10 years. I even expect this wine could last longer.

But I won’t know for sure, ’cause I drank it!

Eat with grilled lamb or bbq hamburgers. Veggies –  drink with dark mushrooms, portobello, shitake, or morels mushrooms, or roasted squash dishes with wild rice pilaf. Pour some wine into the dish!

89 points – points are expected to reach into the 90’s with some cellaring. For best results now, give this wine some air (decant, swirl in your glass vigorously, or if you’re in a hurry, try a blender!)

Summary

With Mayhem Wines and Meyer Family Vineyards tasting room on the same property, you’ll taste the full gamut of wines at a visit.

Meyer offers serious premium-single vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. On the other hand, Mayhem is more playful and carries aluminum cans of Merlot Rosé and white sparkling wine, a fortified Gewurztraminer, a dry Sauvignon Blanc (I mean Ajay is a Kiwi!), and a refreshing Pinot Gris. Pick up a bottle of that Cabernet-Merlot while it lasts and don’t think their fun labels and approachable pricing means you can’t lay it down. You can!

Ready to start exploring Okanagan’s wine country?

Check out my Ultimate Guide to the South Okanagan before you sip and savour!

Or sign up for my online wine course, which will give you the knowledge and tools you need to fully enjoy the region’s wines. 

So, what are you waiting for?
Sign up today!

If you like what you see, go on and share it!

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on email

No comment yet, add your voice below!


Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

SommWine

Log In below

Join our community at

SommWine

* indicates required
Email Preferences
Email Format

We use Mailchimp for sending emails. Learn about their privacy policies here.

Why?

Free Stuff + Great Wine Content

And if you sign up today, receive a free chicken wine pairing exercise in your email and free access to our Ultimate Guide to WSET Level 1 in Wines course!