About us: History A Quirky History on a Remote Ranch Located high above Okanagan Valley, Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards is now known as "See Ya Later Ranch", as it was once known years ago. In 2003, a series of wines were created under the See Ya Later Ranch name to salute both the site's quirky history and also the man who first planted grapes in the beautiful mountain setting. See Ya Later Ranch wines are in honour of Major Hugh Fraser, who was born in 1885 and died in 1970 at the age of 85. In celebration of the Major's pioneering life in the Okanagan,the See Ya Later Ranch (SYL) series were unveiled. The vineyard site was first established as a working ranch in the early 1900s by the Hawthorne Brothers. The brothers and their families stayed on the ranch until shortly before it was sold to Major Fraser. Major Fraser first visited the Okanagan as a guest of a local playwright, C.C. Atkins, and loved it so much he stayed. After a stuffy upbringing in Eastern Canada and time spent as a prisoner during the First World War, the Major found the freedom and open skies of the Okanagan Valley to be the ideal frontier for his outgoing personality. The Major made the ranch his home for more than 45 years. Like any true local celebrity, the folklore surrounding him is sometimes murky, a blending of myth and reality. One story notes that the Major, a compassionate man, was said to have fired a maid over the treatment of a pet, while others tell of elaborate social gatherings that lasted for days. What is known for sure is that the Major became a favourite among the locals, due to his kind nature, eccentric parties and his love of dogs. His many dogs were given free run of the ranch and were ultimately laid to rest in a doggy cemetery that still exists at the winery. His favourite pets were given headstones engraved with their names, dates of birth and deaths. The label for See Ya Later Ranch wine series features a white dog with angel wings in celebration of "man's best friend", the individualist lifestyle of the Major and the pioneering spirit that has always surrounded the winery site. According to Winemaker Dave Carson, while the label may be light hearted, the wine in the bottles is anything but. "These are serious wines that the team is very proud of," says Carson. "These are the new tradition for Hawthorne Mountain. We believe the Major would definitely approve of SYL Ranch and its wines." See Ya later Ranch’s tasting room and wine shop remain in the Major's old home, which is made of hand-split stone and dates back to the 1900s. The winery is worth a visit for its well-crafted VQA wines served in an atmosphere of old world timelessness. A patio offers visitors a place enjoy a glass of wine (and something to eat in the summer) and take in the spectacular view of the surrounding valley, vineyards and lakes. Located just 15 minutes south of Penticton, British Columbia and only five kilometres from the town of Okanagan Falls, the drive to the winery offers the scenery of the Okanagan Valley, Skaha Lake, and the historic See Ya Later Ranch site. Major Hugh Fraser Born in Montreal in 1885, Hugh Fraser graduated from McGill University in 1912 and was engaged as an accountant until the outbreak of war in 1914. He enlisted immediately and was stationed in France, where he was captured by German troops in 1916. He spent the next two years living in one of three prisoner-of-war camps for commissioned officers and was released when the Armistice was signed in 1918. After the war, Major Fraser returned to Canada and accepted an invitation from a friend, Naramata playwright C.C. Atkins, to visit the Okanagan. He loved the wild, scenic valley. Quickly determining that he wanted to make it his permanent home, he purchased the Hawthorne ranch. Although he lived in a remote location, the Major was a social person who loved nothing better than a good party. He was also a prolific letter-writer, staying in touch with dignitaries around the world like Lady Shaughnessy, Princess Patricia and the Duke of Connaught. He would end each letter with the signature phrase, "see ya later," which was shortened to the letters S.Y.L. and led to the naming of the property – SYL Ranch. It is unclear as to how the Major made his living, or if the financial feasibility of the ranch was even of concern to him. Prior to the invention of electric pumps, constant water supply was an issue, making farming the ranch a challenging enterprise. A few head of cattle grazed the land and most likely the Major kept chickens and a milk cow. The Major was the first to plant grapes at the ranch and was a true pioneer of viticulture, being one of the first to plant Marechal Foch, Chelois, Buffalo and Bath. None of these grapes exist at the ranch today since they are not favoured by modern winemakers; however, the wine-growing tradition was established at the time and it was recorded that the site was an excellent one for grape production. The Major lived at the ranch until 1966. He then moved 24 kilometres north to Penticton, where he became active in community projects. He was a patron of the S.P.C.A. and served as its president for five years. He was also a director of the Penticton chapter of the Red Cross for 10 years. The Major, who remained single and did not have any children, was content to spend most of his life with his dogs as his main source of companionship. The dogs came in all shapes and sizes over the 50-year period that the Major was a pet owner, but according to locals, Scotch Collies were one of his favourite breeds. The Major passed away in 1970. Unfortunately, with no immediate family in the area, most of his possessions and treasures did not remain in the valley, although some of his prized belongings were donated to the Penticton Museum.
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